Parallel to the German peasants war a reformation movement began in
Zurich, which differed in some important points from the German reformation.
In 1519 Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) became priest at the cathedral
in Zurich. In this very year, the plague came to Zurich, killing one fourth
of the 9000 habitants. Zwingli was in contact with Erasme of Rotterdam
and we can assume that the news of Luther's Reformation arrived at Zurich
at the same time. Zwingli began to question the Institutes of the catholic
church, but religious matters were linked to political consequences.
In the focal point of his lectures were the following principles:
However there remained a strong resistance of the conservative Provinces. The resistance grew as the reformation spread over all the greater towns of Switzerland. In spring of 1531 the five great towns of the reformed union got no more provisions from the conservative provinces. Finally this became an open war and at the battle of Kappel on October 11, 1531, the reformations army was defeated and Zwingli killed in the battle.
Even though Heinrich Bullinger continued the work of Zwingli, the conservative provinces triumphed and the reformation movement was temporary weakened.
Temporary, because some years later a political refugee came to Switzerland,
who had more success: John Calvin (1509-1564). Calvin had studied
in Paris, however because of its heretic theses had to exile and
went to Basel. During a journey in August 1536 he came to Geneva, where he met
William Farel who persuaded Calvin to stay there: "You are following
only your own wishes, and I declare, in the name of God Almighty,
that if you do not assist us in this work of the Lord, the Lord
will punish you for seeking your own interest rather than his."
Seems Calvin has been convinced, he remained at Geneva. But
Calvin's asceticism seemed to the Geneva citizens somewhat exaggerated
and they expulsed him. Three years later the radical group in Geneva had
become strong enough so that Calvin returned and this time until the end
of his life. Calvin claimed the unit of state and church (read: subjecting
the church), preached a simple life and the impenetrable destiny of those
chosen by God. He declared Geneva as town of God. While Luther had
adapted the reformation to the interests of the German aristocracy and
to the princes the religious justification in the peasants war had finally
supplied with, Calvin created religious theories in the service of the
middle classes of the cities. Calvin's theories recognize the power of
the terrestrial administration.
At that time, these theories not only had a success in Geneva,
but also, following the routes of trade, in France, where they were taken up by
the Huguenots (Theodore Beza), as well as in the Netherlands
(Guido de Brès, "Confessio
Belgica") and in Scotland (John Knox,
"Confession
of Faith").
Suggested Links:
http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/calvin.htm | It has some really good info on Calvin |