Editing Bergen (section)

==History==
{{For timeline}}

[[File:Scoleus.jpg|thumb|left|Hieronymus Scholeus's impression of Bergen. The drawing was made {{Circa|1580}} and was published in an atlas with drawings of many different cities (''{{lang|la|Civitaes orbis terrarum}}'').<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brekke |first=Nils Georg |title=Kulturhistorisk vegbok Hordaland |publisher=Hordaland Fylkeskommune |year=1993 |isbn=82-7326-026-7 |location=Bergen |language=no}}</ref>]]

The city of Bergen was traditionally thought to have been founded by king [[Olaf III of Norway|Olav Kyrre]], son of [[Harald III of Norway|Harald Hardråde]] in 1070{{spaces}}AD,<ref name="omkomm">{{Cite web |last=Elisabeth Farstad |year=2007 |title=Om kommunen |url=http://www.bergen.kommune.no/aktuelt/omkommunen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005165817/http://www.bergen.kommune.no/aktuelt/omkommunen |archive-date=5 October 2007 |access-date=16 September 2007 |publisher=Bergen kommune |language=nb}}</ref> four years after the Viking Age in England ended with the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]]. Modern research has, however, discovered that a trading settlement had already been established in the 1020s or 1030s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hella |first=Asle |date=2004-06-07 |title=Bergens historie må skrives om |url=https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/hordaland/1.201637 |work=[[NRK]] |language=nb}}</ref>

Bergen gradually assumed the function of capital of Norway in the early 13th century, as the first city where a rudimentary central administration was established. The city's cathedral was the site of the first royal coronation in Norway in the 1150s, and continued to host royal coronations throughout the 13th century. [[Bergenhus fortress]] dates from the 1240s and guards the entrance to the harbour in Bergen. The functions of the capital city were lost to [[Oslo]] during the reign of King [[Haakon V of Norway|Haakon V]] (1299–1319).

During the 14th century, North German merchants, who had already been present in substantial numbers since the 13th century, founded one of the four ''{{lang|de|[[Kontor]]e}}'' of the [[Hanseatic League]] at [[Bryggen]] in Bergen. The principal export traded from Bergen was dried cod from the northern Norwegian coast,<ref name="codmr">{{Cite web |last=Marguerite Ragnow |year=2007 |title=Cod |url=http://bell.lib.umn.edu/Products/cod.html |access-date=14 August 2007}}</ref> which started {{Circa|1100|lk=no}}. The city was granted a monopoly for trade from the north of Norway by King [[Håkon Håkonsson]] (1217–1263).<ref name="Stockfish">{{Cite news |last=Tom R. Hjertholm |date=16 December 2013 |title=- Tørrfisken vender hjem |work=Bergensavisen}}</ref> [[Stockfish]] was the main reason that the city became one of North Europe's largest centres for trade.<ref name="Stockfish" /> By the late 14th century, Bergen had established itself as the centre of the trade in Norway.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alf Ragnar Nielssen |date=1 January 1950 |title=Indigenous and Early Fisheries in North-Norway |url=http://www.stm.unipi.it/Clioh/tabs/libri/1/12-Nielssen(6).pdf |url-status=dead |journal=The Sea in European History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327043202/http://www.stm.unipi.it/Clioh/tabs/libri/1/12-Nielssen%286%29.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2009 |access-date=22 July 2009}}</ref> The [[Hanseatic League|Hanseatic]] merchants lived in their own separate quarter of the town, where [[Middle Low German]] was used, enjoying [[exclusive right]]s to trade with the northern fishermen who each summer sailed to Bergen.<ref name="riksarkivethansa">{{Cite web |last=Anette Skogseth Clausen |title=7. oktober 1754 – fra et hanseatisk kontor til et norsk kontor med hanseater |url=http://www.riksarkivet.no/bergen/publikasjoner/artiklar/andre/kontoret.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015160831/http://riksarkivet.no/bergen/publikasjoner/artiklar/andre/kontoret.html |archive-date=15 October 2007 |access-date=9 October 2007 |publisher=Arkivverket |language=nb}}</ref> The Hansa community resented Scottish merchants who settled in Bergen, and on 9 November 1523 several Scottish households were targeted by German residents.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Østby Pedersen |first=Nina |url=https://brill.com/view/book/9789047407157/B9789047407157_s010.xml |title=Scottish Communities Abroad in the Early Modern Period |publisher=Brill |year=2005 |editor-last=Grosjean |editor-first=Alexia |pages=136–168 |chapter=Scottish Immigration to Bergen in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries |doi=10.1163/9789047407157_010 |isbn=978-90-474-0715-7 |editor-last2=Murdoch |editor-first2=Steve}}</ref> Today, Bergen's old quayside, [[Bryggen]], is on [[UNESCO]]'s list of [[World Heritage Site]]s.<ref name="unescolist">{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |year=2007 |title=World Heritage List |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/59 |access-date=14 August 2007}}</ref> [[File:BergenHordalandNorwayVagen.jpg|thumb|left|A historic [[photochrom]] of Bergen near the end of the 19th century. Visible are [[Bergen Cathedral]] (''Domkirken'') in the bottom left corner, [[Holy Cross Church, Bergen|Holy Cross Church]] in the middle, the bay ([[Vågen, Bergen|Vågen]]) with its many boats and the [[Bergenhus Fortress]] to the right of the opening of Vågen.]]

In 1349, the [[Black Death]] was brought to Norway by an English ship arriving in Bergen.<ref name="14thBD">{{Cite book |last=Carl Hecker |first=Justus Friedrich |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WYpLLDoMTxQC&pg=PA18 |title=The Black Death in the Fourteenth Century |year=1833}}</ref> Later outbreaks occurred in 1618, 1629 and 1637, on each occasion taking about 3,000 lives.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge |publisher=Charles Knight |year=1847 |editor-last=Knight |editor-first=Charles |volume=III |location=London |page=211}}</ref> In the 15th century, the city was attacked several times by the [[Victual Brothers]],<ref name="avikinghist">{{Cite book |last=Downing Kendrick |first=Thomas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Z8NgXgRytUC&q=victual+brothers+bergen&pg=PA142 |title=A History of the Vikings |publisher=Courier Corporation |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-486-43396-7 |page=142 |author-link=T. D. Kendrick}}</ref> and in 1429 they succeeded in burning the royal castle and much of the city. In 1665, the city's harbour was the site of the [[Battle of Vågen]], when an English naval flotilla attacked a Dutch merchant and treasure fleet supported by the city's garrison. Accidental fires sometimes got out of control, and one in 1702 reduced most of the town to ashes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The fire of 1702 |url=https://kulturpunkt.org/article/875/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=kulturpunkt.org |publisher=[[Bergen City Museum]]}}</ref>

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Bergen remained one of the largest cities in [[Scandinavia]], and it was Norway's biggest city until the 1830s,<ref name="attentretti">{{Cite web |title=Innvandring 1600–2000, Arkivenes dag 2002 |url=http://www.arkivverket.no/webfelles/sab/innvandring/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021206093817/http://www.arkivverket.no/webfelles/sab/innvandring/index.html |archive-date=6 December 2002 |access-date=9 October 2007 |publisher=Arkivverket |language=nb}}</ref> being overtaken by the capital city of [[Oslo]]. From around 1600, the Hanseatic dominance of the city's trade gradually declined in favour of Norwegian merchants (often of Hanseatic ancestry), and in the 1750s, the ''{{lang|de|Kontor}}'', or major trading post of the Hanseatic League, finally closed. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Bergen was involved in the [[Atlantic slave trade]]. Bergen-based slave trader [[Jørgen Thormøhlen]], the largest shipowner in Norway, was the main owner of the [[slave ship]] ''Cornelia'', which made two slave-trading voyages in 1673 and 1674 respectively; he also developed the city's industrial sector, particularly in the neighbourhood of [[Møhlenpris]], which is named after him.<ref name="nbl">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Jørgen Thormøhlen |encyclopedia=[[Norsk biografisk leksikon]] |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo |url=https://nbl.snl.no/Jørgen_Thormøhlen |last=Fossen |first=Anders Bjarne |editor-last=[[Knut Helle|Helle, Knut]] |language=Norwegian |accessdate=21 October 2014}}</ref> Bergen retained its monopoly of trade with northern Norway until 1789.<ref name="histnor">{{Cite web |last=Ivan Kristoffersen |author-link=Ivan Kristoffersen |year=2003 |title=Historien om Norge i nord |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/ud/dok/NOU-er/2003/NOU-2003-32/10.html?id=373172 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328031006/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/ud/dok/NOU-er/2003/NOU-2003-32/10.html?id=373172 |archive-date=28 March 2008 |access-date=9 October 2007 |publisher=Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |language=no}}</ref> The Bergen stock exchange, the ''{{lang|no|Bergen børs}}'', was established in 1813.

=== Modern history ===
[[File:Vista general d'un carrer amb gent passejant-hi i les vies del ferrocarril.jpeg|thumb|Bergen in 1909]]
[[File:Bergen, carrer de Sant Joan.jpeg|thumb|Bergen in 1909]]
Bergen was separated from Hordaland as a county of its own in 1831.<ref name="distriktsinnd">{{Cite web |title=Distriktsinndeling og navn |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fad/dok/Veiledninger_og_brosjyrer/1995/Fylkesmannboka/4-Fylkesmannsembetene/43-Distriktsinndeling-og-navn.html?id=464957 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328030818/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fad/dok/Veiledninger_og_brosjyrer/1995/Fylkesmannboka/4-Fylkesmannsembetene/43-Distriktsinndeling-og-navn.html?id=464957 |archive-date=28 March 2008 |access-date=16 September 2007 |publisher=Fornyings- og administrasjonsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref> It was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see {{lang|no|[[formannskapsdistrikt]]}}). The [[rural municipality]] of {{lang|no|[[Bergen landdistrikt]]}} was merged with Bergen on 1 January 1877. The rural municipality of [[Årstad, Bergen|Årstad]] was merged with Bergen on 1 July 1915.<ref name="kommuneendringer">{{Cite book |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |year=1999 |isbn=9788253746845 |language=no}}</ref>

During World War II, Bergen was occupied on the first day of the German invasion on 9 April 1940, after a brief fight between German ships and the Norwegian [[coastal artillery]]. The [[Norwegian resistance movement]] groups in Bergen were [[Osvald Group|Saborg]], [[Milorg]], ''"{{lang|no|[[Theta (SIS radio group)|Theta-gruppen]]}}"'', [[Sivorg]], ''{{lang|no|[[Stein-organisasjonen]]}}'' and the Communist Party.<ref name="Prosjektbeskrivelse">{{Cite news |last1=Jenny Heggsvik |last2=Lars Borgersrud |author-link2=Lars Borgersrud |last3=August Rathke |last4=Egil Christophersen |last5=Ole-Jacob Abraham |title=Prosjektbeskrivelse for det historiske forskningsprosjektet SABORG I BERGEN |url=http://www.fagforbundet.no/file.php?id=11179 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313131238/http://www.fagforbundet.no/file.php?id=11179 |archive-date=13 March 2017 |access-date=30 November 2018}}</ref> On 20 April 1944, during the German occupation, the Dutch cargo ship ''{{lang|nl|[[Voorbode]]}}'' anchored off the [[Bergenhus Fortress]], loaded with over 120 tons of explosives, and blew up, killing at least 150 people and damaging historic buildings. The city was subject to some Allied [[strategic bombing|bombing raids]], aimed at German naval installations in the harbour. Some of these caused Norwegian civilian casualties numbering about 100.

Bergen is also well known in Norway for the [[Isdal Woman]] ({{langx|no|Isdalskvinnen}}), an unidentified person who was found dead at Isdalen ("Ice Valley") on 29 November 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NRK |date=21 November 2017 |title=The Isdalen Mystery |url=https://www.nrk.no/isdal/en/ |access-date=25 June 2019 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}}</ref> The unsolved case encouraged international speculation over the years and it remains one of the most profound mysteries in recent Norwegian history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Marit Higraff and Neil |date=25 June 2019 |title=Death in Ice Valley: New clues in a Norwegian mystery |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-48736937 |access-date=25 June 2019 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="BT">{{Cite news |last=Tønder |first=Finn Bjørn |date=26 November 2002 |title=Viktig nyhet om Isdalskvinnen |trans-title=Important news about Isdal Woman |url=http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/Viktig-nyhet-om-Isdalskvinnen-2405382.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110140937/http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/Viktig-nyhet-om-Isdalskvinnen-2405382.html |archive-date=10 November 2013 |access-date=21 October 2012 |work=Bergens Tidende |language=no}}</ref>

The rural municipalities of [[Arna, Bergen|Arna]], [[Fana, Bergen|Fana]], [[Laksevåg]], and [[Åsane]] were merged with Bergen on 1 January 1972. The city lost its status as a separate county on the same date,<ref name="styringssystembk">{{Cite web |last=Bergen Kommune |year=2007 |title=Styringssystemet i Bergen kommune |url=http://byfjellene.no/bystyre_/ekstern/Styringssystemet_korrektur_fra_kommuneforlaget.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227085411/http://byfjellene.no/bystyre_/ekstern/Styringssystemet_korrektur_fra_kommuneforlaget.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2008 |access-date=14 August 2007 |language=no}}</ref> and Bergen is now a [[list of municipalities of Norway|municipality]], in the county of [[Vestland]].

===Fires===
The city's history is marked by numerous great fires. In 1198, the {{lang|no|[[Bagler]]}} faction set fire to the city in connection with a battle against the {{lang|no|[[Birkebeiner]]}} faction during the civil war. In 1248, {{lang|no|Holmen}} and {{lang|no|Sverresborg}} burned, and 11 churches were destroyed. In 1413 another fire struck the city, and 14 churches were destroyed. In 1428 the city was plundered by the [[Victual Brothers]], and in 1455, [[Hanseatic League|Hanseatic]] merchants were responsible for burning down [[Munkeliv Abbey]]. In 1476, {{lang|no|Bryggen}} burned down in a fire started by a drunk trader. In 1582, another fire hit the city centre and {{lang|no|Strandsiden}}. In 1675, 105 buildings burned down in {{lang|no|Øvregaten}}. In 1686 another great fire hit {{lang|no|Strandsiden}}, destroying 231 city blocks and 218 boathouses. The greatest fire in history was in 1702, when 90% of the city was burned to ashes. In 1751, there was a great fire at {{lang|no|Vågsbunnen}}. In 1756, yet another fire at {{lang|no|Strandsiden}} burned down 1,500 buildings, and further great fires hit {{lang|no|Strandsiden}} in 1771 and 1901. In 1916, 300 buildings [[Bergen fire of 1916|burned down]] in the city centre including the [[Swan pharmacy]], the oldest pharmacy in Norway, and in 1955 parts of {{lang|no|Bryggen}} burned down.

===Toponymy===
Bergen is pronounced in English {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɜːr|g|ən}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɛər|g|ən}} and in [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] {{IPA|no|ˈbæ̀rɡn̩||Bergen.ogg}} (in [[Bergensk|the local dialect]] {{IPA|no|ˈbæ̂ʁɡɛn|generic=yes|}}). The [[Old Norse]] forms of the name were {{lang|non|Bergvin}} {{IPA|non|ˈberɡˌwin|}} and {{lang|non|Bjǫrgvin}} {{IPA|non|ˈbjɔrɡˌwin|}} (and in [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] and [[Faroese language|Faroese]] the city is still called {{lang|is|Björgvin}}). The first element is {{wikt-lang|non|berg}} (n.) or {{lang|non|bjǫrg}} (n.), which translates as 'mountain(s)'. The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|vin}} (f.), which means a new settlement where there used to be a pasture or meadow.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brekke |first=Nils Georg |title=Kulturhistorisk vegbok Hordaland |publisher=Hordaland Fylkeskommune |year=1993 |isbn=82-7326-026-7 |location=Bergen |page=252 |language=no}}</ref> Bergen is often called "the city among the seven mountains". The playwright [[Ludvig Holberg]], inspired by the [[seven hills of Rome]], decided that his home town must be blessed with a corresponding seven mountains, though locals debate which seven they are.

In 1918, there was a campaign to reintroduce the Norse form ''{{lang|non|Bjørgvin}}'' as the name of the city. This was turned down – but as a compromise, the name of the [[diocese]] was changed to ''{{lang|no|[[Diocese of Bjørgvin|Bjørgvin bispedømme]]}}''.<ref name="bispedoeme">{{Cite web |year=2004 |title=Bjørgvin bispedøme |url=http://www.scandion.no/article/archive/826/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226020759/http://www.scandion.no/article/archive/826/ |archive-date=26 December 2007 |access-date=10 October 2007 |publisher=Scandion.no |language=no}}</ref>