Later he was recognized by enemies, killed, and his body burned as that of a heretic.
The defeat was a disaster to Protestant Switzerland not so much on account of the terms of peace, which were moderate, as because of the loss of prestige and above all of the great leader.

His spirit however, continued to inspire his followers, and lived in the Reformed Church.

Indeed it has been said, though with exaggeration, that Calvin only gave his name to the church founded by Zwingli, just as Americus gave his name to the continent discovered by Columbus.

In many respects Zwingli was the most liberal of the Reformers.

In his last work he expressed the belief that in heaven would be saved not only Christians and the worthies of the Old Testament but also "Hercules, Theseus, Socrates, Aristides, Antigonus, Numa, Camillus, the Catos and Scipios.