Augsburg 1555 – Articles 24-27
In the Augsburg Peace of Religion treaty of 1555, the envoys of the German states and cities agreed on accepting only the Catholic or the Lutheran confession in their territories. Subjects adhering to the other belief were allowed to emigrate. However, in some cities, both beliefs continued to exist side by side:
§24: But if subjects who adhere to the old religion or the Augsburg Confession want to leave the country because of their religion with their wives and children, then they should be allowed to do so. They are also allowed to sell their belongings freely. But they must pay adequate compensation for serfdom and taxes.
§27: In many cities in the Reich, the two religions, the old religion and the religion of the Augsburg Confession, are practiced side by side. This is how it should remain in these cities. No side shall try to abolish the religion, church customs or ceremonies of the other. According to this peace they should live quietly and peacefully together.
Context:
The Reformation brought a division of the Christian church in Central Europe. Theologians like Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and others established new teachings on the Christian faith and belief. They soon found many followers. The different German states split up between the Catholic and the Evangelical side and divided into two political parties as well. After years of political struggles, this conflict even ended up in civil wars after 1546. In 1555, the envoys of the German states met in Augsburg. They sought for a way to settle the conflict and end the religious wars in Germany. The Augsburg Peace of Religion of 25 September 1555 finally accepted the existence of two different Christian churches. The princes and rulers could decide whether to stay with the old Catholic church or to adhere to the new Lutheran belief as formulated in the Augsburg Confession of 1530. The Lutheran states were now on an equal footing with the Catholic ones. Other religious groups, which came up with the Reformation, were, however, excluded from the Peace treaty. Freedom of religion applied only to the German estates, i.e. the princes and imperial cities. Their subjects had to follow the faith of their sovereign or were allowed to emigrate. The Peace of Augsburg heralded a long period of peace in the German lands, which did not end until the Thirty Years’ War in 1618.
Further information about The Peace of Augsburg can be found at On Site, In Time.
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§27: In many cities in the Reich, the two religions, the old religion and the religion of the Augsburg Confession, are practiced side by side. This is how it should remain in these cities. No side shall try to abolish the religion, church customs or ceremonies of the other. According to this peace they should live quietly and peacefully together.’
Context
In 1555, the envoys of the German states met in Augsburg. They sought for a way to settle the conflict and end the religious wars in Germany. The Augsburg Peace of Religion of 25 September 1555 finally accepted the existence of two different Christian churches. The princes and rulers could decide whether to stay with the old Catholic church or to adhere to the new Lutheran belief as formulated in the Augsburg Confession of 1530. The Lutheran states were now on an equal footing with the Catholic ones. Other religious groups, which came up with the Reformation, were, however, excluded from the Peace treaty. Freedom of religion applied only to the German estates, i.e. the princes and imperial cities. Their subjects had to follow the faith of their sovereign or were allowed to emigrate. The Peace of Augsburg heralded a long period of peace in the German lands, which did not end until the Thirty Years’ War in 1618.