Founding of the Protestant Union

Political Context. The formation of the union was driven by threats to Protestant rights. In 1607, Catholicism was reestablished in Donauwörth, and by 1608, the Imperial Diet linked the renewal of the Peace of Augsburg to the restoration of appropriated church lands, prompting Protestants to seek collective security.

The Auhausen Meeting. The Protestant princes convened in Auhausen, a municipality in Bavaria, to formalize their alliance. On 14 May 1608, they established the coalition under the leadership of Frederick IV, Elector Palatine. The group was also known as the Union of Auhausen or the Evangelical Union.

Union Composition and Purpose. The union included both Calvinist and Lutheran states, addressing the lack of protection for Calvinists under the Peace of Augsburg. Its primary objective was to defend the rights, land, and safety of each member state. The coalition eventually dissolved in 1621.