History

Geneva

Jet d'eau on Lake Geneva © www.123rf.com / Kheng Guan Toh
Most Popular Hotels in Geneva:
6 Rue De Paquis, CH-1201
Quai Du Mont Blanc, 1201
13, Quai Du Mont-Blanc , 1201
2 Place De La Navigation, 1201
 
 




3000BC First inhabitants occupy the shores of Lake Geneva
500BC
Celtic Allobroges clan settle on the site now known as Geneva's Vieille Ville (Old Town)
122-120BC
Rome conquers the Allobroges and Geneva becomes a Roman stronghold
58BC
Julius Caesar defends Geneva against the onslaught of the Helvetii, resulting in the first written record of Geneva
AD443
Germanic Burgundian tribe found their kingdom in Geneva
534
Franks occupy the city
1032
Geneva falls under the domination of the German Empire
1160-1232
Geneva's Cathédrale St-Pierre is built
1536
Proclamation of the Reformation and Republic, Calvin settles in Geneva and transforms the city into the 'Mother of the Protestant Church'
1550
French and Italian Protestants, fleeing persecution, settle in Geneva
1555
John Knox, key collaborator on the 'Geneva Bible', gives a sermon in the city
1559
Calvin founds his Academy in Geneva, forerunner of the present University
11 Dec 1602
Battle of the Escalade, inhabitants of Geneva defeat the Savoyards
late 17th C
Second wave of French Protestants seek refuge in Geneva
1712
Birth of Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the city
1755-1778
Voltaire lives in and around Geneva
1792
Geneva Revolution ousts the Ancien Régime; political equality is proclaimed
1798
Geneva's newly pronounced republic is annexed by France and appointed capital of the Département du Léman
1813
Napoleonic armies are defeated and Geneva regains its freedom
18th C
Period of great prosperity; watchmaking, commerce and banking flourish
1814
Geneva applies to join the Swiss Confederation and becomes a Swiss canton
1846
James Fazy leads the revolution to overturn the government of the Restoration. A constitution is drawn up that is still in force today
1864
Geneva becomes the birthplace of the Red Cross
1903-1905 and 1908
Geneva provides sanctuary for Lenin
1917
Reformation Wall erected in dedication to the leading figures of the international Reformation movement
1919
President Wilson makes Geneva headquarters of the League of Nations
1946
Newly created United Nations establishes European Headquarters in Geneva

Tours of Geneva

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