François Bonivard was a Swiss monk and political prisoner born in 1496. He is best known for his imprisonment in the Chillon Castle on the shores of Lake Geneva for opposing the rule of the Duke of Savoy. Bonivard's resistance to tyranny made him a symbol of freedom and inspired later writers and artists. His story gained fame through the poem "The Prisoner of Chillon" by the English poet Lord Byron, who highlighted Bonivard's struggles and resilience. Bonivard's legacy continues to be celebrated in Switzerland as a figure of liberty and human rights.