The Peace of Augsburg

The Peace of Augsburg, signed in 1555, was an agreement that helped resolve religious conflicts in the Holy Roman Empire during the Reformation. It allowed German princes to choose the official religion of their territory—either Catholicism or Lutheranism—and to enforce that choice locally. This legal recognition aimed to bring stability and reduce violence between Protestants and Catholics. However, it did not recognize other Protestant groups, like Calvinists, and left some tensions unresolved. Essentially, it acknowledged the division of Christianity within the empire, giving rulers the authority to determine their state's religion.