Wie grabsteinfeindlich war die Zürcher Reformation?

Abstract

In literature, there are often references to hostility towards gravestones and to gravestone bans during the Zurich Reformation. The aim of this contribution was to examine the sources that led to these judgements more critically. In conclusion, Zwingli’s suggestions were not directed against gravestones in general. Moreover, his recommendation to build common cemeteries for all in front of the city was not followed in these times. Although a council mandate (dated 1525) stipulated removal of existing gravestones, this prohibition was not dealing with future gravestones, and it seems not to have been followed strictly either. Though Zwingli has been suspected as the initiator of the decree by some authors, this cannot be proven on the basis of the data, and motives not directly related to reformational concerns may have played some role as well. However, endeavor to eliminate visible marks of "old faith" is in line with the overall course of public space and order transformation during the reformation period and emerging era of confessionalization in Zurich.