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Huldrych Zwingli photo by Georg Osterwald –

Top 10 Sensational Facts about Huldrych Zwingli

The sixteenth century was a time of major religious, intellectual, social and political change in Europe. In that period, several fiery preachers and theologians arose and took their place as leaders of the religious and theological movement known as the Reformation.

The Reformation centred on four major elements of Christian belief and practice: Salvation, religious authority, the nature of the church and the essence of the Christian life.

Believers that held to the doctrines of the Reformation known eventually as Reformed Theology, came to be called protestants for their protest against the power and beliefs of the Roman Catholic church.

One of the leaders of the Reformation was a man named Huldrych Zwingli, born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swiss mercenary system.

Here are the top 10 sensational facts about him.

1. Zwingli was born on New Year’s day

Huldrych Zwingli was born on 1 January 1484 in Wildhaus, in the Toggenburg Valley of Switzerland, to a family of farmers, the third child of eleven. His father Ulrich, played a leading role in the administration of the community (Amtmann or chief local magistrate).

Zwingli’s primary schooling was provided by his uncle, Bartholomew, a cleric in Weesem, where he probably met Katharina von Zimmen. At ten years old Zwingli was sent to Basel to obtain his secondary education where he learned Latin under magistrate Bünzli.

After three years in Basel, he stayed a short time in Bern with the Humanist, Henry Wölfflin. The Dominicans in Bern tried to persuade Zwingli to join their order and it’s possible he was received as a novice.

However, his father and uncle disapproved of such a course and he left Bern without completing his Latin studies.

2. He graduated from the University of Basel

Old University Basel photo by Herbert Glarner –

After Huldrych Zwingli left Bern, he enrolled in the University of Vienna in the winter semester of 1498 but was expelled according to the university’s records.

However, it is not certain that Zwingli was indeed expelled and he re-enrolled in the summer semester of 1500; his activities in 1499 are unknown.

Zwingli continued his studies in Vienna until 1502 after which he transferred to the University of Basel where he graduated receiving a Master of Arts degree (Magister) in 1506.

3. Zwingli was ordained as a priest

Pope Julius II photo by Raphael –

After college, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic church and served in the pastorate in Glarus, his boyhood church. While there, he began teaching himself Greek and started memorizing long passages from the Greek New Testament.

Zwingli celebrated his first mass in his hometown on 29 September 1506. As a young priest, he had studied little theology but this was not considered unusual at the time. It was in Glarus, whose soldiers were used as mercenaries in Europe that led to Zwingli getting involved in politics.

The Swiss confederation was embroiled in various campaigns with its neighbours: The Trench, The Habsburgs and The Papal states.

Zwingli placed himself solidly on the side of the Roman See. In return, Pope Julius II honoured Zwingli by providing him with an annual pension.

4. He rose to fame over a debate over eating sausages

The first public controversy regarding Zwingli’s preaching came out during the season of Lentin 1522. On the first fasting Sunday, 9 March, Zwingli and about a dozen other participants consciously transgressed the fasting rule by cutting and distributing two smoked sausages.

The event which came to be referred to as the Affair of the Sausages is considered to be the start of the Reformation in Switzerland.

5. Zwingli believed the Bible should be applied everywhere

Zwingli believed the Bible should be applied to every area of life and that the gospel is about more than individual salvation. He thought the influence of Christ would transform all the cultures and wanted to advance the Reformation through civil authority.

Ligon Duncan is quoted saying, “ Zwingli … might be called by some a transformation list, a Kuyperian. He believed in the rule of God extending over all of life. Not over just personal life, not just over church life, but over everything. And he was constantly personally involved in political, economic and military discussions and alliances to gain an advantage for the gospel .“

6. He disagreed with Luther’s clerical celibacy and fasting reforms

Portrait of Martin Luther photo by Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder –

Zwingli, the city chaplain of Zürich, opposed clerical celibacy and fasting during Lent. His followers scandalously ate sausages in public to break the fast in 1523. The Bible was given priority over church law.

To try to Unify Switzerland and Germany under one religious system, Philip of Hesse convinced Zwingli and Luther to meet in Marburg in 1529 in what came to be called the Marburg Colloquy.

Unfortunately, the two reformers were at direct odds over what happened during the Lord’s supper.

7. Zwingli took a stand against praying to saints

He took a stand against praying to saints (people declared holy by the catholic church) and asking them for help and favours. He thought people could learn such qualities as humility, faith and hope from the lives of the saints, but he believed in praying directly to God.

8. He founded a University called the School of the Prophets

Zwingli went on to preach the Gospel there from the Grosmonster. He also founded a university called the School of Prophets. Today it is the University of Zurich. Originally founded by Zwingli, the students studied the New Testament and The Old Testament.

9. Zwingli secretly married Anna Reinhart

`The church held that the Celibacy of the clergy was to be maintained. However, Zwingli opposed the idea and requested the Bishop along with other humanists to discard this custom. Zwingli secretly married Anna Reinhart and they even lived together.

The public wedding ceremony was held on April 12, 1524, while Anna was pregnant. Together they had four children.

10. He was killed in a battle between Catholics and protestants

Zwingli was killed at Kappel am Albis, in a battle against the Roman catholic Cantons of Switzerland.

Huldrych Zwingli’s idea of reformation was acknowledged and applauded by the people who were desperate to be removed from under the dominant control of the catholic church. This unrest in the political climate culminated in two factions, the catholic and the protestants cantons.

Although Zürich emerged victorious and assumed political leadership of the evangelical course, Zwingli recognized that the peace of Kappel was only a truce and agreed in Vain, for his canton and others to prepare for war.

Unwilling to fight the Christian Civic Alliance accepted Bern’s proposal to impose a food embargo on the Catholic cantons. This led to renewed hostilities. Outnumbered and unprepared, the Zürich forces were defeated at the battle of Kappel on October 11.

Zwingli, who rode out with troops as a chaplain was discovered among the severely wounded, slain, his body quartered, burned and mixed with dung.