Treaty of Passau

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The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V attempted to force the Protestant Princes of Southern Germany to return to Catholicism at the point of the sword. Prince Henry II of France took advantage of the situation by allying himself with the Protestants and seizing Metz, Toul and Verdun. Charles was forced to leave Germany and sign the Treaty of Passau granting the Protestants religious liberty. In 1555 the Peace Augsburg was signed, under whose terms each German prince was allowed to pick a religion for his state.