The Peace of Westphalia consists of two treaties, the Treaty of Münster and the Treaty of Osnabrück, which were signed in 1648. These treaties marked the end of both the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War, addressing the enormous devastation that had flattened much of Central Europe. The Thirty Years' War had started as a religious battle between Catholics and Protestants within the Holy Roman Empire but quickly escalated into a broader struggle involving several European powers, including Spain, France, and Sweden. The Eighty Years' War, meanwhile, focused on the Dutch struggle for independence from Spanish rule, intertwining with the wider conflicts across Europe. The negotiations were complex, involving multiple stakeholders, and were conducted in the Westphalian cities of Münster and Osnabrück between 1644 and 1648. The treaties clarified national borders, outlined rights for religious minorities, and importantly, established the concept of state sovereignty, which laid the groundwork for modern international relations. The impact of this diplomatic resolution changed the political structure of Europe, facilitating the emergence of nation-states, and fostering new diplomatic practices and methods of conflict resolution. Concurrently, the Peace of Westphalia was a pivotal point for the Habsburgs, the Swedish Empire, and France, as the treaties curtailed Spanish influence and shifted the balance of power towards France and Sweden, solidifying their positions in European politics. The recognition of the Dutch Republic's independence was a significant achievement, symbolizing the decline of Spanish hegemony.