Sumiswald

Sumiswald
Coat of arms
Sumiswald Show map of Switzerland Sumiswald Show map of Canton of Bern
Location of Sumiswald
Coordinates: 47°2′N 7°43′E / 47.033°N 7.717°E / 47.033; 7.717Coordinates: 47°2′N 7°43′E / 47.033°N 7.717°E / 47.033; 7.717
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Emmental
Government
• Mayor	Roland Holzer
Area
• Total	59.34 km2 (22.91 sq mi)
Elevation	702 m (2,303 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	4,999
• Density	84/km2 (220/sq mi)
Postal code	3454
SFOS number	0957
Surrounded by	Affoltern im Emmental, Dürrenroth, Eriswil, Langnau im Emmental, Luthern (LU), Lützelflüh, Rüegsau, Trachselwald, Trub, Wyssachen
Website	www.sumiswald.ch SFSO statistics

Sumiswald is a municipality in the district of the Emmental administrative district in the canton of Bern, Switzerland.

Sumiswald is first mentioned in 1225 as Smoldeswalt. The name either comes from the Germanic settler "Suomolt", the Latin term summa vallis ("bank over the valley") or the designation "Zum Oswald" ("to Oswald"), because in the Middle Ages there was a chapel in Sumiswald dedicated to Oswald of Northumbria.

The area was probably settled during the Middle Ages, when several castles were built. From 1225, Sumiswald was a commandery of the Teutonic Knights of the "Ballei" Swabia-Alsace-Burgundy. In 1525, the town bought its way out of serfdom, but stayed a part of the Teutonic Knights even after the Protestant Reformation was introduced in 1528; Sumiswald was sold to the city of Bern for 36,000 Reichs thaler in 1698.

The village Church of St. Mary was first mentioned in 1225 along with the village. The old church was replaced with a new building in 1510-12. When Bern adopted the new faith of the Protestant Reformation, the village converted and the municipality acquired the patronage rights over the church.

Hans Haslibacher, who was decapitated on October 20, 1571 in Bern because of his Anabaptist conviction came from Sumiswald; his decapitation was the last execution of an Anabaptist in Bern.