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Savoy, felt he had come out of the deal badly.
He sought to take revenge by seizing Geneva,
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making it the capital of his states north of thee
Alps; a vital part of the fight against Calvinism.
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For this reason, the operation was prepared inin
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secret to avoid provoking Henry IV of France
and the Protestant cantons.
On the darkest night of the year, from the 11
th
to 12 (21 to 22 Gregorian calendar) of
nd
st
th
December 1602, Savoyard troops led by Charles
de Simiane, lord of Albigny, attempted a surprise
invasion of Geneva. Over 2,000 troops under the
command of Francois de Brunaulieu marched
along the river Arve and assembled at Plainpalais,
just outside the walls of Geneva. At around 2am
this elite group was ordered to scale the walls of
the city using ladders (in French “escalader”), to
open the city gate and let the other troops in. The
advance guard, two or three hundred strong, had
already scaled the wall of La Corraterie when the
alarm was raised, the church bells were rung,
and the Genevese were alerted.
‘L’esprit de Genève’ The citizens of Geneva defeated the invaders Cathedral Saint-Pierre. The procession stops
by preventing them from scaling the wall using
cannon fire. Fighting broke out in the streets
and its international vocation: against those who had managed to climb over. at significant locations along the way and the
herald, a horseman dressed in the colours of
The night guard, Isaac Mercier, cut the portcullis
Geneva, delivers the Proclamation Speech - a
where and how you can experience rope, foiling the plan to open the main city gate solemn address designed to remind everyone of
and let in the majority of the attackers. The
story of the Escalade. The procession ends in the
the truly unforgettable citizens fought alongside the town militia and Court in front of the Cathedral, culminating with
repelled the Savoyard invasion, forcing them
to retreat. This marked the failure of this coup the Proclamation speech and lighting the Fire of

By Evelina Rioukhina Joy in Court’s centre. Then, the Historic Choir
and cost the lives of around one hundred people, of Escalade 1602, together with the procession
eighteen of whom were Genevans. Sixteen of
Today, “l’espit de Genève” (the Spirit of Geneva) is protection and refuge that would centuries later these died during the battle itself, two later from participants, sing Psalm 124. After that, along
understood as a set of values of humanism, social make Geneva the birthplace of multilateralism? wounds. with thousands of spectators, young and old, the
justice and independence expressed by various While historians may debate the precise timing, whole city sings the hymn of Geneva.
historical figures, authors and international it is important to understand the soul and The failure of the Escalade was widely publicised.
organizations linked in Geneva, and recognises spirit of Geneva, at least since its victory in the The people of Geneva and their Reformed friends Another emblem of the Escalade is, of course,
the international vocation of Geneva and the Escalade (or perhaps even earlier). felt they had seen the hand of Providence. The the marmite – commemorated in honour of the
birthplace of multilateralism. But where the term event, some of whose trophies are preserved in Mère Royame (real name Catherine Cheynel),
“l’esprit de Genève” come from? In 1929, Robert Of course, all of you from Geneva International, Geneva’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, is rightly who was cooking stew for her children that night,
de Traz published the essay “L’esprit de Genève”, who live and work here, in Geneva, took part, famous and celebrated in Geneva with religious and who, when she heard the attackers climbing,
which traced the origins of this tradition through at least once, at the Escalade celebration. You and civil ceremonies. “Cé qu’é laino”, the Escalade instead of hiding, grabbed the soup pot and threw
the life and work of three major historical figures: smashed the marmite, watched the historic victory song, was composed shortly afterwards. it down on the climbers, badly burning them. The
Jean Calvin, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Henri procession and saw many persons dressed in Today it is the hymn of Geneva, which since racket caused by this attack alerted the guards,
Dunant, whose legacy helped to make Geneva a historical costumes. But do you know the real the 3 of March 2024 has been inscribed in the who could then fight off the invaders. Catherine
rd
symbol of dialogue, peace and democracy. story? Constitution of the Canton. Cheynel was seen as a hero, and nowadays her
sculpture decorates the entrance of La Corraterie
But where can we trace the origins of this After the Treaty of Lyon (1601), between France The Escalade celebrations culminate in a historic 7. The other famous personage of this night is
unique sentiment, ‘l’esprit de Genève’? Was it and Savoy brought an end to the Franco- procession of the proclamation of victory over Dame Paiget, who threw the key from her window
the Escalade that instilled the feelings of liberty, Savoyard war, Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of the invaders, going through the city to the to the Genevan defenders so that they could pass

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