The Reformation of 1529: Oecolampadius and the New Civic Order — conclusion

Conclusion

The Reformation of 1529 was imposed on the council of Basel by the armed guilds, after years of hesitation. It abolished the mass, destroyed the images, excluded the Catholic councillors, completed the separation from the bishop and closed the university for three years. The Reformation Ordinance of 1 April 1529 established a state church under the control of the council, a marriage court, a new system of poor relief and a strict moral discipline. The property of the church was placed under civic administration and used for pastors, schools, the university and the poor. The payments to Rome ended. Johannes Oecolampadius, a former corrector of Froben and collaborator of Erasmus, led the reform and shaped its theology and church order. His ideas on church discipline influenced Calvin.

The Reformation transformed the economic culture of the city. It encouraged work, thrift and discretion, created public endowments, asserted the fiscal sovereignty of the community and made Basel a member of the Reformed world. The next chapter turns to the book that Calvin published in Basel in 1536 and to the Reformed ethics of credit that link Basel with Geneva.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of August 2025.

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