The Reformation In Germany

The Hapsburg domain grew in size and importance mainly by the process of marriage and inheritance. Albert's grandson, Maximilian I, reigned 1493-1519. He was married to the heiress of Burgundy and the Low Countries. Maximilian's grandson and heir, Charles V (1519-56), ruled a vast empire consisting of Spain, holdings in Italy, the Burgundian lands, and the Hapsburg Austrian possessions. The area was so immense that Charles gave Austria and the administration of Germany to his brother Ferdinand.

The growing independence of the German princes was rarely threatened by the Hapsburgs, who were busy fighting the French to the west and the Turks to the east. The Protestant Reformation in Germany, led by Martin Luther, benefited from their absence, and the revolt against the Roman Catholic Church spread quickly.

The Peasants' War (1524-26) was caused by feudal oppression and heavy taxation by state and church. Hailing Luther as their leader, the peasants took up arms against their lords. Luther, who had been supported by the nobility, condemned the uprising. The revolt was crushed with appalling brutality. More than 100,000 peasants were slain, and serfdom was legally established soon afterwards.

Lutheranism gained increasing strength with the nobility. Emperor Charles and Archduke Ferdinand turned their attention to it when they could, and various meetings, threats, and truces resulted. The Schmalkaldic League, composed of German Protestant states, was defeated by the Hapsburgs in 1547, but some armed resistance to imperial authority continued. In 1555 the Peace of Augsburg gave each prince the power to choose the religion for his domain.

The Roman Catholic Church, in the meantime, had undertaken the Counter Reformation. By 1600 most of southern Germany had been won back to Catholicism.