History of Europe

What rights were given to the holy Roman Empire in treaty of Westphalia?

Territorial changes:

- Sweden gained Western Pomerania and the secularized Archbishopric of Bremen-Verden.

- France gained most of Alsace and the Three Bishoprics (Metz, Toul, and Verdun).

- Bavaria gained the Upper Palatinate.

- Brandenburg-Prussia gained Eastern Pomerania and the secularized Archbishopric of Magdeburg.

- The Swiss Confederation was recognized as independent from the Holy Roman Empire.

Religious concessions:

- The Peace of Westphalia established the principle of _cuius regio, eius religio_ ("whose realm, his religion"), which gave each prince the right to determine the religion of his subjects.

- Calvinism was recognized as an official religion in the Holy Roman Empire.

- The Catholic Church was allowed to retain its lands and privileges in areas that were not controlled by Protestant princes.

Constitutional changes:

- The Peace of Westphalia limited the power of the Holy Roman Emperor and strengthened the rights of the princes.

- The princes were given the right to make alliances with foreign powers and to declare war.

- The Holy Roman Empire was transformed from a centralized state into a decentralized confederation of states.