Peace of Augsburg
Definition
The Peace of Augsburg, signed in 1555, was an agreement between Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (and his allies), and the forces of Lutheran princes which effectively ended religious warfare within the Empire.
Analogy
Imagine two siblings constantly fighting over what TV channel to watch - one prefers cartoons while other likes sports. Their parents step in (like Charles V did) and make a rule that each sibling can watch their preferred channel on alternate days - this is similar to how Peace of Augsburg allowed rulers to choose either Catholicism or Lutheranism as their state's religion.
Related terms
Cuius regio, eius religio: Latin phrase which means 'Whose realm, his religion'. It was a principle of the Peace of Augsburg that allowed princes to select either Lutheranism or Catholicism within the domains they controlled.
Charles V: Ruler of both the Spanish Empire from 1516 and the Holy Roman Empire from 1519, as well as of Habsburg Netherlands from 1506. He voluntarily stepped down from these and other positions by a series of abdications between 1554 and 1556.
Schmalkaldic League: A defensive alliance formed by Protestant territories of the Holy Roman Empire to defend themselves against Charles V's drive to re-Catholicize Germany.
"Peace of Augsburg" appears in:
Study guides (4)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (15)
- What was the significance of the Peace of Augsburg in 1555?
- The Peace of Augsburg, signed in 1555, formally ended religious warfare in which region?
- Which religious conflict resulted in the Peace of Augsburg?
- What was the Peace of Augsburg (1555)?
- What was the purpose of the Peace of Augsburg in 1555?
- What was a major effect of the Peace of Augsburg on the religious landscape in Germany during the Wars of Religion?
- What was a significant long-term impact of the Peace of Augsburg on the Holy Roman Empire?
- How would European politics evolve differently if the Peace of Augsburg (1555) failed to establish "Cuius regio, eius religio" principle?
- What was a major consequence of the Peace of Augsburg (1555) on religion in Europe?
- What if Peace Of Augsburg had not recognized Lutheranism, how this would've affected Holy Roman Empire?
- What was a direct consequence of the Peace of Augsburg (1555) on international dynamics within Europe?
- What was a significant outcome of the Peace of Augsburg in 1555?
- What major conflict did the Peace of Augsburg settle during the Renaissance?
- Who issued the Peace of Augsburg that recognized Lutheranism as a legal religion within Holy Roman Empire's territories?
- When was the Peace of Augsburg signed, ending religious wars in Germany?
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