Editing Huldrych Zwingli (section)

===Early years (1484–1518)===
[[File:Geburtshaus von Huldrych Zwingli.jpg|thumb|right|260px|House where Zwingli was born in [[Wildhaus]] in what is now the [[Canton of St. Gallen]]]]
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).<ref>{{Harvnb|Potter|1976|p=6}}</ref> Zwingli's primary schooling was provided by his uncle, Bartholomew, a cleric in [[Weesen, Switzerland|Weesen]], where he probably met [[Katharina von Zimmern]].<ref name="katharina">{{cite web|url=http://frauen-und-reformation.de/?s=bio&id=93|title=Katharina von Zimmern|publisher=frauen-und-reformation.de|access-date=25 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331123825/http://www.frauen-und-reformation.de/?s=bio&id=93|archive-date=31 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> At ten years old, Zwingli was sent to [[Basel]] to obtain his secondary education where he learned [[Latin language|Latin]] under Magistrate Gregory Bünzli. After three years in Basel, he stayed a short time in [[Bern]] with the humanist Henry Wölfflin. The [[Dominican Order|Dominicans]] in Bern tried to persuade Zwingli to join their order and it is possible that he was received as a novice.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|p=24}}; {{Harvnb|Potter|1976|p=9}}. Potter mentions this possibility. Gäbler states that Zwingli did not refute later claims by opponents that he had been a monk in Bern.</ref>

However, his father and uncle disapproved of such a course and he left Bern without completing his Latin studies.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|p=24}}; {{Harvnb|Potter|1976|p=9}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|p=25}}. The word ''exclusus'' (expelled) was added to his matriculation entry. Gäbler notes that without a date and reason, it does not conform to what was customary at the time.</ref> Zwingli continued his studies in Vienna until 1502, after which he transferred to the [[University of Basel]] where he received the Master of Arts degree (''Magister'') in 1506.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|p=26}}</ref> In Basel, one of Zwingli's teachers was [[Thomas Wyttenbach]] from [[Biel/Bienne|Biel]], with whom he later corresponded on the doctrine of [[transubstantiation]].

Zwingli was ordained in [[Konstanz|Constance]], the seat of the local diocese, by Bishop [[Hugo von Hohenlandenberg]], and he celebrated his first [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] in his hometown, Wildhaus, on 29 September 1506. As a young priest he had studied little theology, but this was not considered unusual at the time. His first ecclesiastical post was the pastorate of the town of [[Glarus]], where he stayed for ten years. It was in Glarus, whose soldiers were used as mercenaries in Europe, that Zwingli became involved in politics. The Swiss Confederation was embroiled in various campaigns with its neighbours: the French, the Habsburgs, and the Papal States. Zwingli placed himself solidly on the side of the [[Holy See|Roman See]]. In return, [[Pope Julius II]] honoured Zwingli by providing him with an annual pension. He took the role of chaplain in several campaigns in Italy, including the [[Battle of Novara (1513)|Battle of Novara]] in 1513.<ref>{{cite book
 |last=Schaff
 |first=Philip
 |author-link=
 |date=May 2011
 |title=History of the Christian Church, Vol. 8
 |url=
 |location=Peabody, Massachusetts
 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC
 |page= 26 <!-- or pages= -->
 |isbn=978-1-56563-196-0
}}</ref>

However, the decisive defeat of the Swiss in the [[Battle of Marignano]] caused a shift in mood in Glarus in favour of the French rather than the pope. Zwingli, the papal partisan, found himself in a difficult position and he decided to retreat to [[Einsiedeln, Switzerland|Einsiedeln]] in the [[canton of Schwyz]]. By this time, he had become convinced that mercenary service was immoral and that Swiss unity was indispensable for any future achievements. Some of his earliest extant writings, such as ''The Ox'' (1510) and ''The Labyrinth'' (1516), attacked the mercenary system using allegory and satire. His countrymen were presented as virtuous people within a French, imperial, and papal triangle.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stephens|1986|p=8}}; {{Harvnb|Potter|1976|pp=35, 37}}</ref>

Zwingli stayed in Einsiedeln for two years during which he withdrew completely from politics in favour of ecclesiastical activities and personal studies.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|pp=29–33}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Potter|1976|pp=22–40}}</ref> His time as pastor of Glarus and Einsiedeln was characterized by inner growth and development. He perfected his [[Greek language|Greek]] and he took up the study of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]. His library contained over three hundred volumes from which he was able to draw upon [[Classics|classical]], [[patristic]], and [[Scholasticism|scholastic]] works. He exchanged scholarly letters with a circle of Swiss humanists and began to study the writings of Erasmus. He continued his studies while he served as a pastor in Glarus and later in Einsiedeln, where he was influenced by the writings of Erasmus.<ref>Lindberg, Carter. The European Reformations. 2nd ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, p. 162.</ref> Zwingli took the opportunity to meet him while Erasmus was in Basel between August 1514 and May 1516. Zwingli's turn to relative [[pacifism]] and his focus on preaching can be traced to the influence of Erasmus.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|pp=33–41}}</ref>

In late 1518, the post of the ''Leutpriestertum'' (people's priest) of the [[Grossmünster]] at [[Zurich]] became vacant. The [[Canon (priest)|canons]] of the foundation that administered the Grossmünster recognised Zwingli's reputation as a fine preacher and writer. His connection with humanists was a decisive factor as several canons were sympathetic to Erasmian reform. In addition, his opposition to the French and to mercenary service was welcomed by Zurich politicians. On 11 December 1518, the canons elected Zwingli to become the stipendiary priest and on 27 December he moved permanently to Zurich.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gäbler|1986|pp=43–44}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Potter|1976|pp=45–46}}</ref>