Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531), the reformer of Zurich - a biographical sketch

Abstract

Often the Protestant Reformation is conected only with the person of Martin Luther, who actually initiated the movement of the Reformation with the afixation of the 95 theses (1517). But, besides him, some other reformers influenced decisively the future development of Protestantism. One of these was Huldrych Zwingli (1484 - 1531), the reformer of Zurich in Switzerland, who developed his own religious concepts. Zwingli was not only the most important theological leader of Zurich, but he also was responsible for the spread of Reformation in the Swiss Confederation. Furthermore, he created the theological and intelectual basis, on which, a little later, Jean Calvin (1509 - 1564) could continue and develop his theological and political conception. - Unfortunately, the life and work of Zwingli, his theology as well as his political and social ideas are little known in Brazil. Therefore, this article will give a short biographical study of Zwingli’s life as a basis for other researches in this field.