History of the Saint Bernard Dog

St. Bernard's Monument erected at the site where the Roman mansio stood

A breviary from the 15th century, narrating St. Bernard's vocation (complete page on full-size pic). The miniature shows St. Bernard and a captive demon

The origin of the Saint Bernard Dog is inextricably bound to the mountain pass and the monastery which bear the same name. The Great Saint Bernard Pass, which provides a route between Switzerland and Italy, has a rich history.

In 57 B.C., during the Gallic wars, Caesar attempted to conquer the alpine tribes and assure safe passage over the Alps. However, it was not until 7 to 6 B.C. that the Roman legions, under Augustus, conquered the alpine region and secured the pass. The "Tropaeum Alpinum" in La Turbie, stands as monument to past victories by Roman legions and lists the Alpine tribes, whom they defeated.

The small path over the Summus Poeninus, as the Saint Bernard was then called, was enlarged by the Emperor Claudius in the year 43. The improved route could accommodate carriages and was given the rank of an imperial road. Roman garrisons from Aosta and Martigny were responsible for the safety of travelers. A small temple in honor of Jupiter (Jovis) was build on top of the pass at an altitude of 2464 m. and a small "mansio" was added to accommodate travelers. The pass was the most important cross ing over the Alps and provided the shortest path to the newly conquered province, Britannia. In honor of Jupiter the mountain was renamed "Mons Jovis."

After the Teutonic incursion (starting around the year 500), the pass lost it's importance and was used less and less during the following centuries. Roads leading toward the pass became desolate. The pass regained its importance during medieval times, but was plagued by brigands and robbers who preyed on travelers.

[up]

The Saint Bernard Pass >
The Origins of the Dogs >
The Dogs from the Hospice >
Short- and Long-Haired Saints >
Their Rescue and Life-Saving Work >
The Beginning of Purebred Saints >
The Legendary Barry >
Bibliography, Acknowledgement, Dedication & Copyright Notice >

Not all travelers were saved. The unlucky ones were brought to a morgue erected in 1476

Legend states that the Monastery was founded around the year 950, by the Holy Saint Bernard of Montjou (deacon in Aosta, canonized in 1123). However, historical fact confirms a meeting between Bernard and the emperor Henry IV in the year 1086, while both men were in Pavia and where Bernard tried to convince (in vain) Henry IV not to go to war against Pope Gregor VII. Bernard died shortly after this meeting on June 12th and was buried on June 15th.
Thus, it is unlikely that Bernard founded the Monastery 130 years before the date of his death. It is believed that the Monastery was actually founded in or around the year 1050. The evil spirits that Bernard supposedly defeated, were most probably the bands of robbers who frequented the pass.

Once founded, the Monastery required a reliable income in order to fulfill it's duties. A complete list of all donations to the monastery commenced in 1125. In 1177, a Papal Bull from Pope Alexander III placed the Monastery under papal shelter. At that time, the Monastery's assets enumerated around 80 estates from Sicily, France, Switzerland and England.

The pass over Mont-Joux, as the pass was then called, regained its prior importance for commercial travelers and pilgrims to Rome. During the next four hundred years the Monastery grew to about it's current size. It was in the sixteenth century that the pass and the Monastery were given the name of the Saint Bernard.

The history of the Saint Bernard Dog, is predicated on access to the Monastery. The pass was deserted for centuries, thus preventing the routine shipment of animals to regions surrounding the pass. From the Roman age to the time during which the Monastery was founded, there was not a steady influx of dogs. The interruption of the shipment of dogs to the area is important to understanding the origin of the Saint Bernard.

[up]