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The Schmalkaldic League ( (ラテン語:Foedus Smalcaldicum ''or'' Liga Smalcaldica)) was a defensive alliance of Lutheran princes within the Holy Roman Empire during the mid-16th century. Although originally started for religious motives soon after the start of the Protestant Reformation, its members eventually intended for the League to replace the Holy Roman Empire as their source of political allegiance.〔Merriman, p. 110.〕 While it was not the first alliance of its kind, unlike previous formations, such as the League of Torgau, the Schmalkaldic League had a substantial military to defend its political and religious interests. It received its name from the town of Schmalkalden, in the German state of Thuringia. ==Origins and members== The League was officially established on 27 February 1531, by Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, and John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, the two most powerful Protestant rulers at the time.〔Kagan. ''The Western Heritage'', p. 360''〕 It originated as a defensive religious alliance, with the members pledging to defend each other should their territories be attacked by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. At the insistence of the Elector of Saxony, membership was conditional on agreement to the Lutheran Augsburg or Tetrapolitan Confessions. This solidified the dominance of Lutheranism in Germany to the exclusion of Zwinglianism, which had some adherents up to this time. The League quickly became more of a territorial political movement, as breaking from the Catholic Church offered significant economic advantages. In December, 1535, the league admitted anyone who would subscribe to the Augsburg Confession, thus Anhalt, Württemberg, Pomerania, as well as the free imperial cities of Augsburg, Frankfurt am Main, and Kempten joined the alliance.〔Acton, et al. ''The Cambridge Modern History'', p. 233.〕 Starting in 1535, Francis I of France, while vigorously persecuting Protestants at home, nevertheless supported the Protestant princes in their struggle against their common foe. This tactical support ended in 1544 with the signing of the Peace of Crépy whereby the French king pledged to stop backing the Protestant princes and the League. Following on the peace with France, the Emperor signed a truce with the Ottoman Empire, which was to free even more resources for a final confrontation with the League. In 1538, the Schmalkaldic League allied with newly reformed Denmark. In 1539 the League acquired Brandenburg, which was under the leadership of Joachim II Hector.〔Smith, Henry Preserved. ''The Age of the Reformation''. p. 119.〕 In 1545 the League gained the allegiance of the Electorate of the Palatinate, under the control of Elector Frederick III.〔Smith, Henry Preserved. ''The Age of the Reformation''. pp. 120–121.〕 In 1544 Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire signed the Treaty of Speyer, which stated that during the reign of Christian III Denmark would maintain a peaceful foreign policy towards the Holy Roman Empire. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Schmalkaldic League」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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