Religion or Politics?

In 1532 Guillaume Farel began Reforming preaching in Geneva. Fribourg’s Catholicism estranged it from Geneva (and Lausanne, where there was evangelically tinged hostility towards the bishop), but still asserted its claims on the Vaud. Bern, always more reluctant to force a breach with Savoy, now was willing to abandon claims to the entire Vaud in return for the pledge of four strategically important communes. Unrest in Geneva led to the (temporary) expulsion of Farel, while Fribourg felt compelled by its Catholicism to renounce its Burgrecht, but was still insisting on payment of war expenses (as was Bern). By 1535 Bern was willing to recognize Savoy’s rights over Geneva if the duke were willing to tolerate evangelical preaching.