WI : No "Protestant Rome"

With Switerland prevented to takeover Geneva, Vaud and Chablais (the more likely possibilities for that being Savoy keeping/taking them, with the support of Francis Ier of France, eventually with parts being given to him) and these being under a Catholic state control : how would Protestantism (and critically Calvinism) would devellop in Europe?
 
Wasn't Switzerland Catholic? I would suggest that an analogue of Calvinism would still develop but just elswhere. Perhaps it would be known instead as Knoxism after being developed in Scotland.
 
Wasn't Switzerland Catholic?
It was divided. Technically, tough, Geneva wasn't part of Switzerland, more an ally, and served as a strong point for Calvinism expansion

I would suggest that an analogue of Calvinism would still develop but just elswhere. Perhaps it would be known instead as Knoxism after being developed in Scotland.

Given the importance of Geneva, with harbouring Protestant in European's core, allowing the diffusion of Protestantism in Catholic countires (especially France), having an equivalent wouldn't prevent huge changes.
 
With Switerland prevented to takeover Geneva, Vaud and Chablais (the more likely possibilities for that being Savoy keeping/taking them, with the support of Francis Ier of France, eventually with parts being given to him) and these being under a Catholic state control : how would Protestantism (and critically Calvinism) would devellop in Europe?

John Calvin himself probably won't do so well without a base in Geneva, especially if the Catholic monarchy cracks down on Protestants like in OTL. However, Calvinist ideas had been floating around well before the Reformation. Maybe a revival of Lollardism is in order? They had a fairly strict interpretation of the Bible, and would be a good alternate version of the Puritans. Lollards believed "clerical celibacy, pilgrimages, and other such uses were an abomination", and some regarded the office of the pope as the Antichrist. The interesting part is that the Lollards believed that "pastors should not hold civil offices". This did not stop them from trying to overthrow the English government in 1431. Shakespeare regarded the Lollard Sir John Oldcastle as a martyr in OTL, so Protestants certainly felt a kinship to this earlier movement.

Chances are something similar will develop, but it wouldn't be called "Calvinism". No Calvin may mean fewer Protestants in France, so the Valois may be able to hold onto power if they are healthy enough.

My source here is:

Gonzales, J.L. (1984). The story of Christianity: Volume 1: The early church to the dawn of the Reformation. New York: HarperCollins.

Gonz
 
With Switerland prevented to takeover Geneva, Vaud and Chablais (the more likely possibilities for that being Savoy keeping/taking them, with the support of Francis Ier of France, eventually with parts being given to him) and these being under a Catholic state control : how would Protestantism (and critically Calvinism) would devellop in Europe?

I do not really think it is going to have a major impact on moderate protestantism, like Lutheranism or English Anglicanism. But Radical protestantism will be less centralised. Zwigli and Calvin, while they still might live and write, they will not have the proving grounds and safe havens of otl. And that means less discourse and education of the radical clergy and most likely much less spread of those ideas. Large effect on France and the Netherlands. This is off course in the short run. But those butterflies are going to be rather large.
 
Geneva's independence has absolutely nothing to do with the Swiss Conquest of the Vaud. The earliest territory emerged when the population of the city of Geneva threw out the Prince-Bishop (though he retained substantial territories until the Vaud conquest) in 1526 by signing an protection agreement (which they were able to do thanks to the granting of substantial rights in a charter of 1387) with Bern and Fribourg. The main change in 1536 was to provide a land link to the city, and to transfer the lands of the Prince-Bishop to the city. Indeed, the city didn't actually declare for the reformist movements until after the Duke had been fully thrown out in 1533 and the Bernese conquest of the Vaud in 1536.

So the most likely course is the following:

1526- the city of Geneva, tired of the House of Savoy attempting to use their monopoly over the position of Prince-Bishop, throws him out and signs a protection agreement with Bern and Fribourg.
1533- The Duke of Savoy has been decisively repulsed and the Savoyard Bishop expelled from the seat.
1536- Sans conquest of the Vaud, Geneva remains a relative haven for reformists, but officially Catholic in doctrine.

I would think though that conflict in the area would be inevitable. Savoy will want to put her choice of Bishop back in place, but I think it likely that having done it twice, Geneva won't fail a third time, and so you might see a genuinely independent Prince-Bishop of Geneva joining as an associate at a later date (a la Saint-Gallen or Basle). The Vaud could easily be taken later, or it may remain with Savoy up until a war with France. Whether Geneva can really be called the Protestant Rome in this scenario is much more uncertain, but it seems likely to be inclined to harbour reformists- and potentially go down an Anglican route- at the very least.
 
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