The Peace of Augsburg (1555), the Edict of Nantes (1598), and the Peace of Westphalia (1648) all contributed to the strengthening of secular rulers by reinforcing their authority to determine the religion practiced within their territories. The Peace of Augsburg allowed princes in the Holy Roman Empire to choose between Lutheranism and Catholicism, thus elevating their power in religious matters. The Edict of Nantes granted French Protestants, or Huguenots, substantial rights, yet ultimately reaffirmed the king's authority to mediate religious conflicts. Similarly, the Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War by recognizing the sovereignty of states and granting rulers significant control over their domains, effectively minimizing the influence of external religious authority and affirming the principle of cuius regio, eius religio—whoever rules, their religion.
Explain how the Peace of Augsburg, the Edict of Nantes, and the Peace of Westphalia all strengthened secular rulers. 3-5 sentence please
1 answer