The area was known before 1140 as
Bremgarten, though the city wasn't founded until almost a century later. In 1230, a settlement was founded near the present location of Bremgarten. Then, in 1238/39 it was mentioned as
Bremegarten. In 1258, it was granted city right by
Rudolf I of Habsburg. Bremgarten's population grew rapidly, and it became an important market town with an outstanding
Latin school. Because it was part of the Habsburg lands, the residents of Bremgarten fought at the Battles of
Morgarten (1315) and
Sempach on the Habsburg side. In 1379, a courthouse was built in Bremgarten, serving as center of a new legal district.
Berikon joined Bremgarten in 1374. Later, in 1410,
Unterlunkhofen,
Oberlunkhofen,
Jonen and
Arni joined.
Oberwil-Lieli joined in 1429,
Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg in 1430, and finally
Huserhof in 1482. Two districts were created: a "high" one for Ober- and Unterlunkhofen, Arni, Islisberg, Jonen, Werd and Huserhof and a "lower" one for the remaining village. In 1415, Aargau was conquered by the
Old Swiss Confederation. While
Bern kept the southwest portion which consisted of
Zofingen,
Aarburg,
Aarau,
Lenzburg, and
Brugg. Bremgarten became part of the
Freie Ämter or
free bailiwicks. They remained relatively independent and were allowed to keep their own legal districts. Bremgarten, together with the rest of the
Freie Ämter (
Mellingen,
Muri,
Villmergen, and the countship of Baden), were governed as "subject lands" by all or some of the Confederates. When Bremgarten refused the offer to join the Confederation freely, it became involved in the 1443
Old Zürich War, in which it was besieged and captured. Bremgarten played an important role in the
Reformation. An important Swiss reformer called
Heinrich Bullinger was born there in 1504. As early as 1529, the official religion of the city changed from Catholicism. However,
Catholicism was reintroduced by force in 1531 after the
Battle of Kappel. Bullinger was forced into exile and moved to
Zürich, where he became the successor of
Huldrych Zwingli as the leader of the city after Zwingli had died in battle. (1922) Catholicism lost its influence after the second
Villmerger War of 1712. Bremgarten became part of the area of Zürich, Bern and
Glarus. During the
French Revolution, it became for a short time host to
Louis-Philippe, who sought refuge from the revolutionaries. Marshal
André Masséna moved into Bremgarten, along with his headquarters, before his troops defeated those of
Russia and
Austria near Zürich. During the time of the
Helvetic Republic, Bremgarten became part of the short-lived
Canton of Baden. In 1803 it joined the canton of Aargau. The city flourished during the
Industrial Revolution. Because of the growth, the
city wall was taken down, and it was connected to the
Swiss railway system in 1876. Only since 1912 has the city been connected with
Dietikon and
Wohlen by rail. Like everywhere in Europe, the era after
World War II marked a vast increase in motorised traffic. Bremgarten is located at the main road connecting Lenzburg to Zürich. Before the highway was opened, it was one of the busiest roads in Switzerland. This was a big problem, because all the traffic needed to pass a small wooden bridge in the middle of the old part of the town. The opening of the highway did not solve this problem. Only in 1994, when a bypass was constructed, the old part of the town has finally been quiet again. It is now closed to motorised traffic. ==Geography==