Christian Cyclopedia

Defensive league of ev. princes organized 1531 at Schmalkalden, Hesse-Nassau, Prussia, Ger.

After the 1529 Diet of Speyer* the future looked dark for Prots. For subsequent events up to the 1530 Diet of Augsburg see Luther, Controversies of, g; Lutheran Confessions, A 2.

The Imperial Recess of Augsburg, pub. November 19, 1530, gave Prots. 6 mo. grace. Prot. leaders met at Schmalkalden late in December 1530 to protest terms of the recess, request modification of the terms, and prepare for the formation of a league. The protest fell on deaf ears; the request was not granted; the league was organized February 1531 for defense against attacks threatened by emp., diet, and the leagues of Dessau* and Regensburg.* Temporary relaxation of RC-Prot. tension was arranged 1532 in the Nürnberg* Religious Peace by the emp., who needed national unity over against advancing Turks. A meeting of Luth. theologians was held in connection with the February 1537 meeting of the league (see Lutheran Confessions, B 2).

For later hist. of the league see Charles V; Schmalkaldic War.