The famous Peace of Augsburg was signed after the spread of the new Christian doctrine began in Europe. The system, established in 1555, lasted 60 years, until the start of the Thirty Years' War.
Reformation
In 1517, a significant event took place in the German city of Wittenberg. Augustinian monk Martin Luther posted a paper with 95 theses on the door of the local church. In them, he condemned the order that prevailed in the Roman Catholic Church. Shortly before this, it became possible to buy indulgences (absolution) for money.
Corruption and deviation from the principles of the gospel have hit the prestige of the Catholic Church hard. Martin Luther became the founder of the Reformation - the process of struggle for reform in the Christian world. His followers began to be called Protestants or Lutherans (this is a narrower term, in addition to Lutherans among the Protestants, for example, there were also Calvinists).
Situation in Germany
Germany became the center of the Reformation. This country was not a single state. Its territory was divided among many princes who were subordinate to the Holy Roman Emperor. Empire. The power of this supreme monarch was never monolithic. The princes often pursued an independent domestic policy.
Many of them supported the Reformation and became Protestants. The new movement became popular among ordinary people in Germany - townspeople and peasants. This led to a conflict with Rome, and eventually with the imperial power (the emperors remained Catholics). In 1546-1547. The Schmalkaldic War broke out. She ruined the country and showed the inefficiency of the old order. There was a need to find a compromise between the opposing sides.
Long preliminary talks
Before the parties signed the Peace of Augsburg, there were many negotiations that stretched out for several years. Their first success was that among the princes and electors there were those who agreed to be mediators between Catholics and Protestants. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Habsburg at that time quarreled with the Pope, which gave even more chances for a successful outcome of the enterprise.
The peace of Augsburg became possible also because the interests of the Catholics began to be represented by the German king Ferdinand I. This title was largely considered formal, but it was worn by the emperor's brother Charles, who was his right hand. Elector Moritz of Saxony was the head of the Protestants at the talks.
The rulers of both branches of Christianity became neutral princes. Among them were the sovereigns of Bavaria, Trier, Mainz (Catholics), as well as Württemberg and the Palatinate (Lutherans). BeforeThe main negotiations at which the Peace of Augsburg was signed also included a meeting of the rulers of Hesse, Saxony and Brandenburg. Positions were agreed on it, which also suited the emperor. At the same time, Charles V refused to participate in the negotiations. He did not want to make concessions to the Protestants and opposition princes. Therefore, the emperor delegated his powers to his brother Ferdinand. At this time, Karl was in his Spanish possessions (the Habsburgs controlled vast territories throughout Europe).
Meeting of the Reichstag
Finally, on February 5, 1555, Augsburg hosted the Reichstag of the Empire, where all parties and participants in the conflict met. Ferdinand I was its chairman. Negotiations were held in several curiae in parallel. Electors, free cities and princes negotiated separately among themselves. Finally, in September, the Peace of Augsburg was signed by Ferdinand on terms that included many concessions to the Protestants. This did not please Emperor Charles. But since he could not sabotage the process so as not to start a war, he decided to abdicate a few days before the signing of the treaty. The Peace of Augsburg was concluded on September 25, 1555.
Conditions and significance of the Treaty of Augsburg
For several months, the delegates agreed on the terms specified in the document. The Augsburg Religious Peace gave Lutheranism an official status in the Empire. However, there are serious reservations in this wording.
The principle of freedom of religion was established. It extended to the so-called imperial estates, which included privileged members of society: princes, electors, imperial knights and residents of free cities. However, freedom of religion did not affect the vassals of the princes and the inhabitants of their possessions. Thus, the principle "whose land, that faith" triumphed in the Empire. If the prince wanted to convert to Lutheranism, he could do it, but such an opportunity was not, for example, among the peasants who lived on his land. However, the Augsburg Religious Peace allowed those dissatisfied with the choice of the ruler to emigrate to another region of the empire where an acceptable faith was established.
At the same time, the Catholics won concessions from the Lutherans. The conclusion of the Peace of Augsburg led to the fact that abbots and bishops who decided to convert to Protestantism were deprived of their power. So the Catholics were able to retain all the church lands assigned to them before the meeting of the Reichstag.
As you can see, the significance of the Treaty of Augsburg was enormous. For the first time, the opposing sides managed to resolve the conflict through negotiations, not war. The political division of the Holy Roman Empire was also overcome.
