Michael Servetus

Michael Servetus (29 September, 1511 – 27 October, 1553), (Miguel Servet or, as it was originally, Serveto in Spanish) was a theologian, physician and humanist. His interests included many sciences: astronomy and meteorology; geography, jurisprudence, study of the Bible, mathematics, anatomy and medicine. He is renowned in the history of several of these fields, particularly medicine and theology.

Imprisonment and execution

On 16 February 1553, Servetus, while in Vienne, was denounced as an heretic by Guillaume Trie, a rich merchand who took refuge in Geneva and a very good friend of Calvin, in a letter sent to a parent, Antoine Arneys, living in Lyon. On the behalf of the Fench inquisitor Matthieu Ory, Servetus as well as Arnollet, the printer of Christianismi Restitutio, were questionned, but they denied all charges and were released for lack of evidence. Antoine Arneys was asked by Ory to write back to Guillaume Trie, demanding proof.

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On 26 March 1553, the book and the letters sent by Servetus to Calvin were forwarded to Lyon by Guillaume Trie.

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On 4 April 1553 Servetus was arrested by the Roman Catholic authorities, and imprisoned in Vienne. He escaped from prison on 7 April 1553. On the 17 June 1553, he was convicted of heresy by the French inquisition, "thanks to the 17 letters sent by Jehan Calvin, preacher in Geneva" and sentenced to be burned with his books. An effigy and his books were burned in his absence.

Related Topics:
4 April - 1553 - 17 June

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Meaning to flee to Italy, Servetus stopped in at Geneva, where Calvin and his Reformers had denounced him. On 13 August 1553 he attended a sermon by Calvin at Geneva. He was immediately recognized and arrested after the service (The Heretics, p. 326.) and was again imprisoned and had all his property confiscated.

Related Topics:
Geneva - 13 August - 1553

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Unfortunately for Servetus, at this time Calvin was fighting to maintain his weakening power in Geneva. Calvin's delicate health and usefulness to the state meant he did not personally appear against Servetus.http://history.hanover.edu/texts/comserv.html Also Calvin's opponents used Servetus as a pretext for attacking the Geneva Reformer's theocratic government. It became a matter of prestige for Calvin to be the instigator of Servetus's prosecution. "He was forced to push the condemnation of Servetus with all the means at his command." (The Heretics, p. 326.) However Nicholas de la Fontaine played the more active role in Servetus's prosecution and the listing of points that condemned him.

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At his trial, Michael Servetus was condemned on two counts, for spreading and preaching anti-Trinitarian and anti-paedobaptism (infant baptism). (Roland H. Bainton, Hunted Heretic, The Beacon Press, 1953, p. 207.) Of paedobaptism Michael Servetus had said, "It is an invention of the devil, an infernal falsity for the destruction of all Christianity" (Ibid., p. 186.) Whatever the cause of them, be it irritation or mistreatment, his statements that common Christian traditions were "of the devil" severely harmed his ability to make allies. Nevertheless, Sebastian Castellio denounced his execution and became a harsh critic of Calvin due to the whole affair.

Related Topics:
Anti-Trinitarian - Paedobaptism - Sebastian Castellio

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In the case the Procureur General, who was not Nicholas, added some curious sounding accusations, in the form of inquiries, the most odd sounding perhaps being, "whether he has married, and if he answers that he has not, he shall be asked why, in consideration of his age, he could refrain so long from marriage." More offensive to modern ears might be the question "whether he did not know that his doctrine was pernicious, considering that he favors Jews and Turks, by making excuses for them, and if he has not studied the Koran in order to disprove and controvert the doctrine and religion that the Christian churches hold, together with other profane books, from which people ought to abstain in matters of religion, according to the doctrine of St. Paul."(Hanover website)

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On 27 October 1553 Michael Servetus was burned at the stake just outside Geneva. Despite disputes over the level of his participation it is clear that by 1553 Calvin strongly supported Servetus being executed, although he did remain open to the idea that Servetus could be spared death if he converted. In this regard he was within the mainstream of sixteenth century Christian theologians. As Servetus was not a citizen of Geneva they had consulted with other Swiss cantons who universally favored his death. In the Protestant world Basel banned the sale of his book. Martin Luther condemned his writing in strong terms. Servetus and Philip Melancthon had strongly hostile views of each other. Most Protestant Reformers saw Servetus as a dangerous radical and the concept of religious freedom did not really exist yet. The Catholic world had also imprisoned him. Those who went against the idea of his execution, the party called "Libertines," drew the ire of much of Christendom. Still most sources, including Encyclopedia Americana, indicate Calvin was among the most vehement concerning Servetus. Calvin stated of Servetus, when writing to his friend Farel on 13 February 1546. (seven years prior to Servetus being arrested in Geneva): "If he comes , I shall never let him go out alive if my authority has weight." (Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (Baker Book House, 1950), p. 371.) During Servetus' heresy trial, Calvin also wrote: "I hope that the verdict will call for the death penalty." (Walter Nigg, The Heretics (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1962), p. 328.) As mentioned he had also been the one to notify the authorities of Servetus' being in Geneva, and he also provided letters as evidence for the prosecution. Calvin did this because he felt that Servetus had attacked his friends in the Reformation, and so the evidence he provided often concerned defending these friends as much as attacking Servetus. Further Calvin pleaded with the Geneva City Council to execute Servetus by means of decapitation because it was more humane than burning at the stake. He also expressed hopes to the end that Servetus would convert from "his blasphemy," so possibly be spared. These hopes proved illusory as Servetus held to his position and the council rejected Calvin's plea concerning decapitation.

Related Topics:
27 October - 1553 - Burned at the stake - Basel - Martin Luther - Philip Melancthon - Encyclopedia Americana - Farel - 13 February - 1546 - Decapitation

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