Evian, Vevey, Savoie and the Ancient Swiss Confederation of Cantons

21 September 2024

Politically, linguistically, economically, and culturally, the Lac Léman area has always been a region of intense mutual contact. The bishops of Geneva, the city of Geneva, abbots, counts, and dukes of Savoie, kings of the kingdom of Piedmont-Savoie and France, the Swiss Confederation, Wallis (Valais), and other players determined politics, trade, war, and peace until … Read more » “Evian, Vevey, Savoie and the Ancient Swiss Confederation of Cantons”

The Anabaptists of Zurich, Zollikon, the Netherlands and humanists from Basel

20 September 2024

While many Protestant citizens from the (Habsburg) Low Countries and later the  Republic of the Seven United Provinces were students at the academy (founded in 1559) of John Calvin (1509-1564) in Geneva, other Protestant citizens fled the Netherlands precisely for Calvin and his teachings. Martin Luther (1483-1546) initiated the Reformation in 1517. Many predecessors had … Read more » “The Anabaptists of Zurich, Zollikon, the Netherlands and humanists from Basel”

A Small History of the Litte and Great St Bernard Passes, their Hospices and Bernadiner Dogs

19 September 2024

Napoleon’s (1769-1821) famous march over the Great St Bernard (2469 metres) in 1800 went in a different direction from that of emperor Claudius (10 BC-54 AD) in 43 AD. Claudius marched south to north toward Britannia, and Napoleon marched north to south towards Habsburg Italy and its allies. In both cases, Martigny (Forum Claudii Vallensium, … Read more » “A Small History of the Litte and Great St Bernard Passes, their Hospices and Bernadiner Dogs”