Treaty of Lieben

The Treaty of Lieben, signed in 1608, was an agreement between Emperor Rudolf II and his brother Matthias. This treaty addressed political disagreements within the Habsburg family and the broader religious tensions of the era. Rudolf II conceded rule over Hungary, the Austrian Danube countries, and Moravia to Matthias. In return, Matthias relinquished the Tirol and the Vorlande to Rudolf. This agreement was part of a larger struggle for power and influence between the brothers, with Matthias seeking to appease the predominantly Protestant estates. The treaty also occurred in the context of religious divisions in Germany, with the formation of the Protestant Union and the Catholic League. The concessions made to Protestants in Bohemia, including the Letter of Majesty, were also a significant outcome of this period.12