ABSTRACT
The Treaty of Westphalia brought one epoch to a close, and marked the beginning of another. For the people of Germany, the rule of the Emperor was replaced once and for all by the tyranny of the territorial princes. In many respects, especially in the early years, they were certainly propitious, for the devastated country needed for its reconstruction strong individualities of unquestioned authority, and most of the German potentates accomplished great things in this respect. A number of German potentates, led by the Archbishop Elector of Mainz, formed the Rhenish League in conjunction with France for the protection of their privileges against possible encroachments by the House of Austria. Public opinion in Germany accepted the situation, on the whole, with equanimity. The first almost unanimous impulse of indignant resistance had evaporated. In any case the German nation would have been eliminated as an independent and respected voice in the councils of the civilized world.
