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Dr. Jakub Basista Modern European State Formation Meeting 2: Drifting away from the Mediaeval World? A survey of European political systems at the eve of early modern times. Reference: Thomas Munck, Seventeenth Century Europe, chapter 1. Synopsis 1648 brings about the signing of the Peace of Westphalia. In reality two treaties were signed: in Münster (Catholic states and France) and Osnabrück (Protestant states and Sweden). This peace agreement ended one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts of the early modern period in European history. The balance of power changed in favor of France, which became the leading power in Europe. Although no great border changes took place in the Roman Empire of the German Nation, the role of the Emperor changed significantly. Spain at this time does not play any significant role; England in engaged in civil war, and about to behead its king; Sweden becomes definitely the most powerful of the Scandinavian countries, and one of the strongest in Europe. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth remains the largest state in Central Europe, but its power and importance do not match its size. The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) may be considered a religious struggle between the Catholics and Protestants, an old controversy between the ‘Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation’ and the German princes, a struggle for European preponderance between the Habsburgs and France. 1618-1623 – Bohemian phase 1625-1629 – Danish phase 1628-1635 – Swedish phase 1635-1648 – French phase The Treaty of Westphalia (Münster and Osnabrück) set ground for international peace and order for almost a century. Peace conditions: 1. Religious: Confirmation of the peace of Augsburg 1555 (cuius regio, eius religio). Ius reformandi – the possession of each religious group in 1624 is considered as the moment of religious restitution, i.e. the departure to determine each confession’s possessions, with the exception of Habsburg territories and the Palatinate. 2. Constitutional issues: Imperial privileges depend on the Reichstag (Imperial Diet – in reality due to the right of veto it was more an ambassadors’ conference than a parliament – see Munck). Ius foederationis - full sovereignty of Imperial Estates, as long as alliances were not directed against the Emperor. Bavaria and Palatinate are incorporated among electoral states (along with Archbishops of Mainz, Trier, Cologne; Saxony; Brandeburg and Czech kingdom). 3. International Politics: France – gains part of Upper Alsace; vicariate over bishoprics of Metz, Toul and Verdun; border on the Rhine. Sweden – receives Hither Pomerania with Szczecin (Stettin) and Wismar; Duchy of Bremen; controls the mouths of Weser, Elbe and Oder. Bavaria – receives Upper Palatinate. Saxony – receives Lusatia. Brandenburg receives Further Pomerania; the bpcs of Halberstadt, Kammin and Minden. Switzerland and United Provinces leave the Empire. Reaction of the pope Innocent X – outrage. In his brief Zelus domus Dei (1650) he described the treaty as: “null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, and devoid of meaning for all time” (Davies, Europe, p. 568). mid-17th century Spain – rebellion in Portugal and Catalonia; weakening position of the overseas empire France – struggles with protests (the Fronde) as it aspires to build an absolute state under Richelieu and Mazarin England – in the middle of Civil War and Revolution German Empire – weakened by the war; loss of member states; weakened Imperial control; role of German princes (Bavaria, Saxony, Brandenburg-Prussia) Poland-Lithuania – weakened by Cossack uprisings in the Ukraine, Turkish, Swedish and Muscovy wars Hungary – does not exist partitioned between Ottoman Empire, Habsburgs and Transylvania Italy – divided into spheres of interest and semi-independent states, which lost much of their importance since middle ages; Venice still tries to run big politics, but plays insignificant role Muscovy – slow growth towards centralized powerful state Sweden – exceptional role and power