They were forced to move to Geneva due to their adherence to the Protestant religion.
The first to convert and to permanently reside in Geneva was Pompeo (1542-1602), son of Niccolò (of Alessandro) (1511-1544) and of his wife Zabetta Arnolfini.
Pompeo became a disciple of Pier Martire Vermigli after having been exposed to reformist ideas during his travels to Piedmont and Lyon.
In 1563 he was in Venice, in 1564 again in Lyons, in 1565 in Geneva; then in Montargis near Renata d'Este, when he returned to Lucca he was forced to abandon his city having been denounced to the Inquisition.
Pompeo Diodati together with Francesco Turrettini, Orazio Micheli, Fabrizio Burlamacchi, Cesare Balbani, all fellow citizens of Lucca who were exiled for reasons of faith, created the cartel of Geneva silk merchants, called La Grande Boutique.