Karl Zittel (21 June 1802, Schmieheim – 28 August 1871, Karlsruhe) was a German theologian, who was a prominent figure in 19th century Liberal Protestantism.
He was the father of paleontologist Karl Alfred von Zittel (1839–1904).
From 1842 onward, he was a member of the second chamber in the Baden Ständeversammlung, where in September 1845, he made a proposal in favor of Religionsfreiheit (freedom of religion), a motion that gained notoriety at the time.
In 1848 he became a pastor in Heidelberg, and during the same year, became a member of the Frankfurt Parliament as a representative of Karlsruhe.
[1][2] He was co-founder of the Protestantenvereins (German Protestant Association), of which, he was a committee member up until his death in 1871.