The Schmalkaldic War was fought in the Holy Roman Empire between Emperor Charles V and the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance of Protestant princes and cities led by John Frederick of Saxony and Philip of Hesse. Charles wanted to restore religious unity in the empire and to curb the power of the princes. With help from the Protestant Duke Maurice of Saxony, who joined him in return for territory, he defeated the league at the Battle of Mühlberg, and captured both of its leaders. The emperor then imposed a religious settlement, the Augsburg Interim, which was unpopular. Protestant resistance revived, and in 1555 the Peace of Augsburg allowed princes to choose between Lutheranism and Catholicism for their territories.
Before and after
- 24 May 1543Death of Nicolaus Copernicus
- from 1545 to 1648Counter-Reformation
- from 13 December 1545 to 21 February 1563Council of Trent
- 18 February 1546Death of Martin Luther
- from 10 July 1546 to 23 May 1547Schmalkaldic War
- 14 December 1546Birth of Tycho Brahe
- from 1547 to 1721Tsardom of Russia
- 28 January 1547Death of Henry VIII of England
- 29 September 1547Birth of Miguel de Cervantes
More in Wars, politics & history
- 25 September 1555Peace of Augsburg
- 1 July 1569Union of Lublin
- from 1683 to 1699Great Turkish War
- 26 January 1699Treaty of Karlowitz
- 22 February 1732Birth of George Washington
- from 10 October 1733 to 3 October 1735War of the Polish Succession
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.