European wars of religion
The European wars of religion were a series of wars waged in Europe during the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries. Fought after the Protestant Reformation began in 1517, the wars disrupted the religious and political order in the Catholic countries of Europe, or Christendom. Other motives during the wars involved revolt, territorial ambitions and great power conflicts. By the end of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), Catholic France had allied with the Protestant forces against the Catholic Habsburg monarchy. The wars were largely ended by the Peace of Westphalia (1648), which established a new political order that is now known as Westphalian sovereignty.
The Battle of White Mountain (1620) in Bohemia was one of the decisive battles of the Thirty Years' War that ultimately led to the reconversion of Bohemia back to Catholicism.
Rebellious peasants surrounding a knight
At the Second Battle of Kappel, Zwingli's supporters were defeated and Zwingli himself was killed.
Destruction of the fortress above the village of Godesberg during the Cologne War, 1583; the walls were breached by mines, and most of the defenders were put to death. Engraved by Frans Hogenberg, a Dutch engraver and artist of the 16th century.
Christendom refers to Christian states, Christian-majority countries or countries in which Christianity is dominant or prevails.
Icon depicting the Emperor Constantine and the bishops of the First Council of Nicaea (AD 325) holding the Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed of 381
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna
Picture of Christ in Majesty contained in an illuminated manuscript
There are few old ceramic icons, such as this St. Theodor icon which dates to c. 900 (from Preslav, Bulgaria).
