Council of Twenty-five

The Council of Twenty-five was a Genevan governing body whose powers were systematically expanded between the mid-16th and early 18th centuries, diminishing the authority of the General Council. This council became increasingly dominated by aristocratic and wealthy refugee families, creating a de facto hereditary nobility disguised by republican language. Concurrently, the proportion of citizens within Geneva's growing population decreased, leading to disenfranchised residents being excluded from civil rights and lucrative professions. This fueled internal discontent, with citizens opposing patrician control and unenfranchised residents challenging the citizens' monopoly on privileges. Despite these political tensions, Geneva experienced a period of prosperity and cultural flourishing in the 18th century.1