The Swiss Reformation, which began in the early 16th century, was a significant religious and political movement that reshaped Switzerland's religious landscape. Ulrich Zwingli, known as the "Reformer of Zurich," emerged as a key figure in 1519, denouncing abuses in the Roman Catholic Church and preaching reformist sermons. The movement spread to several Swiss cities, including Bern, Basel, St Gall, and Schaffhausen by 1528. However, the rural cantons around Lake Lucerne resisted Zwingli's reforms, leading to conflict and ultimately Zwingli's death. The Peace of Kappel in 1531 divided the country into Protestant and Catholic cantons, with citizens required to follow their canton's chosen form of Christianity. In Geneva, John Calvin established a Reformed government in 1541. The Swiss Reformation was characterized by its independence from the German Reformation, with each canton having a high degree of autonomy in religious matters. This religious division, while slowing the development of central institutions, ultimately contributed to Switzerland's tradition of tolerance and compromise.

Geography