Page 44 - DIVA_2_2007_No.29

Geneva, 1536

There is an iiwisible liiie nui- of a nunber of coil-iipt prac-
ning Noith-Soritli across tices. After Maitin Lritlier's Next, a zealoris Protestant
Switzerlai'id. Up until 1536, famoris conden'uiation of tliese preacher, Guillarune Farel,
tliis was tlie finn frontier abuses in 1517, a was sent by the Bei'iiese
between two completely dif- "Refonnation" began to spread aritliorities to Geneva in
ferent cultiires. To the east lay across Europe rising a simpli- October 1532. His presence
tlie Gennan-spealcing Swiss fied fonn of Clu'istian worship. caused sucli an oritci'y among
cantons, to tlie west tlie Tlirorigli their contacts witli tlie Catliolic pi'iests that lie was
Frencli-speaking tenitoi'y of Gei'inany and tlie Swiss can- forced to leave the city after
tlie Iuke of Savoy. Ill tlie inid- tons, by 1519 some citizens of three days. A few months later
dle of tlie Drike's tei'ritoiy Geneva liad already adopted Farel retiu'ned, togetlier with
could be found tlie city of tl'ie new religion. Siiice the two disciples: Antoine
Geneva. Catliolic Cluircli liad a reprita- Froment and Piei're Viret.
tion for mercilessly puiisliiiig Tliere were riots iii the city and
In Mediaeval tiines, tliere was "heretics", tliese citizens liad the Bisliop of Geneva, fuidiiig
a continuoris disprite as to wlio signed a pact of mutual protec- ]iis position increasingly
sliorild govei'n tlie city of tion with tlie city of Friborirg. rmtenable, fled on 14 July
Geneva-was it tlie Bisliop of 'i)Vlien tl'ie Duke of Savoy 1533-never to retiun. Tlie
Geneva, tbe Coruit of Geneva lieard aborit tlffs, he hied to Protestant preacliers forced tl'ie
or tlie Iuke of Savoy? When stainp orit tlie followers of the autlioi'ities to suspend Catliolic
one of tliem began to doiniiiate new religion in Geneva. From religious sei'vices, wliile all
affairs, the citizens worild IIOW all, political independ- "idolatrous" iinages were
align tliemselves with the ence and religioris freedom destroyed or reinoved from
strongest opponent. When tliat became inseparable goals for clunclies.
opponent became too strong, tl'ie citizens of Geneva. In
tlie allegiance worild sliift Febi'uai'y 1526, Geneva signed Tliis was tlie break witli Rome.
again. The last Count of a more biiiding protection pact Many Catholics loyal to tlie
Geneva having died iii 1401, witli several Swiss cantons and Ikilce of Savoy fled tlie city
c tlie citizens had looked ripon could IIOW corint ripon Swiss but set tlieinselves up as ai'ined
tlie Bisliop of Geneva as tlie iiitei'vention iii tlie event of gaiigs iii tlie sui-rormding corui-

E defender of the city's interests. religious persecution. Tlie ti-yside iit an attempt to stai've
But from 1450 onwards, tlie Protestant Reformation of tlie city into submission.
:$ Bisliop was always a pi'ince of Geneva contiiuied. (While this was a difficult tiine
tlie House of Savoy. Thus, iii for tlie people of Geneva, it
o one way or anotlier, Geneva In the autinnn of 1530, the cit- was eqrially liarsli on tlie local
0 was pait of Savoy. Tlie citizens izens of Geneva felt tliat peasanh'y WIIO corild not sell
tl'iemselves already had a laige anotlier attaclc by the Iuke of tlieir produce!) Even tliorigh
say iii tlie i'iu'unng of tlie city, Savoy was in'uninent and "sui'rounded", tlie city of
but they dreamt of total iitde- called iii Swiss troops. Bei'iie Geneva corild still con'ut'iuni-
o pendence. Tlie destiny of and Fribourg iiitei'vened and cate witli the oritside world by
o Geneva aiid Vaud worild be obliged tlie Dtike of Savoy to boat via tlie lake. Tliese
decided in 1536. sign tlie Treaty of St Julien, iii aggressive actions were toler-
wl'iicli it was stated tliat lie ated by tlie Drilce of Savoy and
Over many lumdreds of years worild foifeit Varid if lie ever tlierefore violated tlie tei'ins of
Geneva liad become prosper- agaiii threatened tl'ie religious tlie Treaty of St Julien. Tlien,
oris as a t'adiiig and banking fi'eedom of tlie people of tlie Duke's forces were called

centre. However, iii tlie early Geneva. For tlns service froin away to deal witli a militaiy
sixteentli centiuy, as a result of Bei'iie and Friborirg, Geneva ci'isis iii nortliem Italy. Tlffs
policies adopted by tlie Frencli received a bill for 15,000 ecris! was the oppoitimity tl'iat Bei'i'ie
16ng, Lyon liad begiui to clial- However, tlie govei'iunent of liad been waiting for!
lenge nuicli of this )usiness. Beine now realised tliat
Tluis, Geneva's attention liad Geneva controlled tlie westem After iniinerous attempts to
tumed towards tlie Swiss can- approaclies to tlie Swiss negotiate peace between
tons and Gerinany. Plateari. If Beniese troops lield Geneva and tlie Drike of
tlie Geneva region, no-one Savoy, in Jamiaiy 1536 Bei'ne
At tl'iis time, tlie Ron'iai'i corild ever iiivade from tliat wrote to all tlie otlier Swiss
Catliolic Cluircli was accused direction. cantons iii the followiiig tenns:

42 2 2007 Diva

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