1564 Calvin dies. Théodore de Beze succeeds him as head of the church. Emanuel Philibert, duke of Savoy, supported by the Catholic members of the league, demands back the districts seized by Bern in 1536. The Treaty of Lausanne restores several of them. The counter-Reformation (Catholic reaction) makes itself strongly felt in Switzerland. It is furthered by Carlo Borromeo, archbishop of Milan, and at Lucerne by Ludwig Pfyffer, the “Swiss king.”
1565 The Catholic states of Switzerland ally themselves with Pope Pius IV.
1566 The second Helvetic Confession is published as a basis for union between the Calvinists and the Zurich reformers.
1574 The Catholic reaction advances by the establishment of the Jesuits at Lucerne.
1580 A papal nuncio comes to Lucerne. Borromeo founds at Milan the “Collegium Helveticum” for the education of Swiss priests.
1581 The Capuchins become active in Switzerland for the Catholic reaction.
1582 The Protestants object to the introduction of the Gregorian calendar.
1586 The Golden or Borromean League for support of Catholicism is formed by the seven Catholic members of the confederation (Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Lucerne, Zug, Freiburg, Solothurn).
1588 The reformed states form a separate league with Strasburg.
1597 Appenzell is divided into two parts, “Inner Rhodes,” Catholic, and “Outer Rhodes,” Protestant.