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Peace of Westphalia
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Painting by Gerard Terborch showing a large group of men in formal 17th-century attire gathered around a green-covered table, witnessing the signing of the Treaty of Munster. Historical map of Central Europe showing territorial changes resulting from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 at the end of the Thirty Years' War. Areas transferred to Sweden, Brandenburg, Transylvania, Saxony, France, the United Provinces, Bavaria, and Poland are color-coded. The map also marks the boundary of the Holy Roman Empire, key battle sites, and the route of Gustavus Adolphus's campaign from 1631 to 1632. Major cities, rivers, and neighboring countries such as France, Poland, Sweden, and
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Vikings. Viking warriors hold swords and shields. 9th c. AD seafaring warriors raided the coasts of Europe, burning, plundering and killing. Marauders or pirates came from Scandinavia, now Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. European History
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D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944.
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Peace of Westphalia: References & Edit History

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  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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  • Aaron Manson

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: Oxford Public International Law - Peace of Westphalia (1648). Oct 15, 2026
Add new Web site: Oxford Public International Law - Peace of Westphalia (1648). Mar 19, 2026
Anniversary information added. Jan 23, 2026
Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - Peace of Westphalia. Aug 22, 2025
Add new Web site: E-International Relations - Beyond the Twilight of the Westphalian Myth. Jul 12, 2025
Add new Web site: CORE - The Peace of Westphalia and the Rise of Collectivist Security Over Imperialism (PDF). Dec 11, 2024
Add new Web site: U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons - The Westphalian Peace Tradition in International Law: From Jus ad Bellum to Jus contra Bellum. Sep 26, 2024
Add new Web site: Pressbooks Create - MAKING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN IDEAS AND EVENTS: The Peace of Westphalia and the Rise of the Nation-State. Aug 16, 2024
Add new Web site: La Salle University Digital Commons - The Peace of Westphalia and it Affects on International Relations, Diplomacy and Foreign Policy. Jan 19, 2024
Add new Web site: University of Oregon - The Peace of Westphalia (PDF). Dec 08, 2023
Add new Web site: Academia - The Peace of Westphalia as a Secular Constitution. Jun 23, 2023
Add new Web site: Social Sciences LibreTexts - The Peace of Westphalia. Mar 16, 2023
Corrected display issue. Oct 24, 2018
Added characterization of the treaty and its role in the development of the modern state. Oct 15, 2015
Media added. Oct 15, 2015
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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