Editing Huldrych Zwingli (section)

==Historical context==
[[File:Historische Karte CH 1515.png|thumb|right|260px|Map of the Swiss Confederation in 1515.<ref>{{cite book|language=de|title=Historische Karte zur territorialen Entwicklung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft 1291-1797|last=Gasser|first= Adolf|url=https://doc.rero.ch/record/307442/?ln=en|location=Aarau|publisher=H.R. Sauerländer|year=1932}}</ref>]]
The [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Swiss Confederation]] in Huldrych Zwingli's time consisted of thirteen states ([[Cantons of Switzerland|cantons]]) as well as affiliated areas and common lordships. Unlike the modern state of [[Switzerland]], which operates under a federal government, each of the thirteen cantons was nearly independent, conducting its own domestic and foreign affairs. Each canton formed its own alliances within and without the Confederation. This relative independence served as the basis for conflict during the time of the Reformation when the various cantons divided between different confessional camps. Military ambitions gained an additional impetus with the competition to acquire new territory and resources, as seen for example in the [[Old Zurich War]] of 1440–1446.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|pp=1–4}}</ref>

The wider political environment in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries was also volatile. For centuries the relationship with the Confederation's powerful neighbour, France, determined the foreign policies of the Swiss. Nominally, the Confederation formed a part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. However, through a succession of wars culminating in the [[Swabian War]] in 1499, the Confederation had become ''de facto'' independent. As the two continental powers and minor regional states such as the [[Duchy of Milan]], the [[Duchy of Savoy]], and the [[Papal States]] competed and fought against each other, there were far-reaching political, economic, and social consequences for the Confederation. During this time the [[Swiss mercenaries|mercenary pension system]] became a subject of disagreement. The religious factions of Zwingli's time debated vociferously the merits of sending young Swiss men to fight in foreign wars mainly for the enrichment of the cantonal authorities.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|pp=4–6}}</ref>

These internal and external factors contributed to the rise of a Confederation national consciousness, in which the term ''fatherland'' ({{langx |la|patria}}) began to take on meaning beyond a reference to an individual canton. At the same time, [[Renaissance humanism]], with its universal values and emphasis on scholarship (as exemplified by [[Erasmus]] (1466–1536), the "prince of humanism"), had taken root in the Confederation. Within this environment, defined by the confluence of Swiss [[patriotism]] and humanism, Zwingli was born in 1484.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|pp=6–7}}</ref>