Cannon Geneva

Near the City Hall in Geneva, there is a collection of antique cannon.

This one has the arms of the City which was a Protestant, Swiss and Republican bulwark against the surrounding Catholic Savoyard Duchy from the early 16th Century. John Calvin was the City Council appointed spiritual leader of Geneva from 1536 to 1564.

Several attempts were made to surprise the Genevois who were strengthened by Huguenots refugees from France and modern fortifications. A surprise attack was made in December 1602 when Savoyard troops tried to scale the walls and were repelled by citizens deploying among other weapons hot soup.