The Peace of Augsburg (1555) established what religious principle in the Holy Roman Empire?

• A. The universal tolerance of all faiths
• B. Cuius regio, eius religio — rulers choose the religion of their realm
• C. The supremacy of the pope over princes
• D. The creation of a new state church separate from Catholicism

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is how the Peace of Augsburg tried to end religious conflict by linking faith to political authority. It established cuius regio, eius religio — whose realm, his religion. In practice, this meant that the ruler of a given territory within the Holy Roman Empire could determine the official faith for that territory, and subjects were expected to follow that faith. This gave princes substantial power over churches, clergy, and religious practice within their lands and was intended to create a peaceful settlement by removing the pressure of competing loyalties across regions.

Context helps: the arrangement recognized only two Christian traditions—Catholicism and Lutheranism—so it did not grant universal religious toleration or include other faiths or reform movements, like Calvinism. It also didn’t automatically protect the rights of all subjects to freely choose their own beliefs, nor did it apply equally to free imperial cities, papal territories, or nonconformist groups. Over time, as religious diversity grew and conflicts persisted, the limitations of this principle contributed to continued tensions and eventually wider upheaval in the empire.