By this point the Holy Roman Emperor, Albrecht V of Austria, was growing concerned over the war on his doorstep. On one hand, Albrecht was a staunch Papal supporter, and had campaigned mercilessly against the Justifiers and Adelerists within the Empire. In 1520 his predecessor had declared evangelism a capital offense on Imperial lands, and stripped the Archbishop of Cologne of his Electorship when he converted to Justification. Frederik’s victory over Catholic France had sent shockwaves through the Emperor’s court, and spurred Albrecht to begin a military buildup against the League of Darmstadt.
On the other hand, the Ottoman Empire was a threat to the entire West, regardless of denomination. The Pope had called two crusades against them in the 15th century, to little effect. The League’s victories over the Turk had brought them widespread support and popularity throughout Germany, and even the Lion of the Church King Frederick II of Great Britain commended Frederik on his success. By driving the Sultan’s forces from Pomerania, the League had accomplished the Emperor’s job while costing him nothing. If he sided with the Ottomans now, Albrecht risked the condemnation of the Electors.
Albrecht needed to end the war quickly, before the League gained even more power and influence. Therefore, in July 1548 he called for a peace negotiation in Prague, to be mediated by himself. King Frederik readily agreed, leaving his army in Alexandria to attend. Sultan Osman II begrudgingly agreed to send his son Ahmed Osman, after Albrecht threatened to intervene with Imperial troops.
After three weeks of deliberations, Albrecht was able to get both sides to agree on a treaty, the Peace of Prague. With the Emperor unwilling to see the United Kingdom gain more territory within the Empire, Danzig and Polish Pomerania would fall under Swedish administration. The Ottomans would be allowed to retain control of Rostock, but were forbidden to maintain a military fleet in the Baltic. The Dutch would agree to not interfere with Ottoman traffic in the Red Sea or Western Indian Ocean.
An important clause within the treaty also established an official policy of “Cuius regio, eius religio” within the Empire. Territories within the Empire would be allowed to choose between the Catholic or Justifier faith, based on the decision of their monarch. Notably absent was any mention of the Adelerists or radical Justifiers such as Anabaptists, which received no Imperial protection.
The Peace signaled a major rearrangement of European politics. The League of Darmstadt, under the United Kingdom and Sweden, had become a major power. The Ottoman Empire had finally received a resounding defeat, which its neighbors were quick to notice. With the sack of Alexandria, the Dutch had opened a new, unexplored market to the East. Interesting times were ahead for the Continent.
End of Part IV
Next – A Merchant Empire