How did the Peace of Augsburg, the Edict of Nantes, and the Peace of Westphalia all strengthened secular rulers? In one paragraph.

Answer 1

The Peace of Augsburg, the Edict of Nantes, and the Peace of Westphalia all strengthened the power of secular rulers by granting them the authority to determine the religion of their territories, thereby diminishing the influence of the Catholic Church. The Peace of Augsburg allowed German princes to choose between Catholicism and Lutheranism within their domains, marking the first formal recognition of religious pluralism in Europe. The Edict of Nantes granted religious tolerance to French Protestants, known as Huguenots, by allowing them to practice their faith freely. The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War and solidified the principle of cuius regio, eius religio, empowering rulers to dictate the religious affiliation of their subjects. These agreements centralized power in the hands of secular rulers, weakening the authority of the Catholic Church and paving the way for the rise of absolute monarchies in Europe.