Protestant Union

The Protestant Union or Evangelical Union or Union of Auhausen was a coalition of Protestant German states that was formed in 1608 to defend the rights, lands and person of each member.

Related Topics:
Protestant - German - 1608

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It was formed after the Holy Roman Emperor tried in 1607 to reestablish Catholicism in Donauworth and after a majority of the Reichstag decided the renewal of the Peace of Augsburg of 1555 should be conditional upon the restoration of all church land appropriated since 1552. The Protestant Princes met in Auhausen, near Nordlingen and on May 14 1608 formed a military league under the leadership of Frederick IV of the Palatinate. The Catholic League was formed shortly afterwards in response, headed by Duke Maximilian I of Bavaria.

Related Topics:
Holy Roman Emperor - 1607 - Catholicism - Donauworth - Reichstag - Peace of Augsburg - 1555 - 1552 - Protestant - Auhausen - Nordlingen - May 14 - 1608 - Frederick IV - Palatinate - Catholic League - Maximilian I - Bavaria

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Members included the Palatinate, Anhalt, Neuberg, Wurttemberg, Baden, Ansbach, Bayreuth, Hesse-Kassel, Brandenberg, Ulm, Strasbourg and Nurnberg.

Related Topics:
Palatinate - Anhalt - Neuberg - Wurttemberg - Baden - Ansbach - Bayreuth - Hesse-Kassel - Brandenberg - Ulm - Strasbourg - Nurnberg

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The Protestant Union was weakened from the start by the absence of powerful Protestant rulers such as the Elector of Saxony. The Union was also beset by internal strife between its Lutheran and Calvinist members.

Related Topics:
Protestant Union - Protestant - Elector of Saxony - Lutheran - Calvinist

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When Frederick V of the Palatinate, (successor to Frederick IV), accepted the crown of Bohemia in 1619 the Protestant Union refused to support him. In January 1621 the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II imposed the Ban of the Empire upon Frederick V and gave the Lower Palatinate to Maximilian. The Protestant Union met in Heilbron in February and formally protested over the actions of Ferdinand. Ferdinand ignored this complaint and ordered the Protestant Union to disband their army. In May under the Mainz Accord the members of the Protestant Union complied with Ferdinand's demand and on 24 May 1621 formally dissolved the Protestant Union.

Related Topics:
Frederick V - Palatinate - Frederick IV - Bohemia - 1619 - Ferdinand II - Ban of the Empire - Heilbron - Mainz Accord - 24 May - 1621

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