genevan prelate and politician
Preserved but no longer current.
Byron makes him one of six brothers, all of whom suffered for their opinions. The father and two sons died on the battlefield; one was burnt at the stake; three were incarcerated in the dungeon of Chillon, on the edge of the Lake of Geneva — of these, two died, and Francois, who had been imprisoned for "republican principles" by the Duke-Bishop of Savoy, was set at liberty by "the Bearnais" after four years' imprisonment.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “genevan prelate and politician” mean?
Byron makes him one of six brothers, all of whom suffered for their opinions. The father and two sons died on the battlefield; one was burnt at the stake; three were incarcerated in the dungeon of Chillon, on the edge of the Lake of Geneva — of these, two died, and Francois, who had been imprisoned for "republican principles" by the Duke-Bishop of Savoy, was set at liberty by "the Bearnais" after four years' imprisonment.
Is “genevan prelate and politician” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.