Treaty of Münster

The Treaty of Münster, signed in 1648, was a peace agreement that ended the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, resulting in Dutch independence. It also was part of the larger Peace of Westphalia, which concluded the Thirty Years’ War in the Holy Roman Empire. The treaty recognized the sovereignty of the Dutch, established borders, and granted religious freedoms. Overall, it marked a significant shift in European power, promoting diplomatic negotiations over warfare and laying groundwork for modern diplomatic diplomacy and state sovereignty.