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Peace of Westphalia

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The Peace of Westphalia 1643-1648

The Peace of Westphalia is the collective name for two peace treaties signed on 24 October 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster, the Treaty of Münster and the Treaty of Osnabrück. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) and brought peace to the Holy Roman Empire, closing a disastrous period of European history. Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III, the kingdoms of France and Sweden, and their respective allies among the princes of the Holy Roman Empire, participated in the treaties.

The negotiation process was lengthy and complex. Talks took place in two cities, because each side wanted to meet on territory under its own control. For the negotiations, both cities were maintained as neutral and demilitarized zones for the negotiation. A total of 109 delegations arrived to represent the belligerent states, but not all delegations were present at the same time.

In Münster, negotiations took place between the Holy Roman Empire and France, as well as between the Dutch Republic and Spain who on 30 January 1648 signed a peace treaty ending the Eighty Years' War, that was not part of the Peace of Westphalia. Münster had been, since its re-Catholicism in 1535, a strictly mono-denominational community. It housed the Chapter of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster. Only Roman Catholic worship was permitted, while Calvinism and Lutheranism were prohibited.

Sweden preferred to negotiate with the Holy Roman Empire in Osnabrück, which was controlled by Protestant forces since 1633. Osnabrück was a bi-denominational Lutheran and Catholic city, with two Lutheran churches and two Catholic churches. The city council was exclusively Lutheran, and the burghers mostly so, but the city also housed the Catholic Chapter of the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück and had many other Catholic inhabitants. Osnabrück had been subjugated by troops of the Catholic League from 1628 to 1633 and was then taken by Gustaf (Gustavsson) af Vasaborg (1616-1653) on behalf of Lutheran Sweden.

Treaty Text

Instrumentum Pacis Osnabrugensis

The text of the Treaty of Osnabrück is available as a digital copy at the ULB Münster.[1] The text is also available at these two pages (in German language):

Instrumentum Pacis Monasteriensi

The text of the Treaty of Münster available in German language:

Envoys

The following sections and tables highlight the sending countries with their sovereigns as well as their envoys that participated in the negotiations on their behalf. The negotiators included both the envoys of sovereigns (i.e. imperial envoys and the Spanish, French, Swedish and Dutch envoys), as well as the envoys of the German electors.


THE FOLLOWING SUB-SECTIONS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION - PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD OR AMEND

Imperial Envoys

Imperial Envoys
Sending State Head of State Envoy Comments
Holy Roman Empire Emperor Ferdinand III. Habsburg (1608-1657)Johann Maximilian (Trauttmannsdorff) von Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg (1584-1650)Chief envoy of the Emperor. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1645-1647
Isaak Volmar (1582-1662)Imperial chief envoy. Trauttmansdorff's successor. In Münster, 1643-1649
Johann Ludwig (von Nassau-Dillenburg) von Nassau-Hadamar (1590-1635)Imperial envoy. In Münster, 1643-1648
Johann Maximilian von Lamberg (1608-1682)Imperial headmaster envoy. In Osnabrück, 1644-1649
Johann Baptist (Krane) von Krane (abt.1595-1673)Imperial envoy. In Osnabrück, 1643-1648

Spanish Envoys

Royal Spanish Envoys
Sending State Head of State Envoy Comments
Kingdom of SpainKing Felipe Domingo Víctor de la Cruz (Habsburg) de España (1605-1665)Gaspar de Bracamonte y Guzmán (abt. 1595–1676)Spanish Principal Envoy. In Münster 1645-1648
Joseph Bergaigne (1588–1647)Plenipotentiary of the Spanish King. In Münster, 1645-1647
Antoine Brun (1599–1654)Spanish Plenipotentiary for Burgundy. In Münster, 1643-1648

French Envoys

Royal French Envoys
Sending State Head of State Envoy Comments
Kingdom of France King Louis Dieudonné (Bourbon) de France (1638-1715)Henri II. d’Orléans-Longueville (1595–1663)Envoy Extraordinary of the French King. In Münster 1645-1648
Claude de Mesmes (1595–1650)Envoy of the French King. In Münster, 1644-1648
Abel Servien (1593–1659)Envoy of the French King. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1644-1646, 1647-1648

Swedish Envoys

Royal Swedish Envoys
Sending State Head of State Envoy Comments
Kingdom of SwedenQueen Kristina Vasa (1626-1689)Johan Axelsson (abt.1612-1657)Swedish Principal Envoy. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1643-1648
Johan Adler Salvius (1590–1652)Plenipotentiary of the Swedish Queen in Münster and Osnabrück, 1643-1650
Schering Rosenhane (1609–1663)Resident of the Queen. In Münster, 1644-1647

Dutch Envoys

Dutch Envoys
Sending State Head of State Envoy Comments
Republic of the Seven United NetherlandsFrederik Hendrik van Oranje-Nassau (1584-1647), after 1647 Willem (Oranje-Nassau) van Oranje-Nassau (1626-1650)Barthold van Gent (–1650)Envoy of the Province of Gelderland. Spokesman of the Dutch legation. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1646-1648
Adriaan Clant (abt.1599-1665)Envoy of the Province of Groningen. In Münster and Osnabrück in 1646, 1647, 1648
Frans van Donia (abt. 1580–1651)Envoy of the Province of Frisia. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1646, 1647, 1648
Johan de Knuyt (1587–1654)Envoy of the Province of Zeeland. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1646-1647
Johan van Mathenesse (1596–1653)Envoy of the Province of Holland and West Frisia. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1646, 1647-1648
Adriaen Pauw (1622-1697)Envoy of the Province of Holland and West Frisia. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1646-1647, 1648
Godart van Reede (1588–1648)Envoy of the Province of Utrecht. In Münster, 1646, 1647, 1648
Willem Ripperda (1600–1669)Envoy of the Province of Overijssel. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1646, 1647, 1648

Electorates' Envoys

Envoys of the Electorates
Sending State Head of State Envoy Comments
Electorate of BavariaElector Maximilian (Wittelsbach) von Bayern (1573-1651)Georg Christoph von Haslang (1602–1684) Headmaster envoy of the Bavarian Elector. In Münster from 1645
Electorate of BrandenburgElector Friedrich Wilhelm (Hohenzollern) von Brandenburg (1620-1688)Johann (Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein) Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein (1601-1657) Headmaster envoy of the Elector of Brandenburg. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1645-1648
Matthaeus von Wesenbeck (1600–1659) Envoy of the Elector of Brandenburg. In Osnabrück, 1645-1648
Electorate of CologneElector Ferdinand von Bayern (1577–1650)Franz Wilhelm von Wartenberg (1593-1661) Chief Envoy of the Electorate of Cologne. In Münster and Osnabrück, from 1643. Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück
Electorate of MainzElector Anselm Casimir Wambolt von Umstadt (1579–1647); from 1647: Johann Philipp von Schönborn (1605–1673)Hugo Everhard Cratz von Scharfenstein (1595–1663) Chief envoy of the Electorate of Mainz. In Münster and Osnabrück 1645-1647
Nikolaus Georg von Reigersberg (1595–1663)Secondary envoy of the Electorate of Mainz in Münster, 1645-1648
Electorate of SaxonyElector Johann Georg I. (Wettin) von Sachsen (1585-1656)Johann Ernst (Pistoris) Pistoris von Seußlitz und Hirschstein (1605-1680)Head Envoy of the Electorate of Saxony. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1646–1647
Electorate of TrierElector Philipp Christoph von Sötern (1567–1652)Hugo Friedrich von Eltz (1597–1658) Envoy of the Electorate of Trier

Other State Envoys

Other State Envoys
Sending State Head of State Envoy Comments
Principality Anhalt-BernburgChristian von Anhalt-Bernburg (1599-1656)Georg Achatz Heher (1601–1667)Envoy of the Duke of Saxe-Gotha. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1645-1648
Margraviate Baden-DurlachFriedrich (Zähringen) von Baden-Durlach(1594-1659)Johann Georg von Merckelbach (1609–1680)Delegate of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach
Kingdom of BohemiaKing (and Emperor) Ferdinand (Hapsburg) Habsburg (1608-1657)Ferdinand Ernst von Waldstein (1619–1657)Imperial Plenipotentiary for Bohemia. In Münster and Osnabrück 1645-1647
Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachAlbert Brandenburg (1620-1667)Johann Fromhold (1602–1653)Secondary envoy of the Elector of Brandenburg for the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1645-1648
Duchy of Brunswick-LüneburgFriedrich IV. von Braunschweig-Lüneburg (1574–1648)Heinrich Langenbeck (1603–1669)Headmaster commissioner of the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg. In Osnabrück as of 1643
Duchy of Brunswick-WolfenbüttelAugust II. von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (1579–1666)Chrysostomus Cöler (1607–1664)Envoy of the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg to Wolfenbüttel. In Osnabrück as of 1646
Duchy of Braunschweig-CalenbergChristian Ludwig von Braunschweig-Calenberg (1622–1665)Jakob Lampadius (1593–1649)Envoy of the Duke of Brunswick-Calenberg. In Osnabrück 1644-1649
Prince's Abbey CorveyArnold von WaldoisAdam Adami (1610–1663)Envoy of the Corvey prince abbey and the Swabian prelates. In Münster and Osnabrück 1645-1648
Duchy WürttembergEberhard III. von Württemberg (1614-1674)Johann Konrad Varnbüler
Andreas Burckhardt (1594-1651)
Landgraviate Hesse-DarmstadtGeorg (Hessen-Darmstadt) von Hessen-Darmstadt (abt.1605-abt.1661)Johann Jakob Wolff von Todenwarth (1585–1657)Envoy of the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and the City of Regensburg. In Münster and Osnabrück 1645-1649
Landgraviate Hesse-KasselAmalia Elisabeth von Hanau-Münzenberg (1602-1651)Reinhard Scheffer (1590–1656)Envoy of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel. In Osnabrück as of 1644
Holy See Giovanni Battista Pamphilj (Pope Innocent X) (abt.1574-1655)Fabio Chigi (1599-1667)Papal Nuncio. In Münster 1644-1649. Became Pope Alexander VII. in 1655.
Duchy of Mecklenburg-GüstrowGustav Adolf von Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1633–1695)Abraham Keyser (1603–1652)Envoy of the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Güstrow. In Osnabrück 1644-1649
Duchy of Mecklenburg-SchwerinAdolf Friedrich (Mecklenburg-Schwerin) von Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1588-1658)Abraham Keyser (1603–1652)Envoy of the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Güstrow. In Osnabrück 1644-1649
County of OldenburgAnton Günther (1583–1667)Hermann Mylius von Gnadenfeld (1603–1657)Envoy of the County of Oldenburg. In Osnabrück 1646-1648
Duchy of Sachsen-WeimarWilhelm IV. von Sachsen-Weimar (1598–1662)Georg Achatz Heher (1601–1667)Envoy of the Dukes of Saxe-Gotha and Saxe-Weimar. In Münster and Osnabrück 1645-1648
Duchy of Saxe-GothaErnst (Sachsen-Weimar) Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg (1601-1675)
Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg and Coburg Wolfgang Conrad von Thumbshirn (1604–1667)Headmaster envoy of the Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Coburg. In Osnabrück 1645-1649
August Carpzov (1612–1683)Secondary envoy of the Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. In Osnabrück 1645-1649
Confederation of Switzerland-Johann Rudolf Wettstein (1594-1666)Envoy of the City of Basel and the Swiss Confederation. In Münster and Osnabrück, 1646-1647
Republic of VeniceFrancesco Molin (1575–1655) Alvise Contarini (1597–1651)Envoy of the Republic of Venice and mediator. In Münster, 1643-1649

Envoys of the Cities

Envoys of the Cities
Sending City Mayor/ City Keeper Envoy Comments
Augsburg Johann Caspar Rembold, David Welser Johann von Leuchselring Envoy of the city of Augsburg and representative of the cities Biberach, Buchau, Buchhorn, Dinkelsbühl, Gengenbach, Kaufbeuren, Offenburg, Pfullendorf, Ravensburg, Rottweil, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Überlingen, Wangen, Weil der Stadt, and Zell am Harmersbach from 1645 to 1648.
Bremen Hermann Wachmann, Statius Speckhan Gerhard Coccejus (1601–1660) Represented Bremen and the German Hanseatic League in Osnabrück, 1644–1648.
Colmar Johann Balthasar Schneider (1612–1656) Envoy of the city of Colmar and the Alsatian cities in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1646 and 1647–1648.
Esslingen am Neckar Georg Wagner Valentin Heider (1605–1664) Representative of the cities Lindau, Kempten, Esslingen, Hall, Nördlingen, Weißenburg, and Leutkirch in Osnabrück from 1645 to 1649.
Frankfurt am Main Johann Georg Köberlin Envoy in the negotiations.
Hagenau Johann Balthasar Schneider (1612–1656) Envoy of the city of Colmar and the Alsatian cities in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1646 and 1647–1648.
Hamburg Ulrich Winkel, Bartholomäus Moller (2nd Mayor) Johann Christoph Meurer (1598–1652) Envoy of the city of Hamburg in Osnabrück from 1645.
Kaysersberg Johann Balthasar Schneider (1612–1656)Envoy of the city of Colmar and the Alsatian cities in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1646 and 1647–1648.
Kempten (Allgäu) Wolfgang Leonhard Jenisch (1596–1656) Valentin Heider (1605–1664) Representative of the cities Lindau, Kempten, Esslingen, Hall, Nördlingen, Weißenburg, and Leutkirch in Osnabrück from 1645 to 1649.
Landau (in der Pfalz) Markus Otto (1600–1674) Represented Landau and the Alsatian cities in the negotiations.
Leutkirch (im Allgäu) Valentin Heider (1605–1664) Representative of the cities Lindau, Kempten, Esslingen, Hall, Nördlingen, Weißenburg, and Leutkirch in Osnabrück from 1645 to 1649.
Lindau Daniel Heider (1572–1647) Valentin Heider (1605–1664) Representative of the cities Lindau, Kempten, Esslingen, Hall, Nördlingen, Weißenburg, and Leutkirch in Osnabrück from 1645 to 1649.
Lübeck Christoph Gerdes (1590–1661), Heinrich Wedemhof (1584–1651), Otto Brokes (1574–1652) David Gloxin (1597–1671) Represented Lübeck in the negotiations, also represented the cities of Goslar and Nordhausen.
Münster (im Gregorienthal) Johann Balthasar Schneider (1612–1656) Envoy of the city of Colmar and the Alsatian cities in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1646 and 1647–1648.
Nördlingen Valentin Heider (1605–1664) Representative of the cities Lindau, Kempten, Esslingen, Hall, Nördlingen, Weißenburg, and Leutkirch in Osnabrück from 1645 to 1649.
Nürnberg Jobst Christoph Kreß von Kressenstein (1597–1663) Represented Nuremberg in the negotiations.
Oberehnheim Johann Balthasar Schneider (1612–1656) Envoy of the city of Colmar and the Alsatian cities in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1646 and 1647–1648.
Regensburg Johann Jakob Wolff von Todenwarth (1585–1657) Represented Regensburg and the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1649.
Rosheim Johann Balthasar Schneider (1612–1656) Envoy of the city of Colmar and the Alsatian cities in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1646 and 1647–1648.
Schlettstadt Johann Balthasar Schneider (1612–1656) Envoy of the city of Colmar and the Alsatian cities in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1646 and 1647–1648.
Schwäbisch-Hall Valentin Heider (1605–1664) Envoy of the cities Lindau, Kempten, Esslingen, Hall, Nördlingen, Weißenburg, and Leutkirch in Osnabrück, 1645–1649
Straßburg Madeus Stemler, Balthasar Bischoff, Johann Jakob Meyer (1572–1659), Jochum Brackenhoffer Markus Otto (1600–1674) Represented Straßburg in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1648.
Türkheim Johann Balthasar Schneider (1612–1656)Envoy of the city of Colmar and the Alsatian cities in Münster and Osnabrück, 1645–1646 and 1647–1648.
Ulm Sebastian Otto (1607 - 1678) Represented Ulm in the negotiations.
Weißenburg im Nordgau Valentin Heider (1605–1664) Representative of the cities Lindau, Kempten, Esslingen, Hall, Nördlingen, Weißenburg, and Leutkirch in Osnabrück from 1645 to 1649.

Sources

  1. Friedens-Schluß/ Wie solcher Von der Römischen Käyserlichen/ Auch Königl. Schwedischen Mayst. Mayst. So dann Deß Heyl. Römischen Reichs Extraordinari-Deputirten vnd [und] anderer Chur: Fürsten vnd [und] Ständ Gevollmächtigten vnd [und] Hochansehenlichen Herren Abgesandten zu Oßnabrück den 27ten. Julij vnd [Julii und] 6ten Augusti/ Im Jahr 1648. auffgericht vnd [und] verglichen/ vnd [und] daselbsten 24/14. Octobris in offentlicher Versamblung vnderschrieben vnd [underschrieben und] bekräfftiget/ auch den 25/15. eiusdem solenniter publicirt worden/ &c. : Auß dem wahren Original, wie es bey dem Cur-Mäyntzis. Reichs-Directorio deponirt worden/ ins Teutsche versetzt, Franckfurt: Fischer; Mäyntz (Main): Heil, 1649, digital copy at the ULB Münster.




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