A defensive alliance of Lutheran princes within the Holy Roman Empire
The Schmalkaldischer Bund was a military defensive alliance formed by Protestant territories of the Holy Roman Empire to defend themselves against any attempt to enforce the decision of the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, which gave the Protestant territories a deadline by which to return to Catholic practices. The League was officially established in early 1531 by Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, and John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, and fought with varying success against Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. However, despite Charles's declared victories the Peace of Augsburg was finally signed in 1555, which granted Lutheranism official status within the Holy Roman Empire and let princes choose the official religion within the domains that they controlled.