Charles V tried to stop the spread of [[Lutheranism]]. In 1531, the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance of Protestant princes, was formed to defend the Protestant states against possible Catholic attack. In 1544, Charles sent armies against the German princes, but the [[Peace of Augsburg]] in 1555 ultimately gave each German prince the right to choose the religion for his state by a principle called ''[[cuius regio, eius religio]]'' (whose region, his religion). Most of the southern German princes chose Catholicism, the northern princes Lutheranism. | Charles V tried to stop the spread of [[Lutheranism]]. In 1531, the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance of Protestant princes, was formed to defend the Protestant states against possible Catholic attack. In 1544, Charles sent armies against the German princes, but the [[Peace of Augsburg]] in 1555 ultimately gave each German prince the right to choose the religion for his state by a principle called ''[[cuius regio, eius religio]]'' (whose region, his religion). Most of the southern German princes chose Catholicism, the northern princes Lutheranism. |