BERN, the chief city of the above canton, was by the decision of the Council of the Confederation, in 1848, declared to be the political capital of the Commonwealth. It is a fine, clean, well built town, on the Aar, 23 miles S. of Basel, and possesses many fine public edifices, more notably, the Cathedral, erected 1421–1502. The most remarkable feature in the town are the arcades, running in front of the houses down both sides of the two chief streets. The town has bears for its arms; and some of these animals are maintained in a large paved pit. The principal manufactures are watches, wooden clocks, and toys, linen, woolen, and silk fabrics. Pop. about 105,000. Bern was founded by Duke Berthold V. of Zahringen, in 1191, and was made a free and imperial city by a charter from the Emperor Frederick II., dated May, 1218.
BERNADOTTE, JEAN BAPTISTE JULES (ber-na-dot′), a French general, afterward raised to the Swedish throne, was the son of an advocate of Pau, born Jan. 26, 1764. He enlisted at 17, became sergeant-major in 1789, and subaltern in 1790. In 1794 he was appointed a General of Division, and distinguished himself greatly in the campaign in Germany, and on the Rhine. In 1798 he married Mademoiselle Clary, sister-inlaw of Joseph Bonaparte. The following year he became for a short time Minister of War, and on the establishment of the Empire was raised to the dignity of Marshal of France, and the title of Prince of Ponte-Corvo. On the death of the Prince of Holstein-Augustenburg, the heir apparency to the Swedish crown was oflFered to the Prince of Ponte-Corvo, who accepted with the consent of the Emperor, went to Sweden, abjured Catholicism, and took the title of Prince Charles John. In the maintenance of the interests of Sweden, a serious rupture occurred between him and Bonaparte, followed by his accession, in 1812, to the coalition of sovereigns against Napoleon. At the close of the war the Emperor of Austria and other sovereigns tried to restore the family of Gustavus IV. to the crown; but Bemadotte, retaining his position as Crown Prince, became King of Sweden on the death of Charles XIII., in 1818, under the title of Charles XIV. He died March 8, 1844, and was succeeded by his son Oscar.
BERNARD, SAINT (GREAT and LITTLE). See St. Bernard.
BERNARD, ST., Abbot of Clairvaux, was born of a noble family in Burgundy, in 1091. At the age of 23 he entered the recently founded monastery of Citeaux, accompanied by his brothers and 20 of his companions. His ability and piety led to his being chosen Abbot, an office he filled till his death. In 1128 he prepared the statutes for the Order of Knights Templar. Popes and princes desired his support, and submitted their differences to his arbitration. By his influence Innocent II. was recognized as lawful Pope; he had a public debate with Abelard on some doctrines of his philosophy, and procured his condemnation; courageously opposed the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin; was founder of 160 monasteries; and was the chief promoter of the second crusade. He preached the crusade in Germany, persuaded the Emperor Conrad to join it, and refused the command which was offered him. His prediction of success was falsified. St. Bernard was the vehement adversary of Arnold of Brescia, and procured his banishment from Rome and from Zurich. He steadily refused the offers of several archbishoprics and other dignities, preferring to remain abbot only. His character and his writings have earned him the title of "Last of the Fathers." The power, tenderness, and simplicity of his sermons and other works have secured the admiration of Protestants and Catholics alike. St. Bernard died at Clairvaux in 1153, and was canonized in 1174.
