Explain how the Peace of Augsburg, the Edict of Nantes, and the Peace of Westphalia all majorly strengthened secular rulers.
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The Peace of Augsburg was a treaty signed in 1555 between the Holy Roman Emperor and the princes of Germany. It allowed each prince to determine the religion of his own territory, either Roman Catholicism or Lutheranism. This marked a significant shift in power away from the Catholic Church and towards secular rulers, as they were given the ability to choose the religion of their territory.
Similarly, the Edict of Nantes, signed in 1598 by King Henry IV of France, granted religious toleration to the Huguenots (French Protestants) and ended the Wars of Religion in France. This gave the French monarch significant authority over religious affairs in the country and helped to strengthen his power.
Finally, the Peace of Westphalia, signed in 1648, ended the Thirty Years' War in Europe and established the principle of state sovereignty. This meant that secular rulers had the right to govern their own territories without interference from the Catholic Church or other external forces. It also marked the beginning of a new era of international relations based on secular law and diplomacy.
Overall, these treaties all helped to shift power away from religious institutions and towards secular rulers, strengthening their authority and establishing the principle of state sovereignty as a fundamental basis for modern political systems.