Alexandra Kess – författare

One of the major challenges faced by the emergent Protestant faith was how to establish itself in a hitherto Catholic world. A key way it found to achieve this was to create a common identity through the fashioning of history, emphasising Protestantism's legitimacy and authority. In this study, the life and works of one of the earliest and most influential Protestant historians, Johann Sleidan (1506-1556) are explored to reveal how history could be used to consolidate the new confession and the states which adopted it. Sleidan was commissioned by leading intellectuals from the Schmalkadic League to write the official history of the German Protestant movement, resulting in the publication in 1555 of De statu religionis et reipublicae, Carolo Quinto, Caesare, Commentarii. Overnight his work became the standard account of the early Reformation, referenced by Catholics and Protestants alike in subsequent histories and polemical debates for the next three centuries. Providing the first comprehensive account of Sleidan's life, based almost entirely on primary sources, this book offers a convincing background and context for his writings. It also shows how Sleidan's political role as a diplomat impacted on his work as a historian, and how in turn his monumental work influenced political debate in France and Germany. As a moderate who sought to promote accommodation between the rival confessions, Sleidan provides a fascinating subject of study for modern historians seeking to better understand the complex and multi-faceted nature of the early Reformation.

One of the major challenges faced by the emergent Protestant faith was how to establish itself in a hitherto Catholic world. A key way it found to achieve this was to create a common identity through the fashioning of history, emphasising Protestantism''s legitimacy and authority. In this study, the life and works of one of the earliest and most influential Protestant historians, Johann Sleidan (1506-1556) are explored to reveal how history could be used to consolidate the new confession and the states which adopted it. Sleidan was commissioned by leading intellectuals from the Schmalkadic League to write the official history of the German Protestant movement, resulting in the publication in 1555 of De statu religionis et reipublicae, Carolo Quinto, Caesare, Commentarii. Overnight his work became the standard account of the early Reformation, referenced by Catholics and Protestants alike in subsequent histories and polemical debates for the next three centuries. Providing the first comprehensive account of Sleidan''s life, based almost entirely on primary sources, this book offers a convincing background and context for his writings. It also shows how Sleidan''s political role as a diplomat impacted on his work as a historian, and how in turn his monumental work influenced political debate in France and Germany. As a moderate who sought to promote accommodation between the rival confessions, Sleidan provides a fascinating subject of study for modern historians seeking to better understand the complex and multi-faceted nature of the early Reformation.

One of the major challenges faced by the emergent Protestant faith was how to establish itself in a hitherto Catholic world. A key way it found to achieve this was to create a common identity through the fashioning of history, emphasising Protestantism''s legitimacy and authority. In this study, the life and works of one of the earliest and most influential Protestant historians, Johann Sleidan (1506-1556) are explored to reveal how history could be used to consolidate the new confession and the states which adopted it. Sleidan was commissioned by leading intellectuals from the Schmalkadic League to write the official history of the German Protestant movement, resulting in the publication in 1555 of De statu religionis et reipublicae, Carolo Quinto, Caesare, Commentarii. Overnight his work became the standard account of the early Reformation, referenced by Catholics and Protestants alike in subsequent histories and polemical debates for the next three centuries. Providing the first comprehensive account of Sleidan''s life, based almost entirely on primary sources, this book offers a convincing background and context for his writings. It also shows how Sleidan''s political role as a diplomat impacted on his work as a historian, and how in turn his monumental work influenced political debate in France and Germany. As a moderate who sought to promote accommodation between the rival confessions, Sleidan provides a fascinating subject of study for modern historians seeking to better understand the complex and multi-faceted nature of the early Reformation.

Der Briefwechsel des Zürcher Antistes Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575) ist eine bedeutende epistolarische Quelle sowohl in politischer, kultureller, kirchenhistorischer, mentalitätsgeschichtlicher, biografischer als auch in wirtschaftlicher, meteorologischer und astronomischer Hinsicht. Im vorliegenden Band sind die 261 erhaltenen Briefe aus dem Jahr 1545 veröffentlicht. Der Eidgenossenschaft und ihren Verbündeten kommt in der Korrespondenz mit Personen aus Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Graubünden (darunter italienische Glaubesflüchtlinge) und St. Gallen eine besondere Bedeutung zu. So ergeben sich etwa neue Erkenntnisse zur Reformation im Appenzellerland sowie die Möglichkeit, die Entstehung der Eidgenössischen Chronik von Johannes Stumpf und Vadians Mitarbeit daran zu verfolgen. Auf kirchenhistorischer Ebene spielen der Kölner Reformationsversuch und die Auseinandersetzungen der Zürcher Kirche mit Martin Luther und Johannes Cochläus eine besondere Rolle. Auch zu Johannes Calvin liefert der Band bislang Unbekanntes.

Der Briefwechsel des Zürcher Antistes Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575) ist für Historiker, die sich mit dem 16. Jahrhundert befassen, eine der bedeutendsten Quellen in politischer, kultureller, kirchenhistorischer, mentalitätsgeschichtlicher und biografischer Hinsicht. Im vorliegenden Band sind ca. 140 Briefe, die zwischen Januar und Mai 1546 verfasst wurden, veröffentlicht, zusammengefasst und kommentiert. Daraus wird ersichtlich, wie die protestantischen Eidgenossen Luthers Tod und die besorgniserregenden Ereignisse in Deutschland aufnahmen, die im Sommer 1546 zum Schmalkaldischen Krieg führten. Die Briefe dokumentieren ferner Zürichs Ausstrahlung auf die benachbarten Kantone und Städte, nicht nur in der Schweiz. Besonders wichtig ist der Briefwechsel mit Augsburg, Basel und Konstanz. Doch lässt sich Bullingers Einfluss auch im Aargau, Elsass, in Friesland, Graubünden und Köln beobachten. Die Briefe von Zürcher Studenten in Basel, Strassburg und Marburg liefern interessante und zum Teil noch unbekannte Informationen über die jeweiligen Ausbildungsstätten.