Peter Falck

In 1510, instead of renewing their alliance with the King of France, the cantons sided with Pope Julius II (1503–1513), who endeavored to drive the French out of Italy. Matthäus Schiner, cardinal and bishop of Sion (1499–1522), played an important role in the conciliation. However, this political shift had its critics: as a result, the supporters of both opposing camps: those in favor of the Pope and those for the King of France, fought across several cantons.[6] In the canton of Valais, for instance, a conflict found Schiner opposed to Georges Supersaxo, a partisan of the French party. On his way to Lucerne, Supersaxo was arrested in Fribourg: Schiner sued him, and François Arsent, former Schultheiss bailiff (vice-governor) and head of the French party, was appointed to the accused's defense. Arsent allowed Supersaxo to escape and, as a result, had to face popular anger, fueled by the pontifical party, led by Peter Falck. On 18 March 1511, at the outcome of a political trial led by Falck, Supersaxo was sentenced to death for treason.[7]

In 1511, Falck became burgomaster of the city of Fribourg. The following year, the Diet of Baden sent him to Rome alongside the Bernese representative: he was to discuss with Julius II a potential engagement with the Emperor of the Holy League and the consequences this would have on the relationship with Venice, enemy of the Empire. Fribourg also tasked its burgomaster to obtain the elevation of the parish church Saint-Nicholas to the rank of collegiate church, which was eventually to be granted by Julius II. On their arrival in Rome, the Swiss delegates discovered that the Pope had already finalized an agreement with the Emperor. The Pope suggested that they join forces with his own delegation, sent to Venice to pacify the Republic. Although the mission was a failure (Venice formed an alliance with the King of France), it nonetheless enabled Falck to meet the doge Leonardo Loredan.[8] At the end of 1513, Falck left Fribourg once again for Milan. The Federal Diet chose him as one of its two permanent representatives to the Duke Massimiliano Sforza. Sforza appointed him captain of the Martesana, a function that included judiciary, administrative and fiscal duties.[8]

Upon his return to Milan, Falck was appointed Schultheiss bailiff (vice-governor). To thank him for obtaining the elevation of their church, the authorities of Fribourg granted him the right to build a chapel in the new collegiate church for himself and his heirs. As soon as the construction began, Falck announced his intention to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On 20 April 1515, after obtaining a safe-conduct from the doge Loredan, he left for Venice, where he boarded a galley to Jaffa.[9] On his return from his pilgrimage in January 1516, Falck found that the political situation of his homeland had considerably changed after the defeat of Marignano. Despite his role as head of the pontifical party of Fribourg, the city renewed its trust in him by naming him Schultheiss bailiff (vice-governor) and entrusting him to negotiate peace with the King of France. These new responsibilities raised yet another controversy: Falck was asked to prove his innocence against the "false rumors" that circulated about him.[10] Having played an important role in the negotiations of the "perpetual peace" (1516), he went to Paris with Captain Hans Schwarzmurer to obtain Francis I’s sealing of the treaty.[11] The Confederates also put him in charge of negotiating a scholarship program for Swiss students wishing to study in the French capital. Falck obtained the funding for Swiss students: each canton could send one student for a stay in Paris. The King also made him a "golden knight" (eques auratus) to ensure his loyalty.[12]

Falck devoted the last years of his life to the defense of Fribourg and the Confederate cantons’ interests. At the beginning of 1519, he expressed the wish to return to the Holy Land. He was once again chosen as head of the Company. Leaving from Baden, the Company reached Venice where Falck recorded his last wishes. After a month-long crossing (21 June-27 July), the Company landed in Jaffa and arrived two and a half weeks later in Jerusalem.[13] On the return journey, several passengers caught a fatal disease in Cyprus, probably either typhus or malaria.[14] Falck himself caught it and died on 6 October 1519 off the coast of Rhodes.[15] Upon the confederate pilgrims’ request, his corpse was not thrown overboard but taken onto the island. With the permission of the great master of the order of Saint John of Jerusalem, the pilgrims buried him in the Church of the Observant Franciscans (in all probability in Saint Mary of Victory, which was then one of the most prestigious churches in Rhodes).[16]