The Waldensians in Piedmont The Waldensians (Italian: Valdesi) were a Christian movement founded in the 12th century by Peter Waldo in Lyon, France. They advocated a simple life, a return to the Scriptures, and opposed the Catholic clergy. As a result, they were persecuted by the Catholic Church and the Inquisition, leading many of them to seek refuge in isolated areas – one of their most important centers was in Piedmont, in northwestern Italy. --- History of the Waldensians in Piedmont Initial settlement and escape from persecution (12th–15th centuries) After being declared heretics by the Catholic Church in the 12th century, the Waldensians began to flee the urban centers of France and settled in remote mountain areas, including the Piedmont Alps. There they were able to preserve their faith away from the central government and the church. Persecution, Massacre, and Resistance (15th–17th Centuries) In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Dukes of Savoy, under pressure from the Catholic Church, began to persecute the Waldenses. In 1487, Pope Innocent VIII declared a crusade against the Waldenses in Piedmont. Their villages were attacked, and many were murdered. In 1655, one of the most terrible events in their history occurred – the “Piedmontese Easter Massacre”. Soldiers of the Duke of Savoy attacked the Waldense villages, murdered thousands with brutal torture, raped women, and threw children off cliffs. These atrocities shocked Protestant Europe, and figures such as the English poet John Milton wrote about them. Repatriation and Emancipation (17th–19th centuries) In 1689, after years of exile in Switzerland, the Waldenses returned to Piedmont in what became known as the "Glorious Return" led by Henri Arnaud. They crossed the Alps and managed to return to their lands by force of arms. For most of the 18th century they remained second-class citizens, with very limited religious freedom. It was not until 1848, influenced by the Italian national movement, that Carlo Alberto, King of Sardinia-Piedmont, granted full emancipation to the Waldenses – they received full civil rights and were able to build churches outside their valleys for the first time in centuries. --- The Waldenses in Piedmont today Today, Waldense communities still live in their historic valleys, especially in the Val Pellice, Val Chisone and Val Germanasca. They are one of the main Protestant groups in Italy and continue to maintain a unique religious and autonomous tradition. The Waldensian cultural and spiritual center is located in the town of Torre Pellice in Piedmont, where the Waldensian Historical Museum is also located. The Waldensian are still active in Italy religiously and socially, and are identified with principles of social justice, religious tolerance and equality. --- Legacy and influence The Waldensian influenced the Protestant Reformation, and maintained their religious independence despite centuries of persecution. Today they are part of the Waldensian-Methodist Church of Italy, one of the small but oldest Christian groups.