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== Religious tensions==The Why was the Peace of Augsburg created a temporary end to hostilities, it did not resolve the underlying religious tension in Germany and in central Europenecessary?====[[File: Lucas Cranach d.Ä. (Werkst. There were continued tensions between Catholics and Protestants) - Porträt des Martin Luther (Lutherhaus Wittenberg). Despite the agreement that those who did not share the religion jpg|300px|thumb|left|Portrait of Martin Luther]]The Holy Roman Empire was a fragmented collection of largely independent states, of various sizes. The Holy Roman Emperor, who was a member of the House of Hapsburg directly ruled some of the prince or ruler should conform or leave the realmlands, but in the treaty many did not. This meant that there were rival groups rest of the Empire, he was only a ‘nominal head of Catholics and Protestants living near each other in an uneasy peacestate. There are many instances ’<ref> Hale, JR, <i>Reformation Europe</i> (Pelican, London, 1998), p 134</ref> The Hapsburg’s the hereditary rulers of riots and violence between the two groups. The situation was made more complex Austria were elected Emperor by the spread of Calvinism major states in the latter part of the sixteenth centuryEmpire. Many Germans were drawn As a result, it was a very loose federation. It has often been likened to the teachings of Calvin and modern European Union. In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his ideas 95 theses on the ‘elect’ and ‘predestination’door of the Cathedral in Wittenberg. Several German rulers especially in Brandenburg In these, he challenged the authority of the Pope and called for the reform of the Church based on the Rhineland tolerated CalvinistsBible. The Calvinists although Protestants were not Lutherans Luther's actions initiated the Reformation in the Holy Roman Empire. The Catholic Church attempted to suppress Luther and they were distrusted and even persecuted by Lutheran rulers. Catholics naturally saw them as just another Protestant secthe was forced to seek the protection of the ruler of Saxony. The rise message of Calvinism Luther and his calls to reform the church was greeted enthusiastically in Germany was not foreseen by the Peace many parts of AugsburgGermany. At The elite and the time urban middle class were tired of the writing corruption and worldliness of the treaty they were a small groupChurch. By This led to the 1580s they were a significant minority and their activities helped establishment of many break-away churches that refused to increase religious tensions acknowledge the authority of the Pope. Many temporal rulers in Germany. By adopted Protestantism and secularized Church lands and established Protestant Churches in their land. In 1531, these Protestant rulers came together to form the 1600s several rulers proclaimed themselves CalvinistsSchmalkaldic League, such as the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel which was a military and a political alliance and they worked together to ‘promote and the Elector of Brandenburgexpand Protestantism. As Calvinists’<ref> Cameron, they were not covered by the principle of ‘one rulerEuan. <i>The European Reformation</i> (Second ed.) (Oxford, Oxford University Press, one faith’2002), this threw the entire Peace of Augsburg into doubtp. Furthermore, Calvinists because they were recognized under 113</ref> Charles V was the Peace Holy Roman Emperor and a Catholic and he lost control of much of Augsburg were in effect unable Germany to secure any tolerance for their faith in the Empirethe League. This was He tried to play an important part in enter negotiations with the breakdown of the Augsburg Settlement. Indeed, the collapse Protestant League but these were unsuccessful. The supporters of Luther knew that Charles was too preoccupied with his wars in Italy and the Augsburg settlement can be attributed Ottoman’s to actions borne out of Calvinists frustrationsintervene. The so-called ‘defenestration of Prague’ involved Calvinists attacking and throwing representatives of It was only after Charles V had defeated the Holy Roman Emperor out a windowFrench king could he turn his attention to affairs in Germany. This was He formed a League that aimed to trigger destroy Protestantism and re-establish religious unity in the Empire. Charles and his army were victorious and captured Saxony and won a great victory at the Thirty Years War that left most Battle of central Europe a wasteland <ref> Wilson, Peter, The Thirty Years War: Europe's TragedyMilberg. London: Belknap Pres Despite these defeats, 2011), pthe Protestants refused to come to terms and abandon their faith. 67</ref>Charles became aware that it would be impossible to destroy Protestantism. [[File: Karel Svoboda DefenestraceOne of the members of his League defected to the Protestants, and he helped them to win a minor victory. This shift convinced the aged and infirm Charles of the futility of any further war.jpg |200px|thumb|left|Defenestration of Prague 1618]]==Bishops and Rulers==In By the Holy Roman Empire1550s, there were very many ecclesiastical principalities and they ranged in size from a small town Protestantism had been established too firmly within the Empire Central Europe to be ended by arms. Charles V wanted to large territories, often containing significant urban centers such as Cologne. The Treaty after protracted negotiations had secure the succession of his son to deal with the issue throne of ecclesiastics who converted Spain and his nephew to Lutheranismthe crown of the Holy Roman Emperor and this required peace. The Catholic side was concerned that if a bishop or another religious leader converted that his realm would become Lutheran. This had happened during He decided to ‘come to terms with the Protestants and this led ‘first to an armistice and then to the ReformationTreaty of Augsburg. The Head of the Teutonic Knights ’ <ref>Von Friedeburg, Robert. "Cuius Regio, Eius Religio: The Ambivalent Meanings of State Building in PrussiaProtestant Germany, originally an order of warrior-monks had converted to Protestantism 1555–1655." <i>In Diversity and as a result all the Prussian territories had become ProtestantDissent: Negotiating Religious Difference in Central Europe, 1500-1800</i>, edited by Louthan Howard, Cohen Gary B., and Szabo Franz A. The Catholics demanded that any bishop or religious leader that had converted to Lutheranism should return his realm as by rights their lands belonged to the Catholic ChurchJ. However, those bishops and others who had converted refused to return their lands and became the secular ruler of the former ecclesiastical principalities73-91. This was a source Berghahn Books, 2011 </ref> ====What did the Augsburg Settlement do?====The Peace of continuing tension between Augsburg, also called the Protestants Augsburg Settlement was signed in September 1555 by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and the Catholics and many Schmalkaldic League, signed on 25 September 1555 at the imperial city of the latter believed that the Protestant side had not respected or fully implemented the treaty of AugsburgAugsburg.<ref>Elliot, J.H. <i>Imperial Spain 1469–1716</i>. This led to frequent clashes between both members of both confessions over the future of Episcopal principalities. For example, in the Cologne War Penguin Books (1583-1588New York: 2002), when the prince-archbishop became a Protestant it led p. 208</ref> It officially ended the religious war and attempted to establish a brutal sectarian war between Catholics and Lutheransreligious settlement in the sprawling German lands. One of the principal causes of the Thirty Years War was the ‘lack of clarity over the status of these episcopal princedoms’<ref> WilsonHale, p. p 67<134</ref>. ==Dividing Christendom==The Settlement principle of Augsburg effectively led to <i>cuius regio, eius religio</i>, was the partition most important aspect of Germany into two separate confessional blocs, one Catholic and the other Protestant, even though they all inhabited treaty. This principle states that the Holy Roman Empire. It wanted to establish a balance ruler of the realm decided the faith of power between them to ensure peace in the Empirepeople. The settlement did succeed in establishing <ref>Von Friedneburg, p 76</ref> This was to ensure the internal unity of the states within the Holy Roman Empire. If a balance of power in Germany but it ruler was never Catholic, then he could determine that all those who lived in his realm had to be Catholics. Those who did not accept the situation could migrate to a stable one and it only lasted so long because the Hapsburgs were distracted elsewherejurisdiction that was Protestant. The Augsburg Treaty A Lutheran ruler had effectively partitioned not only the Holy Roman Empire but also Christendomsame rights about the religion of his subjects as a Catholic. In the Holy Roman Empire, there were the many Ecclesiastical States, such as the city-state of Cologne.<ref> Hale, p. 118117</ref>These were realms that were ruled by Catholic Bishops or Archbishops. This was the old concept of If a common realm that prelate changed his faith to Protestantism, he was Christianexpected to resign and make way for another Catholic bishop. After the Peace <ref>Holborn, Hajo. <i>A History of Augsburg Modern Germany was composed of two separate confessions who did not trust each other and thought each other heretics, The Reformation</i> (Princeton: Princeton University Press), p. They both sought to gain an advantage over 195</ref> Knights were also exempted from the other requirement of religious uniformity, and to increase they could still practice their territory faith even if it was at odds with that of their ruler. One of the expense most critical aspects of the other. The settlement of Augsburg did end a war but Treaty was that it also copper-fastened only applied to Lutherans and Catholics. Rulers who followed Calvinism and the division on teachings of the Empire into a Catholic and a Protestant blocAnabaptists were not recognized. When the balance The rights of members of power broke down in 1618, these two mutually hostile religions began a war that was unprecedented in its loss churches were also not recognized by the Peace and they not accorded parity of life esteem with Catholics and destruction<ref>Wilson, p. 656</ref>. ==Conclusion==Protestants. The Peace of Augsburg was intended treaty sought to give Germany ensure a lasting balance of power between Germanys’ Protestant and Catholics and ensure peace and an end to give sectarian strife. In the near term, it a did manage to end the war, but the religious settlement conflict persisted in some parts of Germany. The Peace of Augsburg guaranteed that the House of Hapsburg would prevent future religious wars. The settlement was successful in the sense that it did prevent a general religious war in Germany and Central Europe until 1618continue to be elected the Imperial ruler. However, the settlement reached at Augsburg in 1555 was fundamentally unstable and its failure was almost guaranteed. Those who drafted the treaty failed to recognize that Emperor had little or no control of northern Germany, the growth heartland of Calvinism would destabilize it and increase sectarian Lutheranism. <dh-ad/> ====Did the Peace of Augsburg end religious tensions in the Empire. Because they were not covered by the terms ?====[[File: Karel Svoboda Defenestrace.jpg |300px|thumb|left|Defenestration of Prague 1618]]The Peace of Augsburg created a temporary end to hostilities, it did not resolve the treaty they often worked against it and this was to lead to conflict underlying religious tension in Germany and in Bohemia that triggered the Thirty Years Warcentral Europe. Then the settlement There were continued tensions between Catholics and Protestants. Despite the agreement that those who did not resolve share the status religion of episcopal principalities whose bishop had converted to Lutheranism and this was to poison relations between both sides for decades. Perhaps the most significant failure of prince or ruler should conform or leave the realm, in the settlement was that it created two mutually hostile blocs, and there was no mechanism designed by the settlement to defuse tensions or to resolve conflictstreaty many did not. This led to the collapse meant that there were rival groups of the Peace Catholics and Protestants living near each other in an uneasy peace. There are many instances of Augsburg riots and violence between the Thirty Years War, one two groups. The situation was made more complex by the spread of Calvinism in the latter part of the greatest tragedies in Europe’s long historysixteenth century. Many Germans were drawn to the teachings of Calvin and his ideas on the ‘elect’ and ‘predestination’.Several German rulers, especially in Brandenburg and the Rhineland, tolerated Calvinists. The Calvinists although Protestants were not Lutherans and they were distrusted and even persecuted by Lutheran rulers. Catholics naturally saw them as just another Protestant sect. The rise of Calvinism in Germany was not foreseen by the Peace of Augsburg. At the time of the writing of the treaty, they were a small group. By the 1580s they were a significant minority and their activities helped to increase religious tensions in Germany. By the 1600s several rulers proclaimed themselves Calvinists, such as the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and the Elector of Brandenburg. As Calvinists, they were not covered by the principle of ‘one ruler, one faith’, this threw the entire Peace of Augsburg into doubt. Furthermore, Calvinists, because they were recognized under the Peace of Augsburg, were in effect unable to secure any tolerance for their faith in the Empire. This was to play an important part in the breakdown of the Augsburg Settlement. Indeed, the collapse of the Augsburg settlement can be attributed to actions borne out of Calvinists' frustrations. The so-called ‘defenestration of Prague’ involved Calvinists attacking and throwing representatives of the Holy Roman Emperor out a window. This was to trigger the Thirty Years War that left most of central Europe a wasteland.<ref> Wilson, Peter, <i>The Thirty Years War: Europe's Tragedy</i>. London: Belknap Press, 2011), p. 67</ref> ====Bishops and Rulers====In the Holy Roman Empire, there were very many ecclesiastical principalities and they ranged in size from a small town to large territories, often containing significant urban centers such as Cologne. The Treaty after protracted negotiations had to deal with the issue of ecclesiastics who converted to Lutheranism. The Catholic side was concerned that if a bishop or another religious leader converted that his realm would become Lutheran. This had happened during the Reformation. The Head of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia, originally an order of warrior-monks had converted to Protestantism and as a result, all the Prussian territories had become Protestant. The Catholics demanded that any bishop or religious leader that had converted to Lutheranism should return his realm as by rights their lands belonged to the Catholic Church. However, those bishops and others who had converted refused to return their lands and became the secular ruler of the former ecclesiastical principalities. This was a source of continuing tension between the Protestants and the Catholics and many of the latter believed that the Protestant side had not respected or fully implemented the treaty of Augsburg. This led to frequent clashes between both members of both confessions over the future of Episcopal principalities. For example, in the Cologne War (1583-1588), when the prince-archbishop became a Protestant it led to a brutal sectarian war between Catholics and Lutherans. One of the principal causes of the Thirty Years War was the ‘lack of clarity over the status of these episcopal princedoms.’<ref> Wilson. p 67</ref> ====What did the Peace of Augsburg accomplish?====<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'> ====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=German History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=6}}</div>The Peace of Augsburg led to the partition of Germany into two separate confessional blocs, one Catholic and the other Protestant, even though they all inhabited the Holy Roman Empire. It sought to establish a balance of power between them to ensure peace in the Empire. The settlement did succeed in establishing a balance of power in Germany but it was never a stable one and it only lasted so long because the Hapsburgs were distracted elsewhere. The Augsburg Treaty had effectively partitioned not only the Holy Roman Empire but also Christendom.<ref> Hale, p. 118</ref> After the Peace of Augsburg, Germany was composed of two separate confessions who did not trust each other and saw each other heretics. They both sought to gain an advantage over the other and to increase their territory at the expense of the other. The settlement of Augsburg did end a war but it also copper-fastened the division on the Empire into a Catholic and a Protestant bloc. When the balance of power broke down in 1618, these two mutually hostile religions began a war that was unprecedented in its loss of life and destruction.<ref>Wilson, p. 656</ref> ====Was the Peace of Augsburg successful?====The Peace of Augsburg was intended to give Germany a lasting peace that would prevent future religious wars. The settlement was successful in the sense that it did prevent a general religious war in Germany and Central Europe until 1618. However, the settlement reached at Augsburg in 1555 was fundamentally unstable and its eventual failure was almost guaranteed. Those who drafted the treaty failed to recognize that the growth of Calvinism would destabilize the agreement and increase sectarian tensions in the Empire. Because they were not covered by the terms of the treaty they often worked against it and this was to lead to conflict in Bohemia that triggered the Thirty Years War. The settlement failed to resolve the status of the episcopal principalities whose bishops had converted to Lutheranism and this was to poison relations between both sides for decades. Perhaps the most significant failure of the settlement was that it created two mutually hostile blocs, and there was no mechanism designed by the settlement to defuse tensions or to resolve conflicts. This led to the collapse of the Peace of Augsburg and the Thirty Years War, one of the greatest tragedies in Europe’s long history.{{Mediawiki:AmNative}} ====References====<references/> {{Contributors}}[[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:German History]] [[Category:16th Century History]] [[Category:European History]]