Peace of Westphalia

EinzugdesGesandten AdriaenPauw

Sebastian Dadler Original Medal N.D. (1648), Christina of Sweden, Peace of Westphalia. Obverse

Sebastian Dadler Original Medal N.D. (1648), Christina of Sweden, Peace of Westphalia. Reverse

Holy Roman Empire 1648

Alegoría de la Paz de Westfalia, por Jacob Jordaens

Peace of Westphalia

The Peace of Westphalia refers to a series of peace treaties signed between May and October 1648 in the Westphalian towns of Osnabrück and Münster, effectively ending the European wars of religion. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the independence of the Dutch Republic.

Background

The Thirty Years' War was a highly destructive conflict that involved many of the great European powers and was fought primarily on the territory of today's Germany. It began as a religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics within the Holy Roman Empire but gradually developed into a general political struggle for power and territory. Similarly, the Eighty Years' War was part of a wider struggle for supremacy in Western Europe, particularly involving France and England.

Negotiations and Treaties

The peace negotiations in Osnabrück and Münster were complex and involved many European states. The main treaties of the Peace of Westphalia were the Treaty of Münster and the Treaty of Osnabrück. These treaties had far-reaching consequences for the political and religious landscape of Europe.

Treaty of Münster

The Treaty of Münster was signed between the Dutch Republic and Spain. It recognized the independence of the Dutch Republic, a significant setback for Spanish ambitions in Western Europe and a landmark in the decline of Spanish power.

Treaty of Osnabrück

The Treaty of Osnabrück involved the Holy Roman Empire and France, along with their respective allies. It marked a significant shift in the balance of power in Europe, with France emerging as a dominant power. The treaty also granted significant rights to the princes of the Holy Roman Empire, increasing the decentralization of the empire.

Consequences

The Peace of Westphalia is often cited as the beginning of the modern state system. It established the principle of sovereignty, whereby each state was recognized as having authority over its territory, free from external interference. This principle laid the foundation for the development of the modern international order.

The treaties also had significant religious implications, reaffirming the principle of cuius regio, eius religio (whose realm, his religion), which allowed rulers to determine the religion of their own state, further entrenching the division between Catholic and Protestant states in Europe.

Legacy

The Peace of Westphalia has been regarded as a pivotal moment in European history, marking the end of widespread religious wars in Europe and the beginning of the rise of the modern sovereign state. Its principles of sovereignty and non-interference remain central to international law and diplomacy.