fiefAn estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service.The Peace of Westphalia established important political precedents for state sovereignty, inter-state diplomacy, and balance of power in Europe.The treaty also extended that tolerance to allow the minority religion of the territory to practice freely.Along with several territorial adjustments, the terms of the Peace of Westphalia included a return to the principles in the Peace of Augsburg of 1555, in which each prince would have the right to determine the religion of his own state.The treaties did not restore peace throughout Europe, but they did create a basis for national self-determination.The end of the Thirty Years’ War was not brought about by one treaty, but instead by a group of treaties, collectively named the Peace of Westphalia.
