Berchtold V of Zähringen (1160 – February 18, 1218 in Freiburg im Breisgau) was Duke of Zähringen until his death, succeeding his father Berchtold IV in 1186.
At the beginning of his reign, he reduced the power of the Burgundian nobles and settled the Bernese Oberland and the area of Lucerne. As a result, he enlarged Thun and founded Bern in 1191, which became the focus of his expansionism. At the Battle of Ulrichen in 1221, however, he failed to gain access to the Valais.
Following the death of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI in 1198, he was one of the candidates in the Imperial election. He offered his nephews as hostages to the Archbishops of Cologne and Trier to gain their support.[1] However, when he discovered that a majority had elected the Hohenstaufen Philip of Swabia (antiking to Welf Emperor Otto IV of Brunswick) he renounced his claim. In exchange for this renunciation, Berthold gained territorial concessions in what is now southern Germany and northern Switzerland, consolidating Zähringer hold over the Ortenau, the Breisgau, Schaffhausen, Breisach and All Saints' Abbey. In 1198 Philip also paid Berthold 3,000 silver Marks for renouncing his claims.
In the same year Berthold crushed an uprising of the Burgandian nobles, an event that is recorded on the gate in Freiburg.[2]
In 1200, Berthold began extending the city-parish church of Freiburg[2] which, after the second extension, starting half a century later, became the monastery now known as Freiburg Münster.
The Zähringer dynasty ended with Berthold's death in 1218. Following his death the Zähringer lands were split among several nobles, and the city of Berne become a free imperial city (subject only to the Emperor).
His reign is commemorated by fountains in Berne and his tomb in Freiburg Münster.[3]
| Preceded by Berthold IV |
Duke of Zähringen 1186–1218 |
Ducal line extinct; lands partitioned
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