Théodore de Bèze

Born in Vézelay in 1519, Théodore de Bèze was educated in the humanist tradition and first made his name as a writer and classical scholar. After embracing the Protestant cause, he left France and eventually settled in the Swiss city of Geneva, where he became one of the most important figures in the Reformation.

Bèze worked closely with John Calvin and, after Calvin’s death in 1564, emerged as a leading spokesman for the Reformed movement in Geneva. He taught theology, preached, wrote widely, and played a major role in defending and organizing the French Protestant, or Huguenot, cause during a time of deep religious conflict.

He is remembered not only as a theologian but also as a translator, educator, and man of letters. His long career linked the first generation of Protestant reformers with the next, and his influence continued through his books, biblical scholarship, and leadership until his death in Geneva in 1605.