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1555
Peace of Augsburg
The Peace of Augsburg was a treaty that ended the religious struggle between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire. The treaty was between Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, and the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance of Lutheran princes. It legalized the division of Christianity and allowed the princes to choose Roman Catholicism or Lutheranism as the official religion of their state. -
Period: 1562 to
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion were a series of conflicts and civil unrest between Huguenots (French Calvinists) and Catholics in France. It began when King Henry III outlawed Protestantism. This prolonged time of war led to many casualties and violent acts which resulted in the decline of order in France. -
1572
Bartolomew's Day Massacre
Bartolomew's Day Massacre was a series of assassinations against Huguenot leaders which were followed by murders of other Huguenots carried out by Catholic mobs. It is estimated that 6,000 to 8,000 Huguenots were massacred. The massacre revived distrust and hatred between Catholics and Huguenots and provoked even more hostilities. -
Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes was a decree from Henry IV which granted a large amount of religious liberty to Protestants in France. Henry IV then converted from Protestant to Roman Catholicism and ended the French Wars of Religion. The edict was one of the first official acts of religious tolerance in Europe. -
Period: to
Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years War was primarily fought in Central Europe and was fought between Catholics and Protestants over religious and political control after the Peace of Augsburg was revoked. Due to the war, the geopolitical state of Europe changed, Germany was shattered due to large amounts of death and destruction, and the role of religion in society changed. -
Treaty of Westphalia
The Treaty of Westphalia was a treaty that officially ended the Thirty Years War. This treaty resulted in Sweden gaining control of the Baltic, the Netherlands gaining their independence, and German states gaining the right to choose their religion. This treaty strengthened involved nations and helped to develop tolerance and secularization.
