Zwingli and the Swiss Reformations –Switzerland was made up of 13 cantons – some were Protestant, others Catholic and others mixed –Two main preconditions.

• Zwingli and the Swiss Reformations – Switzerland was made

up of 13 cantons – some were Protestant, others Catholic and others mixed

– Two main preconditions for Swiss Reformation

• Popular opposition to mercenary service; Desire for reform since Councils of Constance and Basel.

• Reformation in Zurich – Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) humanist;

Chaplain with mercenaries in Battle of Marignano in Italy in 1515; led to criticizing mercenary armies because they threaten Swiss sovereignty and morality; Opposed indulgences and religious superstitions.

• competed for People’s Priest in Church of Zurich.

• Fought fornication scandal; challenged celibacy of clergy; first reforming act: No longer need to be celibate.

• broke Lenten fast; reject all practices not literally supported by scripture.

• city government sanctioned Scripture Test;

first examples of puritanical Protestantism.

• Marburg Colloquy – Landgrave Philip of Hesse (1504-

1567) wanted to unite Swiss and German movements; had bitter theological differences

• Zwingli advocate symbolic interpretation; only spiritually in bread.

– Thought Luther still stuck in Medieval theology.

• Luther advocate when Christ in spirit, he is also in body. No symbolism at all.

– Thought Zwingli was a dangerous fanatic.

– Tetrapolitan Confession – semi-Zwinglian views, prepared by reformers Martin Bucer, Caspar Hedioin 1530.

• Swiss Civil Wars – Two major battles at Kappel

• Protestant victory forces Catholic cantons to sever foreign alliances and recognize Protestant rights

• Zwingli wounded, executed, dismembered and scattered; Treaty allowed cantons to determine own religion.

– Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575), son-in-law, becomes successor of Zwingli.

• Anabaptists and Radical Protestants – Fundamentalists want

faster reforms, more through Apostolic Christianity.

– Anabaptists: ancestors of modern Mennonite, Amish. Only baptize as adult because Jesus was baptized as an adult.

– Luther, Zwingli argued that congregation stood for infant’s place. Communal church vs. radical individualism

• Conrad Grebel and the Swiss Brethren – Conrad Grebel (1498-1526) founded Anabaptistism. – Schleitheim Confession: anabaptists are pacifist,

refusal to oath, no participate in secular governmentAuthorities viewed separatism as threat and sedition.

• The Anabaptist Reign in Munster • Lutherns, Zwinglians, and Catholics persecuted

anabaptists. • Munster becomes Anabaptism capital; Jan Matthys of

Haarlem, Jan Beukelsz of Leiden controlled Munster – Lutheran and Catholics forced to convert or leave city;

Adopted polygamy and becomes an Old Testament theocracy.

– Protestant and Catholic armies besiege the city and eventually execute leaders.

• Menno Simons (1496-1561) founded Mennonites, non-provocative separatist Anabaptist.

• Spiritualists – God speaks directly to you, in the

present. – Thomas Muntzer – died in a

peasant’s revolt.Sebastian Franck – critic of dogmatic religion; advocate of religious autonomy.

• Antitritinarians – Believed in commonsense, rational,

ethical religion. – Michael Servetus (1511-1553),

executed in Geneva for blasphemy – Lelio and Faustus Sozzini founded

Socinianism, opponenets of Calvinism and their belief in original sin and predestination.

• John Calvin and the Genevan Reformation

• Midway through the 16th century Calvinism replaces Lutheranism as dominant Protestant force in Europe; Established in Palatinate (Germany state in the Rhineland).

• Strong belief in predestination and an individuals responsibility to reorder society according to God’s plan.

• John Calvin (1509-64) son of secretary to bishop of Noyon; received benefices that paid for education and law degree. – In 1534 he makes his conversion,

surrenders benefices and joins the Reformation.

• Political Revolt and Religious Reform in Geneva

• City of Bern sent reformers Guillaume Farel (1489-1565) and Antoine Froment(1508- 1581) to Geneva. – Calvin arrives and Farel convince him

to stay; they present articles of governance and catechism but the people thought they were too strong; they restore traditional ceremonies and exile Calvin and Farel.

– Cavin goes to Strasbourg and writes the second edition Institutes of the Christian Religion – definitive moral statement of Protestant faith.

• Calvin’s Geneva – Genevan officials who liked Calvin

elected. They invited him to return and implemented his reforms.

– Predestination: offend nonbelievers but true Christians take comfort because they know their lives are determined by a loving God.

• Enforced moral discipline. Had to practice what you preach.

– Execution of Michael Servetus damaged Calvin’s reputation.

– Geneva becomes home to exiled Protestants from France, England, Scotland

• “woman’s paradise” because they beat

men who beat women.

• The Diet of Augsburg – Charles V focused on

expanding empire; eventually directs Diet of Augsburg which orders Lutherans to reconvert to Catholicism.

• Lutherans form the defensive Schmalkaldic League; banner becomes Augsburg Confession; Luther eventually writes Schmalkaldic Articles

• Led by Landgrave Philip of Hesse and Elector John Frederick of Saxony; stalemated with emperor who became distracted by France and Turks once again.

• The Expansion of the Reformation – Consistories – theologians and

lawyers replaced Catholic episcopates with Protestant churches.

– Christian II (r. 1513-1523) introduced Reformation to Denmark; promoted by Frederick 1; Christian III (r. 1536-1559) establishes it as the state religion.

– Gustavus Vasa (r. 1523-1560) of Sweden confiscated church property; Diet of Vesteras (1527) subjected clergy to royal authority. Supported by greedy nobility.

– Poland: no central political authority; all Protestant sects could practice. Model of toleration

• Reactions Against Protestants – Charles V tries to compromise with Protestants;

Imperial army defeats Schmalkaldic League; capture Frederick of Saxony and Philip of Hesse.

– German city of Magdeburg became center of Lutheran Resistance

• The Peace of Augsburg – Maurice of Saxony converts to

Lutheranism; Charles V confronted by fierce resistance, exhausted from decades of war, and recently defeated by protestant armies grants religious freedom in Peace of Passau.

– Peace of Augsburg• ruler of land determines religion. • Lutherans can keep seized church land.

Catholic prelates couldn’t take their lands and titles with them.

• Freedom to migrate to different region with different religion.

• Did not accept Calvinism and Anabaptism;

Calvinists planned revolutions to gain freedom.