Wynigen

Wynigen
Farmhouse Glugge and manor house in Wynigen village
Coat of arms
Wynigen Show map of Switzerland Wynigen Show map of Canton of Bern
Location of Wynigen
Coordinates: 47°6′N 7°40′E / 47.100°N 7.667°E / 47.100; 7.667Coordinates: 47°6′N 7°40′E / 47.100°N 7.667°E / 47.100; 7.667
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Emmental
Government
• Mayor	Paul Wyss
Area
• Total	28.29 km2 (10.92 sq mi)
Elevation	530 m (1,740 ft)
Highest elevation	850 m (2,790 ft)
Lowest elevation	500 m (1,600 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	2,011
• Density	71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Postal code	3472
SFOS number	0424
Surrounded by	Affoltern im Emmental, Alchenstorf, Burgdorf, Ersigen, Heimiswil, Kirchberg, Ochlenberg, Oeschenbach, Rumendingen, Walterswil
Website	www.wynigen.ch SFSO statistics

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

Wynigen is first mentioned in 1185 as Winingen. Bickigen village was first mentioned in 1261/63 as Bicchingen.

The oldest evidence of humans in the municipal area are some Hallstatt culture grave mounds on the Füstlenberg and some La Tene culture graves in Bickigen. Other traces of prehistoric settlements include the earthen fortifications at Heidenstatt and the fortresses at Grimmenstein, Friesenberg and Schwanden. The first time the village is mentioned it belonged to the Zähringen Dukes. After their line died out in 1218 it was inherited by the Counts of Kyburg. By 1261-63 it was part of the officium Gutisberg. Ministerialis (unfree knights in the service of a feudal overlord) families in Kyburg service built castles in the area and helped guard other Kyburg lands. The Lords of Wynigen, the Fries of Friesenberg and the Lords of Grimmenstein all held Kyburg fiefs in the area. During the 13th century all three families drew closer to Bern and eventually became citizens of Bern or Thun and lost their Kyburg fiefs. In the 14th century, all three of these families died out.

During the Burgdorf war, in 1383-84, between the Counts of Kyburg and the city of Bern, the Counts lost all their land in Wynigen. Bern besieged the castles and destroyed Friesenberg and possibly Schwanden. However, at Grimmenstein Castle, the garrison surrendered and handed the castle over to Bern. In 1402, the Kyburg's were forced to sell the low court at Bickigen-Schwanden to Burgdorf and their fields and forests in Wyngen to Petermann von Rohrmoos who held Grimmenstein for Bern. In 1406, Bern outright annexed the villages and incorporated them into the County of Wangen. In 1431 it was transferred to the Burgdorf District. Then, in 1497, Bern bought the Herrschaft of Wynigen and Grimmenstein Castle. Five years later the villages and castle were given to the Bernese Schultheiss of Burgdorf.