Peace of Westphalia

Known also as the treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, The Peace of Westphalia is the series of treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War and officially recognized the United Provinces and Swiss Confederation. The Spanish treaty which ended the Eighty Years' War was signed on January 30, 1648. The treaty signed October 24, 1648 comprehended the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III, the other German princes, France, and Sweden.

Locations

The peace negotiations were held after initial talks held in the cities of Münster and Osnabrück, which lie about 50 km apart in the present day states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. These cities were favoured by Sweden whereas Hamburg and Cologne were proposed by the French. Two locations were needed as the Protestant and Catholic leaders refused to meet each other. The city of Münster was used by the Catholics, while Osnabrück was used by the Protestants. The Treaty of the Pyrenees ending the war between France and Spain is also often considered part of the treaty.

Related Topics:
Münster - Osnabrück - North Rhine-Westphalia - Lower Saxony - Sweden - Hamburg - Cologne - Protestant - Catholic - Treaty of the Pyrenees

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