This peace treaty officially ended the Thirty Years' War in Germany in 1648 and it allowed each prince, whether they were Lutheran, Catholic, or Calvinist, to choose the established creed of his territory. This treaty laid the foundations for the concept of national sovereignty (sovereign independent authority) for over 300 German states and paved the way for the rise of nation-states. It also recognized Calvinism as a legally permissible faith, continued the political fragmentation of Germany, granted Sweden additional territory, confirming its status as a major power, and acknowledged the independence of the United Provinces of the Netherlands.
