The rise of the territorial state and the treaty of westphalia dr daud hassan i. The modern system of ir, functioning from 1648 to 1945, has its historical roots in the thirty years war 1618. These treaties ended the thirty years war 16181648 in the holy roman empire. The first phase of the westphalian order lasted from 1648 to about 1815 and was characterized by the emergence of mercantilism as a politicaleconomic system. Peace of westphalia, 1648 linnbenton community college. Europe was drowned in religious blood battles for over thirty years, and to end this tussle for sovereignty and religious dominance, a peace treaty was signed by the european powers in 1648. They largely ended the european wars of religion, including the thirty years war.
The peace of westphalia, which brought to a close the thirty years war, is arguably the most important treaty signed before the twentieth century. Nationstates and sovereignty boundless world history. Westphalia must thus be seen as a very successful constitutional experiment in dealing with deep religious disagreements. The peace treaty of westphalia 1648 and its consequences for ir after 30 years of bloody battles, massacres, and changing side in alliances, the thirty years war was ended on october 24th, 1648 by the peace treaty of westphalia, which was signed twice at two different places. After the peace of westphalia, spain recognised independence of. Westphalia, there was little indication that the territorial nation state would develop into the dominant. The 30 years war 16181648 was the central conflict, closely related to the spanishdutch 80 years war 15681648. It is crucial to have a more accurate and historically informed understanding of the actual nature of the 1648 settlement and its early modern european contextone that avoids simplistic conceptualizations. Westfalia was entered as a charter member of the newly formed confederation of the rhine. The merger treaty, also known as the treaty of brussels, was a european treaty that unified the executive institutions of the european coal and steel community ecsc, atomic energy community euratom and the economic community eec. Westphalian foundations of modern international relations.
The peace of westphalia, also known as the treaty of westphalia was a peace agreement which ended the thirty years war 1618 1648 that was fought between the german protestant princes and their allies sweden, denmark, france, england and the dutch republic against the holy roman emperor, spain and their catholic allies. The peace of westphalia, signed five years later, was actually two treaties, each negotiated in a different seat of an imperial princebishop in the land of westphalia. The peace of westphalia was the treaty that ended the. This war can be named as the first paneuropean war, taking its scope, results and consequences for the european history in. The treaty of westephalia was signed between may and october 1648. Map of europe after the treaty of westphalia, 24th october 1648. The peace of westphalia of 1648 and the origins of sovereignty derek croxton is described in recent works as perforated, defiled, corsovereignty nered, eroded, extinct, anachronistic, even interrogated. It is a tangible attribute of statehood, defining and declaring the physical area within which a state can enjoy and exercise its sovereignty. The treaty of westphalia itself was not the only agreement concluded at the peace negotiations held in the town of muenster in 1648. As soon as the treaty of peace shall be signd and seald by the plenipotentiarys and ambassadors, all hostilitys shall cease, and all partys shall study immediately to put in execution what has been agreed to. The agreement that created sovereign states as we know them was called the peace of westphalia. From the reformation to the thirty years war, 15001648. On october 1424, 1648, the treaty between emperor ferdinand iii and queen christina of sweden and their respective allies was signed at osnabruck see part a, below. On 24 october 1648, the treaty of westphalia was signed, marking the end of the thirty years war.
The new kingdom was composed o f parts of hannover, brunswick, saxony and most of hessekassel. War in 1648, has provided enduring lessons for similar endeavors ever since. Analysing the significance of the treaty of westphalia. The westphalia area of northwestern germany gave its name to the treaty that ended the thirty years war, one of the most destructive conflicts in the history of europe. Red to france, jurisdiction over 10 imperial cities in alsace blue to sweden pink to brandenburg light blue to saxony orange to bavaria. The peace of westphalia, also called the treaty of westphalia, was concluded on october 24, 1648. Peace of westphalia, european settlements of 1648, which brought to an end the eighty years war between spain and the dutch and the german phase of the thirty years war. The peace of westphalia was the treaty that ended the thirty years war in europe 16181648.
Introduction territory is one of the most important ingredients of statehood. What was the significance of the treaty of westphalia. They closed a calamitous period of european history that killed approximately eight million people. Westphalia, secular, constitution, law, 1648, sovereignty, peace treaty, roman, religious, secular, public affairs. Peace of westphalia, 1648 the peace of westphalia resulted from the first modern diplomatic congress and initiated a new order in central europe based on the concept of state sovereignty. This agreement was made between churches and rulers as the divine right of kings was failing, protestantism was ripping europe apart, technology was revolutionizing the economic order and new continents were being settled. Treaty of westphalia, 1648 marxists internet archive. The thirty years war, a religious and a political war, occurred during the years of 16181648 in western europe, ended with the treaty of westphalia. The rise of the territorial state and the treaty of westphalia. The first phrase and the opening of the thirty years war was bohemian revolt.
Peace treaty between the holy roman emperor and the king of france and. It was a signal event of the early modern era, thoroughly of its time even as it prefigured the radical political. The peace of westphalia 1648 as a secular constitution. On october 24, 1648, the peace of westphalia formally ended the thirty years war in europe. Pdf in the past 1015 years, an increasing number of revisionist. Why the peace treaty of 1648 merits scrutiny today. Accordingly, the study of international relations ir has focused. The negotiations for the peace of westphalia lasted almost six years, and produced several separate treaties resolving both the thirty years war involving france, the holy roman empire, sweden and various other combatants and the eighty years war between. The treaties of osnabruck and munster were signed in 1648 and together. The kingdom of westfalia was created by napoleon in december 1807 following the treaty of tilsit. These treaties ended the thirty years war 16181648 in the holy roman empire, and the eighty years war 15681648 between spain and the dutch republic, with. Despite many misgivings, the dutch republic decided to enter talks about a truce. Westphalia, treaty of 1648 the agreement that ended the thirty years war of 161848 in europe.
A case for causal pluralism in international relations introduction for centuries, the territorial nation state has been the dominant organized political community in the international system. Pdf westphalian eurocentrism in international relations theory. Sovereignty nered, eroded, extinct, anachronistic, even. It ushered in the mode state system and defined its s. The peace treaty of westphalia 1648 and its consequences. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It established the modern concept of state sovereignty by drastically limiting the power of the holy roman emperor, who had previously been said to be ruler of all europe. Westphalian sovereignty is the concept of nationstate sovereignty based on two principles.
Although the definition, origins, and early history of nationstates are disputed, nationstate remains one of the central categories of the modern world. In addition, the treaty of muenster, recognizing the independence of the united provinces of the netherlands and ceding territory to france, and the treaty of osnabruck, granting sweden its spoils of victory, also. The thirty years war and the treaty of westphalia the thirty years war 161848 marks a watershed in the history of europe. A historical dictionary looks quite attractive, specially considering its the most frequently cited book on the congresses of westphalia there is.
Be it known to all, and every one whom it may concern, or to whom in any manner it may belong, that for many years past, discords and civil divisions. The treaty of westphalia 1648 which has an enormous importance in world. It consisted of two peace treaties concluded on oct. The spanishdutch treaty was signed on january 30, 1648. Territorial provisions of the peace of westphalia click map to enlarge. He writes that the westphalian model is incomplete because. Pdf 1648 the treaty of westphalia muhammet nuhoglu. It helps in ending the 30 years war16181648 in roman empire and 80 years war15681648 between spain and dutch. October 24, is the anniversary of the signing of the treaty of westphalia in 1648, or at least the final part of it signed in munster. Peace treaty between the holy roman emperor and the king of france and their respective allies.
Westphalia, treaty of 1648 article about westphalia. The peace of westphalia, which ended the thirty years. Why the peace treaty of 1648 merits scrutiny today the. On 30 january 1648, spanish and dutch representatives signed the peace treaty. Westfalischer friede was a series of peace treaties that were signed between may and october 1648 in the westphalian cities of osnabruck and munster. These took place in the town of munster, a german bishopric. Holy roman empire, the peace meant a settlement to the political and. Through the use of various primary and secondary sources students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the basic story behind the thirty years war, why the war broke out and how the treaty of westphalia 1648 forever changed the history of europe. In the name of the most holy and individual trinity.