The Thirty Years war was the most destructive conflicts in the history of Europe, resulting in 8,000,000 casualties.The thirty years war was inconclusive, the peace of Westphalia of 1648 ended the thirty years war in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. The thirty year long war did not end by one treaty, but instead a group of treaties, such as the treaty of Münster.
Dutch NetherlandsIndependence
Brandenburggains territory
Alsaceto France
Switzerlandan independent confederation
Holy Roman Empireweakened
Calvinism, Lutheranism, Catholicism
Freedom of private worship
Dutch NetherlandsIndependence The Dutch Netherlands became independent after the 30 year war. The peace of Münster was a landmark treaty between the Dutch republic and Spain which was signed in May of 1648 which formally recognized the independence of the Dutch republic. The treaty was a part of the peace of Westphalia which ended both the thirty year long war and the eighty years war.
Brandenburggains territory Brandenburg gained territory which lead to the rise of Brandenburg Prussia which was a foundation for the German unified state. The thirty year long war started a process that in a few hundred years later lead to the unification of Germany.
Alsaceto France France had influential power at the start of the 1500s and increasingly during the thirty years war when Alsatian cities, caught between warring Catholic and Protestant armies, turned to France for assistance.
Switzerlandan independent confederation Switzerland became an independent confederation, and till today is still known for their independence because of the thirty years war. Johann Rudolf Wettstein, the ambassador of the Swiss confederation, achieved the detachment of the confederation of the Holy Roman Empire which then resulted in all of the European powers formally recognizing Switzerland as an independent confederation.
Holy Roman Empireweakened The Holy Roman Empire as an institution was now weaker than it was before the thirty years war. During the 17th century the Holy Roman Empire was ruled by the Habsburgs also known as the house of Austria, who also ruled Spain.
Calvinism, Lutheranism, Catholicism There were an increasing number of people who practiced Calvinism in the Holy Roman Empire, but they weren’t permitted to practice their religion. The rulers of Prussian Brandenburg were Calvinist even though most of the people in Brandenburg were Lutheran. This lead to the acceptances of now three religions that were aloud to be practiced which were Calvinism, Lutheranism and Catholicism.
The freedom of private worship After centuries of conflicting events about religion, the people in Europe started to accept the freedom of private worship, it was now accepted as long as the person was not causing any danger or concern to the rest of the society. The thirty year long war was the last major religious war in Europe.