Bonivard (or Bonnivard), Francois De

Bonivard (Or Bonnivard), Francois De, a Swiss ecclesiastic and politician, was born about 1493 at Seyssel-on-the- Rhone. He belonged to a family which enjoyed many privileges under the government of Savoy. He was educated at Turin, and became prior of St. Victor, just outside the walls of Geneva, in 1510. But duke Charles of Savoy succeeded in depriving Bonivard of all his paternal possessions, with the exception of the priory of St. Victor; the consequence was that Bonivard sided with the Geneva patriots, who at that time defended their rights and liberties against the encroachments of the house of Savoy. Bonivard thought it advisable to leave Geneva in 1519, at the approach of the duke. On the way, two men of Savoy offered themselves to Bonivard as companions, and succeeded in persuading Bonivard to give up his priory, and finally delivered him into the hands of the duke, who imprisoned him for twenty months. In 1527 he again took possession of his priory, and participated in the strife against the duke. He was taken prisoner by the duke in 1530, and was retained in prison at the famous Castle of Chillon until 1536, when the castle was taken and Bonivard set free. On his return to Geneva, now fully emancipated, he was made a member of the Council of Two Hundred, and endowed with a pension. He died at Geneva in 1570. Bonivard was a voluminous writer. His writings are given by Senebier, Historie Litteraire de Geneve, i, 137-139. Of those published we mention, La Chronique de Geneve (Geneva, 1831, 4 vols.): — Advis et Devis de. la Source de' l'Idoldtrie et Tyrannie Papale (Chaperon,and Revilliad, ibid. 1856): — Adviset Devis des Langues, written in 1563 (ibid. and Paris, 1849). See Lichtenberger, Encyclopedie des Sciences Religieuses, s.v.; Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s.v.; Encyclop. Brit. 9th ed. s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v. (B. P.)