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Two opinions on Calvinist Geneva:

"The most perfect school of Christ that ever was on Earth" – John Knox.

"You can do anything you want in Geneva, so long as you don’t enjoy it" – Anonymous.

Consistory: governing body of elders and pastors responsible for enforcing discipline in Geneva.

Chronology:

1484-1531: Huldrych Zwingli, reformer in Zurich.

1522: Eats meat during Lent.

1525: Abolishes the Mass.

1529: Debates Luther.

1531: Killed while leading army against Swiss Catholics.

1509-1564: John Calvin.

1528-1533: Calvin at law school in Paris.

1535: Reform begins in Geneva.

1536: Calvin publishes Institutes of the Christian Religion.

1553: Michael Servetus, who denied the Trinity, is executed for heresy in Geneva.

1559: Genevan Academy founded.

1563: Heidelberg Catechism.

1564-1605: Theodore Beza, Calvin’s successor in Geneva.

Anabaptists ("re-baptizers"): generic term applied to a variety of radical Protestant groups who rejected infant baptism.

1525: First adult baptisms in Zurich.

1526: Anabaptism condemned in Zurich.

1527: Michael Sattler writes Schleitheim Confession.

1534-1535: Radical Anabaptists take over the German city of Münster and are then massacred by a joint Catholic-Protestant army.

 

Anabaptist leaders:

Conrad Grebel 1498-1525. Died in prison.

Michael Sattler, c.1490-1527. Torn apart by red-hot tongs, then burned at the stake.

Balthasar Hubmaier, c.1480-1528. Burned at the stake.

Jan of Leiden, "prophet" of Münster. Torn apart by red-hot tongs, hung in a cage.

Menno Simons 1496-1561. Survived to found Mennonites.

Jakob Hutter, founder of Hutterites, who practised "community of goods." Executed 1536.