© Louis BINZ, professeur. D'après son livre "Brève histoire de Genève"
Guillaume Farel (1489-1565)
© Center of Genevese iconography, coll BPU.
This portrait of the reformer was published by Theodore de Bèze in “the true portraits of the famous men” in 1581.
Mobiles of conversion Since 1526, German merchants propagate the ideas of the Reform intitiée by Martin Luther among some Genevese tradesmen. For a long time, the followers of the new Protestant faith remain very few. At the beginning of years 1530, the current develops under the influence of preachers of talent, of which Guillaume Farel. This From the Dauphine can exert its capacities of converter thanks to the protection of the Berneses, which adopted the Reform in 1528. He becomes their French ground missionary. The New Year's Day 1533, reformed leave clandestinity and organize a public sermon preached on the place of the Gob by Antoine Froment. During this same year, the majority of the leading class will pass to the Reform.
The reasons of this conversion are complex. Let us put the religious reasons at the head. Since the XV E century, the middle-class of the cities more and more badly accepted the Roman Church which was long in correcting abuses denounced for a long time. The teaching of Martin Luther corresponded better to his religious aspirations, just as with its material interests. Often, only the vigorous reaction of the municipal authorities or the close princes made it possible Catholicism to be maintained in the cities. If not, the spirits of the townsmen were rather easily let convince of the accuracy of the new faith.
Frequently, political reasons reinforced the religious reasons. Geneva offers an good example of it. After 1526, Charles It seeks to reconquer the city. In 1528, its vassal, the gentlemen known as of the Spoon, blocks it and devastates the surroundings. In 1530, a Savoyard army will give the attack; Bernese, Freibourgese soldiers and soleurois run to the assistance. Charles must negotiate. A treaty obliges it to pawn the Country of Vaud; if it attacks Geneva again, Bern and Freiburg will have the right to occupy it. But all kinds of skirmishes prove that it by no means gave up Geneva. By security measure, the authorities made shave the suburbs which had developed out of the ramparts and facilitated the enemy infiltrations.
In addition, the duke remains inébranlablement attached to the catholic faith. He pursues reformed in his State. Quite naturally, an association occurs in the spirit of the Genevese between the political enemy who is Charles He and its defense of Catholicism. The hatred of which it is the object also defers on its religion. The cause of political freedom and that of the Reform merge.
The attitude of the bishop pushes with the same reaction, because, after excuses, it lined up on the side of the duke. In July 1533, it reappears after a long absence. If the catholics hope for much of his presence to resist the reformed current, they are disappointed cruelly. Frightened, Pierre of the Balsam flees at the end of fifteen days; he will not return any more. The following year, the Councils proclaim vacant the seat of the bishop and mint with their name. That means that they are regarded as sovereigns: the communal authorities rose with the row of government of a State.
The choice to be operated between Freiburg and Bern One second political cause of the change of religion was the choice to be operated between Freiburg and Bern. The Freibourgese defend the old worship and encourage the magistrates to proscribe the reformed preachers, with whom Bern requires that full freedom of expression be left. The political reason forced to choose Bern, infinitely more powerful, and to leave free course to Protestant propaganda. Also the Freibourgese denounced the combourgeoisy in March 1534.
During this year 1534, most of the population adheres to the Reform. On August 10th, 1535, the Council of the Two hundreds suspends the mass. It is the sign of the passage of Geneva to the Reform. The catholics emigrate or terrent themselves; they do not have any more a legal existence. They will be tolerated, gradually, at XVIIe and, more still, the XVIIIe century as the Genevese economy claims more labor. Generally, they will exert the humblest tasks, will be servants or operations.
On May 21st, 1536, the General advice confirms the adoption of the Reform, but this ratification is of pure form; at this date, it was out of the question to retrogress.