history of Geneva
Geneva was a settlement even in Celtic times. It was an important transshipment point under the Romans, who named it Genava.
The Germanic Burgundians, who conquered the area in the 5th century, made it their capital for a time.
The city was the seat of a bishop from around 400 until the Reformation, when the bishop was driven out and the city became one of the major Protestant centres in Europe under Jean Calvin. The influx of refugees it attracted contributed to its economic and cultural upsurge.
In 1602 the city defeated the Duke of Savoy and forced him to abandon his territorial claims against it. Geneva then remained a small city state until it was briefly absorbed into France in 1798, before becoming a Swiss canton in 1815.
The Reformation
John Calvin (10 July 1509 - 27 May 1564, Geneva) was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Calvin preached at St. Pierre Cathedral, the main church in Geneva.
In addition to The Reformation, two other links worth checking about the development of Geneva are Charles Pictet de Rochemont - and - The Man Who Invented the Canton of Geneva.
The Escalade
For the people of Geneva the Escalade is the symbol of their independence. The escalade (literally: "scaling the walls") marks the final attempt in a series of assaults mounted throughout the 16th century by the Duke of Savoy, who wanted to annex Geneva as its capital north of the Alps. Wikipedia has a brief description of the events.
Escalade Today
Today it is celebrated with a race through Geneva, and an all weekend party in the old town. Children dress in carnival-style costumes and sing the Escalade song, participants in the exhibitions dress in period costumes. On this weekend only, private gardens are opened to the public so official guides can take you through the final battle. Soup and mulled wine are served in the old town. Musketeers accompanied by the cavalry load and fire their muskets, and the cannons are loaded and fired as well. Sunday night a bonfire is lit in the Place St. Pierre. The official site is Compagnie 1602 (in French).
The Germanic Burgundians, who conquered the area in the 5th century, made it their capital for a time.
The city was the seat of a bishop from around 400 until the Reformation, when the bishop was driven out and the city became one of the major Protestant centres in Europe under Jean Calvin. The influx of refugees it attracted contributed to its economic and cultural upsurge.
In 1602 the city defeated the Duke of Savoy and forced him to abandon his territorial claims against it. Geneva then remained a small city state until it was briefly absorbed into France in 1798, before becoming a Swiss canton in 1815.
The Reformation
John Calvin (10 July 1509 - 27 May 1564, Geneva) was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Calvin preached at St. Pierre Cathedral, the main church in Geneva.
In addition to The Reformation, two other links worth checking about the development of Geneva are Charles Pictet de Rochemont - and - The Man Who Invented the Canton of Geneva.
The Escalade
For the people of Geneva the Escalade is the symbol of their independence. The escalade (literally: "scaling the walls") marks the final attempt in a series of assaults mounted throughout the 16th century by the Duke of Savoy, who wanted to annex Geneva as its capital north of the Alps. Wikipedia has a brief description of the events.
Escalade Today
Today it is celebrated with a race through Geneva, and an all weekend party in the old town. Children dress in carnival-style costumes and sing the Escalade song, participants in the exhibitions dress in period costumes. On this weekend only, private gardens are opened to the public so official guides can take you through the final battle. Soup and mulled wine are served in the old town. Musketeers accompanied by the cavalry load and fire their muskets, and the cannons are loaded and fired as well. Sunday night a bonfire is lit in the Place St. Pierre. The official site is Compagnie 1602 (in French).
Byron & Shelley
In the summer of 1816 Lord Byron settled in Geneva with Percy and Mary Shelley, and Claire Clairmont. There he wrote the two cantos of "Childe Harold" and "The Prisoner Of Chillon", the latter after having visited the Château de Chillon about the sufferings of François Bonivard (1493-1570), prior of Saint-Victor in Geneva, who was held captive in Chillon because of his opposition to the Savoyards. You can see Byron's name carved in one of the columns in the dungeon of the castle. At the end of that summer Byron continued his travels, spending two years in Italy. Source: The Literature Network
It was also during this summer that Mary Shelley conceived the idea for her novel Frankenstein from the Shelley's house Villa Diodati in the Colony area of Geneva.
In the summer of 1816 Lord Byron settled in Geneva with Percy and Mary Shelley, and Claire Clairmont. There he wrote the two cantos of "Childe Harold" and "The Prisoner Of Chillon", the latter after having visited the Château de Chillon about the sufferings of François Bonivard (1493-1570), prior of Saint-Victor in Geneva, who was held captive in Chillon because of his opposition to the Savoyards. You can see Byron's name carved in one of the columns in the dungeon of the castle. At the end of that summer Byron continued his travels, spending two years in Italy. Source: The Literature Network
It was also during this summer that Mary Shelley conceived the idea for her novel Frankenstein from the Shelley's house Villa Diodati in the Colony area of Geneva.