The Climbing - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Historical context

For several years, the dukes of Savoy have coveted the rich and prosperous city which counts approximately 12.000 inhabitants. When Charles-Emmanuel Ier assembles on the throne in 1580, it projects to make of Geneva its capital in the north of the the Alps and to fight the Calvinisme with the support of the pope Clément VIII. Does not like that at all the king Henri IV of France which sends some roughneck soldiers to reach a strong garrison of a hundred men.

In 1602, Charles-Emmanuel Ier decides to finish some. He joins together a troop of approximately 2000 Mercenaire S mainly Spanish (provided by his brother-in-law Philippe III of Spain) and Italy NS because the Savoyard ones are not reliable in its eyes (too many bonds with Geneva). Moreover all those which can see the concentration of troops are systematically stopped so that they cannot give alarm. The date is fixed: it will be the night from December 11th to 12th (according to the Julien calendar), one longest of the year. The the Moon is hidden and the vigils tend more to be heated inside than to remain on the walls of the city. The 2000 men get going, go along the Arve and gather with Plainpalais with 2:00 of the morning. The original plan is to open the doors (using commandos) in order to be able to let enter the soldiers. The plan seems to proceed with wonder and the avant-garde climbing the door of the Currency which is not kept any more by measurement of economy. One sends even an emissary charged to negotiate the Paix, history to deaden the suspicions. The fascines fill the ditch, the scales are drawn up, more than 200 Savoyard are already in the place and their chiefs traverse the deserted streets of the city. D' Albigny sends even a message to Charles-Emmanuel Ier (“It is done”) and dispatches messengers in all immediately the Europe.

Hearing an odd noise, two sentinels leave on the rampart the Currency and fall nose to nose with the Savoyard avant-garde. The first is quickly estourbi but the second has time to release a blow of Arquebuse. Alarm is given to 2:30, the Clémence (bell of the cathedral Saint-Pierre) sounds the Tocsin which is relayed by all the Cloche S of the churches. The citizens rise, seize weapons and, out of nightdress, come to lend strong hand to the Milice S middle-class. Even the women interfere themselves and one sees some handling Lance S and Hallebarde S like old veterans. The battle makes rage in all the corners of the city but the Savoyard ones can still carry it if they manage to open the door of New. They succeed in seizing some and are on the point of making some jump the hinges when Isaac Mercier, a Lorrain, makes fall large the harrow which resists all the attacks. The large one of the troops remains out the walls whereas those which succeed in crossing them are massacred or driven back. The rare prisoners, and among them the fine flower of the Savoyard old nobility, are entrusted as of the following day to the good care of the Bourreau Tabazan and the 67 heads, on spades, decorate until July the walls of the rampart of Goose. Geneva, as for it, cries the death of 18 of its citizens.

Of return near Charles-Emmanuel Ier, of Albigny intended itself to say: “Of this climbing, Sir, you made beautiful a cacade” and it is this word which the history retains. It is said that Henri IV, by receiving the very first message of Charles-Emmanuel Ier of Savoy, murmurs between his teeth: “Savoy took Geneva. It will not keep it very a long time. ” The following day, to the reception of the second message, it starts from a glare of Rire which resounds a long time in the corridors of the Palais of Louvre.

After his defeat, Charles-Emmanuel Ier is obliged to accept a durable peace sealed by the Traité of Saint-Julien of the July 12th 1603.

Celebration

Festivities

The festivities take place on December 12th of each year and the commemorations official during the Week-end nearest to the historical date. This commemoration is regarded as the national festival Genevese culminating by the bonfire on the Parvis of the Saint-Pierre cathedral to the sound of the Cé that E lainô, the Hymne Genevese glorifiant this historical event.

The habit wants that the children disguise themselves and ravel during this night in the streets or sing with the doors the famous song Ah! The Beautiful Climbing . The students of the post-obligatory levels also make a diurnal procession in the streets of the city. The population is also disguised to take part in the multitude of evenings which are organized in margin of the official events.

One of the symbols strong of this festival is the Mère Kingdom which, according to the legend, pours by its window, during the night battle, a pot of hot Soupe on the Savoyard soldiers passing in his street. From there comes the famous pot in Chocolat (filled of candies, packed with the Genevese colors and accompanied by small Pétard S, and by Légume S in Massepain) and soup from tasted vegetables on this occasion. The pot is traditionally broken after the recitation of the ritual sentence (“Thus perish the enemies of the République! ”) by the united hands of the youngest child and the Senior of the assistance.

A large historical procession composed of 800 participants in costumes of time, halberdiers, arquebusiers, riders (and characters historical) ravels Sunday evening in the streets of the Old city. During these three days, demonstrations of shooting of Mousquet, of handling of Halberd or shootings with the gun also take place.

The narrow Monnetier passage is opened to the public only at the time of the commemoration of the Climbing.

Polemics

The celebration of the Climbing, relatively recent, takes the form of a Carnaval in the middle of Geneva Protestant where this type of celebration was formally interdict since the Réforme.

Very early, the military victory of the Climbing doubles profane celebrations which are enracinent in mentalities, in spite of prohibitions and the remonstrances of the Pasteur S. In a State where any religious holiday is banished, the commemoration of the Climbing is essential very quickly and reintroduces the festival in Geneva.

Gradually, two tendencies of celebration will be opposed clearly until representing a social real issue. There are those which want to make Climbing a true patriotic festival (worthy and serious with worship, procession and banquets) and those which intend to celebrate the Climbing in the jubilation and in a manner close to the carnival or hullabaloo.

In 1898, a group of citizens found Genevese patriotic Association for the restoration of the Climbing. This one is renamed in 1926 under the name of Compagnie of 1602. This association is given for task to maintain with the commemoration of the Climbing “the patriotic character of dignity which him sied and to stimulate the zeal of all those which want to preserve the noble traditions of the past. ”

In 1960, an ordinance of the Council of State authorizing the disguises on the public highway only with the only children of less than 15 years, is promulgated because “of attacks to the solemnity of the ceremony of 1602. ” Prohibition is renewed in 1978.

Race of the Climbing

In margin of the solemn commemorations is held since 1978, the preceding Week-end the traditional historical procession, a pedestrian race popular through the old woman-city. At the time of the 1st Race of the Climbing, the number of disguised runners is quasi non-existent. The tradition of the disguise only is essential very gradually. It is only in 1985 that the disguise is recognized, before being institutionalized in 1991 by the creation of the test of the Pot. One can reasonably think that the Race of the Climbing is, and in a certain manner remains, a means of circumventing the official interdict of 1960. Because the Genevese test prolongs in an unexpected and original way the long conflict having opposed since the 17th century the defenders of the solemn commemoration and those of the humorous festival. The creation of the Race of the Climbing is felt by the Company of 1602 like an attempt at handing-over in question of the traditional values. Finally, it is the Genevese population itself which gives to this race its popularity. Today, it constitutes more the great event of the kind in Suisse.

See too

Related bond

Race of the Climbing

External bonds

Company of 1602
historical Complements by the Files of State of Geneva
Race of the Climbing
Climbing and pot (personal site)

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