History glossary
Peace of Augsburg
the 1555 settlement that recognised Catholic and Lutheran territorial arrangements in the empire.
- Category
- Religious settlement
- Region
- Holy Roman Empire
- Date range
- 1555
What it means
The Peace of Augsburg addressed religious division in the Holy Roman Empire by recognising Catholic and Lutheran territories under specified conditions. It gave rulers substantial influence over the official confession of their territories, but it did not establish universal freedom of conscience. Calvinists were not included in the settlement.
