Could you explain how the Peace of Augsburg, the Edict of Nantes, and the Peace of Westphalia all strengthened secular rulers??
The Peace of Augsburg, signed in 1555, allowed each German prince to choose whether their territory would be Catholic or Lutheran, essentially giving them more authority and control over religious matters within their own regions. This strengthened secular rulers by increasing their autonomy and power over their lands.
Similarly, the Edict of Nantes, issued in 1598 by King Henry IV of France, granted religious tolerance to French Protestants (Huguenots) and allowed them to practice their faith freely in designated regions. This decision also increased the power of secular rulers by granting them the authority to determine the religious policies within their territories.
The Peace of Westphalia, signed in 1648, ended the Thirty Years' War and established the principle of cuius regio, eius religio (whose realm, his religion). This agreement extended the Peace of Augsburg's provisions and recognized the sovereignty of individual states within the Holy Roman Empire, allowing them to determine their own religious practices. This further strengthened secular rulers by giving them greater control over religious affairs and consolidating their authority within their territories.
In summary, all three agreements (Peace of Augsburg, Edict of Nantes, and Peace of Westphalia) strengthened secular rulers by granting them more autonomy and power over religious matters within their domains, reaffirming their authority as the ultimate decision-makers within their territories.