(B) Treaty between Emperor Ferdinand III and the King of France, Louis XIV, and their respective allies, Münster (October 14/24, 1648) (31)
In the name of the most Holy and Indivisible Trinity.
Be it known to all and to everyone whom it concerns in any way. Once the strife and hostilities that had been stirred up in the [Holy] Roman Empire increased to such a degree that not only all Germany but also the neighboring kingdoms, especially France, were drawn into them. The ensuing long and cruel war involved, on one side, [ . . . ] [Emperor] Ferdinand II [ . . . ] with his allies and supporters, and, on the other, [ . . . ] King Louis XIII of France [ . . . ] with his allies and supporters. And after their deaths, [it continued] between Ferdinand III [ . . . ] and King Louis XIV and their respective allies and supporters. There ensued a great spilling of Christian blood and the devastation of many provinces. At last it has happened that by the grace of God and the good offices of the Serene Republic of Venice, which during this sad time, when all Christendom has been embroiled in war, has never ceased to counsel for peace and the public good. Finally, thoughts of universal peace have become espoused on both sides. For this purpose and by mutual agreement between the two parties made at Hamburg on December 25/15, 1641, it was decided to hold an assembly of ambassadors, who should gather at Münster and Osnabrück in Westphalia on July 11/1, 1643.
At the appointed places and time, the lawfully credentialed ambassadors for both sides appeared. Representing His Imperial Majesty were the most illustrious and excellent lords: Count Maximilian von Trauttmannsdorf, (32) [ . . . ] privy councilor and chamberlain to His Imperial Majesty; Count John Louis of Nassau, [ . . . ] Imperial privy councilor and knight of the Golden Fleece; and Dr. jur. Isaak Volmar, (33) councilor and chamber president of the Serene Lord Archduke Ferdinand Charles. (34) Representing [ . . . ] Louis XIV, the Most Christian King of France and Navarre, [ . . . ] were: Prince Henry of Orleans, (35) [ . . . ] Claude de Mesmes, (36) [ . . . ] a superintendant of finances and minister of the kingdom of France; and Abel Servien, (37) [ . . . ] also one of the ministers of the kingdom of France. They assembled under the mediation of the most illustrious and most excellent ambassador and senator of Venice, Sir Alvise Contarini, (38) who for about five years and with great and impartial diligence served as a mediator in these affairs. [ . . . ] [§§1-2 declare a universal, perpetual peace between the two monarchs and among their allies, and also a general amnesty.]
§3. [Peace among the Emperor, the French King, and the Imperial Estates.] And that a reciprocal amity between the emperor, the Most Christian King, the electors, princes, and estates of the Empire may be maintained so much more firmly and sincerely (to say nothing at present of the article of security, which will be mentioned hereafter), the one shall never assist the present or future enemies of the other under any title or pretence whatsoever, either with arms, money, soldiers, or any sort of ammunition, nor shall anyone who is a member of this pacification suffer any enemy’s troops to retire through or sojourn in his country.
[Burgundian Circle.] The Burgundian Circle (39) shall be and continue to be a member of the Empire after the disputes between France and Spain comprehended in this treaty shall be terminated. Nevertheless, neither the emperor nor any of the estates of the Empire shall meddle in the current wars between them.
[Future Conflicts between the Empire and the French Kingdom.] If, in the future, any dispute arises between these two kingdoms, the reciprocal obligation named above of not aiding each other’s enemies shall always continue firm between the Empire and the kingdom of France, yet the estates shall be free to provide help to this kingdom or that outside the boundaries of the [Holy] Roman Empire but still according to the constitutions of the Empire.
(31) Articles that replicate provisions of the Treaty of Osnabrück are omitted from this abridged text.
(32) Maximilian von und zu Trauttmansdorf (1584-1650), Imperial count and Styrian baron, knight of the Golden Fleece, and privy councilor and high chamberlain to the emperor. In his youth, he converted to Catholicism.
(33) Isaak Volmar (1582-1662), a native of Württemberg and convert to Catholicism, was chancellor of the Austrian regime seated at Ensisheim in Alsace.
(34) Archduke Ferdinand Charles of Tyrol (1628-62), son of Archduke Leopold V.
(35) Henri II d’Orleans (1595-1663), due de Longueville and prince of Neuchâtel.
(36) Claude de Mesmes (1595-1650), comte d’Avaux.
(37) Abel Servien (1593-1669), marquis de Sablé, a confidant of Cardinal Mazarin.
(38) Alvise Contarini (1601-84), one of the two mediators.
(39) One of the twelve Imperial Circles. The point of this article is that since Charles V’s allotment of Imperial Burgundy (Franche-Cômté) to Spain, it had become a major item of contention in the Franco-Spanish conflicts.
print version
return to list
previous document