Savoy’s Secret Attack
On the night of December 11-12, 1602, Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, launched a surprise attack on Geneva. The duke wanted to take control of the Protestant city, which had long resisted his rule. Under the cover of darkness, 2,000 Savoyard troops attempted to scale the city’s fortified walls with ladders.
A Midnight Battle
Genevans quickly spotted the intruders, and the alarm was sounded. Soldiers and civilians rushed to defend the city, using weapons, stones, and whatever they could find. Catherine Cheynel, a local woman, famously poured a cauldron of hot soup onto an attacker, helping repel the invaders.
Savoyard Defeat
The fierce resistance forced the Savoyards to retreat within hours. Over 50 Savoyards were killed, and several were captured, including their commander. The Duke of Savoy failed to take Geneva, and the city remained independent.
Annual Celebration
Geneva now celebrates the Escalade every December with parades, reenactments, and chocolate cauldrons, honoring the failed invasion that could have changed its history.
In December 1602, the Duke of Savoy, launched a surprise attack on Geneva. The duke wanted to take control of the Protestant city, which had long resisted his rule. Under the cover of darkness, 2,000 Savoyard troops attempted to scale the city’s fortified walls with ladders.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/diZrrhPLa0
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