Westphalia, Treaty of

21 October 1648

Peace treaty signed at Münster and Osnabrück, ending the Thirty Years War. By its articles France was confirmed in its possession of Metz, Toul, and Verdun, and also obtained the sovereignty of Alsace; Sweden was given west Pomerania, Bremen, and Verden; and Bavaria, Bradenburg, and Saxony also received accessions of territory. The structure of the Holy Roman Empire was weakened, and the larger among its constituent territories gained almost complete independence. The independence of Switzerland and the United Provinces of Dutch Netherlands was recognised. Religious toleration was granted to Calvinists as well as Lutherans in Germany, but the principle was not established in Hapsburg territories. The treaty marks both the failure of the Austro-Spanish attempt to restore Roman Catholicism in central Europe and the beginning of French hegemony in Europe.

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