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Definition:
Signed in 1648, the Peace of Westphalia put an end to the Thirty Years' War between
Protestants and Catholics. This also put an end to the Holy Roman Empire as a
political entity and helped give rise to the modern European state. The treaty
reconfirmed the basic religious principles set forth in the Peace of Augsburg from
1555, including the cuius regio, eius religio, by which the leader of a region
could freely decide the religion the people there would follow. The Peace of
Westphalia also went further by guaranteeing the freedom of worship and belief
for other Protestant groups, including Calvinists. The Catholic Church condemned
the treaty, but it remained a cornerstone of European political relations until 1806.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
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