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Joshua Janavel, also written Giosuè Gianavello (1617 – 5 March 1690) was an Italian
condottiero Condottieri (; singular: ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian military leaders active during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The term originally referred specifically to commanders of mercenary companies, derived from the ...
and defender of the
Waldensian Evangelical Church The Waldensian Evangelical Church (''Chiesa Evangelica Valdese'', CEV) is a Protestant denomination active in Italy and Switzerland that was independent until it united with the Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy in the Union of Methodist and ...
. He was involved in the
Piedmontese Easter The Piedmontese Easter (Italian: ''Pasque piemontesi'', French: ''Pâques piémontaises'' or ''Pâques vaudoises'') was a series of massacres on Waldensians (also known as Waldenses or Vaudois) by Savoyard troops in the Duchy of Savoy in 1655. ...
of 1655, and in the Glorious Homecoming of 1689. Born in
Rorà Rorà is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km southwest of Turin Situated 5 km from Luserna San Giovanni, the small center of Rorà lies at the foot of Mount F ...
, Janavel was a relatively prosperous farmer until his life took a sharp turn in 1655. In that year the
Duke of Savoy The titles of the count of Savoy, and then duke of Savoy, are titles of nobility attached to the historical territory of Savoy. Since its creation, in the 11th century, the House of Savoy held the county. Several of these rulers ruled as kings at ...
launched a military operation against the Waldensian population with the intent of eradicating
Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
from the region. Janavel led the defense of Rorà, and succeeded in repelling the Savoyard assault. For the courage which he displayed at this battle, he became known as "the Lion of Rora" and "the captain of the valleys". However, the resistance did not endure for long. The Waldensians were defeated in the
Valle Germanasca The Valle Germanasca is a valley in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont, north-western Italy run by the Germanasca stream, a right affluent of the Chisone. The valley, in the past affected by a strong depopulation, is now partially characte ...
on 10 May, and Janavel was forced into exile, settling in
Queyras The Queyras (; ) is a valley located in the French Hautes-Alpes, of which the geographical extent is the basin of the river Guil, a tributary A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream (''main stem' ...
.Fredo Valla, Uomini e donne delle valli olimpiche, in Piemonte Parchi - speciale Olimpiadi, Valli e Parchi, supplemento n. 1 di
Piemonte Parchi ''Piemonte Parchi'' ('Piedmont Parks') is an Italian magazine devoted to nature parks and life sciences. It is published since 1983 in Turin (Italy) by the Piedmont Regional Government. History and profile ''Piemonte Parchi'' was the first mag ...
n. 1, gennaio 2006
consultabile on line
Notwithstanding threats against his family and a bounty of three hundred
ducat The ducat ( ) coin was used as a trade coin in Europe from the later Middle Ages to the 19th century. Its most familiar version, the gold ducat or sequin containing around of 98.6% fine gold, originated in Venice in 1284 and gained wide inter ...
s on his head, Janavel soon returned to reorganize the Waldensian insurgents, together with Barthelemy Jahier. Janavel and Jahier led various actions leading up to 18 June 1655, when Savoyard forces attacked
Angrogna Angrogna (Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ''Angreugna'', Occitan language, Occitan: ''Angruenha'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italy, Italian region Piedmont, located about southwest of Turin. Angro ...
. The Waldensians weathered the initial assault and managed to counterattack, but during the counterattack Janavel was gravely wounded, and had to be transported to Inverso Pinasca. Bowing to international pressure, Duke Charles Emmanuel II ended the campaign against the Waldensians and restored the status quo ante. Janavel continued to lead the underground Waldensian resistance. Over the following years he mounted a number of guerrilla attacks against Savoyard forces, and his house served as a base of operations and general quarters for the insurgency. The duchy punished him with banishment and a death sentence. On 6 July 1663 the Savoyards again attacked Angrogna, but were defeated. The Waldensian community desired an end to war, and agreed to the conditions of the Duke of Savoy, which stipulated the exile of Janavel and his soldiers. A Waldensian synod disavowed Janavel, and he was sent into exile in Switzerland. In
Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
he was welcomed as a Protestant hero, and maintained contacts with his native valley. Despite being under surveillance by the local authorities, as well as by Savoyard spies, he made at least two clandestine visits to his native country. In 1686, Janavel was joined by a fresh wave of Waldensian refugees fleeing the persecutions of
Victor Amadeus II of Savoy Victor Amadeus II (; 14 May 166631 October 1732) was the head of the House of Savoy and ruler of the Savoyard states from 12 June 1675 until his abdication in 1730. He was the first of his house to acquire a royal crown, ruling first as King of ...
. Together they began actively planning a mass return of Waldensians, which took the form of the Glorious Homecoming of 1689. By this time Janavel was too old to take part personally in the action, but he played a prominent role as an organizer; notably, he drafted the military orders governing the group's conduct during the operation. Janavel died of
edema Edema (American English), also spelled oedema (British English), and also known as fluid retention, swelling, dropsy and hydropsy, is the build-up of fluid in the body's tissue (biology), tissue. Most commonly, the legs or arms are affected. S ...
in Geneva on 5 March 1690. Janavel's house, known as ''la Gianavella'', exists to this day. After passing through various owners, it was acquired by the Waldensian Evangelical Church and converted into a museum.Luoghi storici valdesi - Spazio museale della Gianavella
(si vedano anche le singole pagine di approfondimento interne)


Citations

{{DEFAULTSORT:Janavel, Joshua 1617 births 1690 deaths Italian guerrillas Italian Waldensians People from the Metropolitan City of Turin Deaths from edema Italian expatriates in Switzerland Italian expatriates in France Italian evangelicals 17th-century condottieri