Geneva (Fr. Genève, Ger. Genf, Ital. Ginevra), capital of the Swiss canton of the same name, is situated at the exit of the Rhone from the Lake of Geneva, 388 miles by rail S.E. of Paris. A Gallic town originally, Geneva acknowledged Roman supremacy in 120 B.C. It was a place of some importance under the Burgundian kings, from whom it passed in 534 to the Franks, and from them towards the end of the 9th century to the new kingdom of Burgundy. It had been made a bishop's seat in the 4th century. From the 12th century a continual feud existed between the bishops and the Counts and Dukes of Savoy with regard to the supremacy—a state of things which the citizens took advantage of to obtain a considerable share of municipal liberty for themselves. Having secured Freiburg (1519) and Bern (1526) for allies, the republic of Geneva finally won its complete independence from Savoy. The acceptance of Protestantism by the republic a few years later brought to an end its alliance with the Roman Catholic republic of Freiburg, and exposed it to fresh attacks from the House of Savoy; and it was only saved by the timely intervention of its staunch ally Bern (1536). In the summer of that same year Calvin (q.v.) arrived at Geneva, and began his reconstitution of the political and social life of the city, which created it one of the chief strongholds of Protestantism in Europe. In 1602 the last attempt of the Dukes of Savoy to recover the town was frustrated by the citizens. During the 18th century Geneva was distracted by unceasing feuds between the aristocratic and popular parties, until in 1782 Bern, Sardinia, and, in particular, France interfered in favour of the aristocracy. The French Revolution led to a new crisis: the government was overthrown in July 1794, equality in the eye of the law was established, a national convention appointed, and a reign of terror commenced. In 1798 Geneva and its territory were annexed to France; but, after the overthrow of Napoleon, they recovered their independence and joined as twenty-second canton the Swiss Confederation under the sanction of the treaties of Vienna and of Paris (1815). The aristocratic party managed to repossess themselves of the government of the city, and their rule was only superseded by a more democratic constitution after much agitation and several risings of the people between 1842 and 1846, in which the leading spirit was Fazy (q.v.). After 1870 the town was for some years kept in a state of unrest owing to the attempt of the Ultramontanes to revive the Roman Catholic bishopric of Geneva.
Formerly Geneva was surrounded by walls, and consisted of clusters of narrow and ill-drained streets; but since the accession of the radical party to power in 1847 the town has been almost entirely rebuilt in modern style. The ancient ramparts have been removed, streets widened and well paved, new and commodious quays constructed along the shores of the lake and river, and various improvements introduced, chief amongst which is the erection of a breakwater, within which steamboats are received and lie in safety. In its course through the town the Rhone forms two islands, on one of which still exists an antique and picturesque cluster of buildings; on the other, laid out as a public pleasure-ground, is a statue of Rousseau. In the Place des Alpes is a sumptuous monument to Duke Charles XI. of Brunswick, who, dying here in 1873, left 16,500,000 francs to the city. Famous as a theological, literary, and scientific centre, Geneva has given birth to Rousseau; to the physicist De Saussure; to the naturalists Charles Bonnet and the Pictets; to Necker, father of Madame de Staël; to the humorist Toepffer; to Cherbuliez; to Aniel; and to the sculptor Pradier. The principal edifices are the Transition cathedral of St Peter, which dates from 1124; the town-hall, within which the members of the Alabama (q.v.) arbitration met in 1872; the academy, founded by Calvin in 1559, with a library of 110,000 volumes, and in 1873 converted into a university (with about 600 students); the magnificent theatre, opened in 1879, which ranks next in size to the Paris Opéra and the Court-theatre of Vienna; the Rath Museum (1824-26); the Fol Museum, with collections of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities; the Athenæum, devoted to the fine arts; and the museum of natural history, containing De Saussure's geological collection, admirable collections of fossil plants, &c. The staple manufactures of the town are watches, musical-boxes, and jewelry. Pop. (1885) 51,537 (with the suburbs Plainpalais and Eaux Vives, 74,453; in 1893, 78,777. See works by Cherbuliez (1868), Blavignac (1872), and Roget (1870-83).
The Geneva Convention (1864), signed by twelve delegates from various countries, mainly regards the succour of the wounded in time of war, and forbids cruel methods of warfare (e.g. the use of explosive bullets). The resulting international code was ultimately adopted by all civilised powers except the United States; and a 'Red Cross Society' was established, which became very prominent and helpful during the Franco-German war (1870-71), its flag, with the 'Geneva Cross,' being recognised as neutral. Other international conferences for promoting the same objects were held at Paris (1867) and Berlin (1869). For the Geneva Bible, see BIBLE.