Philibert Berthelier (c. 1465August 23, 1519), often known just as Berthelier, was a

Genevan , neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier , website = https://www.geneve.ch/ Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ...

patriot A patriot is a person with the quality of patriotism. Patriot may also refer to: Political and military groups United States * Patriot (American Revolution), those who supported the cause of independence in the American Revolution * Patriot m ...

, an uncompromising enemy of the

Duke of Savoy The titles of count, then of duke of Savoy are titles of nobility attached to the historical territory of Savoy. Since its creation, in the 11th century, the county was held by the House of Savoy. The County of Savoy was elevated to a duchy at ...

in his ambition to control

Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situa ...

Rebellion against the Duke of Savoy

In 1513, the Duke of Savoy nominated his cousin as bishop of Geneva, and Berthelier called for a rebellion, but later made a political compromise with the Bishop of Geneva when accepting nomination as commander of the Castle of Penay. However, in June 1515 he rose in open rebellion, and in 1517 even fled to

Fribourg , neighboring_municipalities= Düdingen, Givisiez, Granges-Paccot, Marly, Pierrafortscha, Sankt Ursen, Tafers, Villars-sur-Glâne , twintowns = Rueil-Malmaison (France) , website = www.ville-fribourg.ch , Location of , Location of () () ...

in order to secretly promote a cooperation between the republican factions in both cities. In February 1518 he returned to Geneva after being given

safe conduct Safe conduct, safe passage, or letters of transit, is the situation in time of international conflict or war where one state, a party to such conflict, issues to a person (usually an enemy state's subject) a pass or document to allow the enemy ...

by the bishop of that city, and in October of the same year began a series of secret meetings with members of the republican faction in the city (known as

Huguenots The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster B ...

) for the purpose of overthrowing Savoy rule. In order to prevent any rebellion, the bishop of Geneva decided to move his residence into that city from Pignerol, where he resided most of the time, and on April 20, 1519 moved into Geneva. Berthelier was offered by his friends to flee to Fribourg another time, but refused.

Trial and execution

Berthelier was arrested by the bishop's soldiers on August 23, 1519, and was tried for treason against the Duke of Savoy. For the purpose of the trial, the bishop circumvented the laws of the land that required trial by the Grand Council established in 1457 and appointed a former dentist named Jean Desbois as a special judge. After a summary trial held on the same day, Berthelier was found guilty and was sentenced to death by beheading. The sentence was carried out on the same day.

Legacy

In the grounds of the church that stands beside the Domaine de Chateauvieux in the village of Peney, overlooking the Rhone near Geneva, there is a small plaque erected in 1986 to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the Reformation. This refers to the Castle of Peney as the 'ancient fief of Philibert Berthelier'. After the Reformation was declared Peney Castle was a stronghold of Catholicism and was destroyed by the Genevans in 1536. On the site now stands the Domaine de Chateauvieux, a luxury hotel and restaurant which has a brief historical account of the castle in English. Berthelier had a

son A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some curren ...

by the same name, who was an opponent of

Jean Calvin John Calvin (; frm, Jehan Cauvin; french: link=no, Jean Calvin ; 10 July 150927 May 1564) was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system ...

. As aprominent Libertine Philibert Berthelier was secretary to the Council of the Two Hundred, and known for his sexual promiscuity was excommunicated by the consistory of the Church of Geneva in 1551

References

1460s births 1519 deaths {{Switzerland-bio-stub