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Resistance to Lutheranism in Germany
Charles V by Titian, 1548
Although Lutheranism had powerful supporters, its survival was by no
means certain. Its main opponent was the Habsburg emperor Charles V, who
had inherited Spain, the Netherlands, southern Italy, Sicily, and the
Austrian lands as patrimony and who hoped to restore the unity of the
German Empire by keeping it Roman Catholic.
Charles had been out of Germany
between 1521 and 1530, and when he returned he found that the new religion
had won too many adherents to be easily uprooted. In addition, he could
not devote himself single-mindedly to combating it but also had to struggle
with powerful external enemies. One was Francis I (r. 1515-47) of France,
who attacked the empire from the west, having resolved to destroy the
power of the Habsburgs. Another threat was posed by the Turks, who were
attacking the empire from the east. Even the papacy at times conspired
against its coreligionist because it feared Charles was becoming too powerful.
Within Germany, forces were also arrayed against Charles. In 1531 Protestant
leaders created the League of Schmalkalden to oppose him. By 1545 northeastern
and northwestern Germany and large parts of southern Germany had become
Protestant. Despite the significant victory over the Protestants at the
Battle of Mühlberg in 1547, Charles still was not powerful enough to impose
his will on the German princes.
- Martin Luther
- Protestant Reformation
- Resistance to Lutheranism
- The Peace of Augsburg
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