Geneva Around this time, the House of Savoy came to at least nominally dominate the city. In the 15th century, an oligarchic republican government emerged with the creation of the Grand Council. In the first half of the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation reached the city, causing religious strife, during which Savoy rule was thrown off and Geneva allied itself with the Swiss Confederacy. In 1541, with Protestantism on the rise, John Calvin, the founder of Calvinism, became the spiritual leader of the city and established the Republic of Geneva. By the 18th century, Geneva had come under the influence of
Canton of Geneva great influence on the canton, which essentially consists of the city and its hinterlands. Geneva was controlled by the Allobroges tribe until 121 BC. It was annexed to the Roman Empire in 121 BC and remained its part until 443. In 443, Burgundians took over Geneva. In 532, the land controlled by Burgundians became part of the Frankish Empire. Geneva became a part of the Kingdom of Burgundy in 888. Geneva became a part of the Holy Roman Empire in 1032 and officially remained in it until the Peace of Westphalia. The Prince-Bishopric of Geneva was a Prince-Bishopric of the