The Glorious Return: Salbertrand to Balsiglia

16.5 Miles

The Waldensians were relatively undisturbed on this last bit, but ended up in the Germanasco River Valley, part of their home territory they hoped to reclaim.   On the march, the wounded were left along the roadside, certainly the dead.   

They wintered over.   Vittorio Amadeus, the Duke of Savoy was fickle.   He sided with the French for some time - the reason for French troops in the Piedmont.   Nichola Catinat was the French Marshall commanding the troops in the area.    He was furious that the Waldensians bested him at Salbetrand.   

I should mention that the guerilla tactics of the Waldensians originated in the brother of one of my ancestors, Giosue Gianavello.   He led the initial resistance against the French troops, but the leadership fell to Henri Arnaud during the glorious return.   

The Waldensions overwintered in the area in and around Brasglia.   Catinat sent out the order to "liquidate the Waldensians immediately."    On May 2nd, 1690, 4000 French dragoons under the command of the Marquis de Feuquiere assembled near Brasiglia, while the remaining 300 Waldensian guerillas took refuge in the hills above.   

They fought off an initial assault in a snowstorm, then the Marquis brought up artillery to shell their trenches, which the Waldensians had to abandon.   When all seemed lost, a thick fog descended, allowing the Waldensians to slip away.   

At this moment, the Duke of Savoy changed sides and allied with England and Austria against the French.   Evidently the skill of the Waldensian guerillas gave him pause and proved to be more of a positive in his territories than the French.    The Waldensians, left in relative peace, were allowed to regain their valleys. 

Approximate route of the trail from Salbetran to Brasiglia. 

In one of his sermons during the Winter of 1689-90, Arnaud invoked Psalm 129 in his exhortation:

“Greatly^[a] have they afflicted me from my youth”—
    let Israel now say—
² “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,
    yet they have not prevailed against me.
³ The plowers plowed upon my back;
    they made long their furrows.”
⁴ The Lord is righteous;
    he has cut the cords of the wicked.
⁵ May all who hate Zion
    be put to shame and turned backward!
⁶ Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
    which withers before it grows up,
⁷ with which the reaper does not fill his hand
    nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
⁸ nor do those who pass by say,
    “The blessing of the Lord be upon you!
    We bless you in the name of the Lord!”