The Peace of Westphalia

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The Peace of Westphalia, concluded in 1648, ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. It marked a significant turning point by allowing rulers to choose their state's religion (Catholicism, Lutheranism, or Calvinism), effectively ending the Counter Reformation in Germany. This agreement did not strengthen the Holy Roman Empire; instead, it marked the beginning of its decline by granting significant autonomy to its constituent states. It did not represent a victory for the Catholic Church, as it acknowledged the legitimacy of Protestant denominations, nor did it eliminate Calvinism in northern Europe, which continued to be a major religious force.