WI: Zwingli leads the Reformation?

In a very interesting conversation on the Reformation with @Zulfurium , he suggested having Luther either die or never become a monk. In the abscence of Luther, it seems Zwingli would likely come closest to Luther's OTL role.

I'd love to hear some thoughts on how the Reformation would be changed here - how Zwingli's theology will influence the movement as a whole, how Zwingli will handle his role as standard-bearer of a barely controllable, fitful movement, how the movement will spread out from the Swiss cantons rather than the Empire, etc.
 
Well you already know my thought on the issue. Now in my TL I tied Zwingli to the larger HRE in a wide variety of ways but under more ordinary circumstances I think it likely that men like Martin Bucer and Melanchthon might take a larger role, though the proto-Anabaptists and other Radical Reformers are likely to play a much more powerful and influential role.

I am not sure if a native Protestantism without Luther would remain as relatively conservative as Lutheranism was IOTL - it likely goes in a much more radical direction. However, that would also make it much less likely that the princes start converting. Under such circumstances the OTL Reformation might take on characteristics more like other, earlier, outbreaks of "heresy", particularly Lollardy, Hussitism and the Waldesians would probably be a good place to look for examples.
 

Philip

Donor
I'm not sure Zwingli has the diplomatic skills to pull this off. Luther, despite his personality flaws, was able to draw some of the German princes to his side. Maybe it was Luther's doctrine of the two kingdoms. Maybe it was a first-to-market advantage. Can Zwingli replicate this? OTL, he was rebuffed by France and Venice.
 
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