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Sep 25, 1555
Peace of Augsburg
The Peace of Augsburg treaty was the first permanent legal basis for coexistence of Catholicism and Lutheranism in Germany. The Holy Roman Empire was split up in different regions controlled by different princes. Each region was either Catholic or Lutheran and whoever lived in that region practiced that faith. This was a way to end the religious struggles between the Catholics and Lutherans. -
Period: 1562 to
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion was a period of fighting between the Protestants(Huguenots), and French Catholics. The war started in France and happened because of the spread of French Calvinism in the mostly dominant Catholic republic. Due to the spread of French Calvinism, Catherine De' Medicis showed more tolerance towards the Huguenots which caused the catholics to get mad and fight the protestants. -
Aug 24, 1572
Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
Bartholomew's Day Massacre was a targeted assassination towards the Huguenots from the Roman Catholics. A plan was developed by Catherine de' Medici and her ideas were supported by Charles IX. The plan was carried out by Roman Catholic Nobles and Roman Catholic citizens. Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church were afraid of growing religions such as Protestantism and knew that they had to stop the spread of it. -
Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes was signed by King Henry IV and it granted the Calvinist Protestants huge amounts of rights in France, which was predominantly Catholic . The edict upheld protestants and permitted them public worship but not in Paris. In Paris, Protestants pastors were paid and released from certain positions that they have been in before. The edict brought an end to the French Wars of Religion and it was one of the first decrees of religious tolerance in Europe. -
Period: to
30 Years War
The 30 Year War was a religious conflict fought mostly in centralized Europe. The long and brutal war started as a battle between the Catholic and Protestant States which formed the Holy Empire. As the years progressed however, it became more about who would eventually govern Europe and less about religion. This conflict altered the geopolitical face of Europe as well as the role religion and the nation-states had on society. -
Treaty of Westphalia
The Treaty of Westphalia ended the 30 Year War and brought peace to the Holy Roman Empire, closing a period of European History that left a lot of people killed. It was a collected name for two peace treaty that were signed. It was a defining moment in secularization and it brought different nations together to discuss important matters.