Editing Westphalia (section)

===Early modern era===
[[File:Westfaelischer Friede in Muenster (Gerard Terborch 1648).jpg|thumb|left|Ratification of the [[Peace of Westphalia]] of 1648 in [[Münster]] by Gerard Terborch (1617–1681)]]
As a result of the [[Protestant Reformation]], there was no dominant religion in Westphalia. [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] and [[Lutheranism]] were on a relatively equal footing. Lutheranism was strong in the eastern and northern parts with numerous free churches. Münster and especially Paderborn were considered to be Catholic. Osnabrück was divided almost equally between Catholicism and Protestantism.<ref name="Reformation">[http://www.lwl.org/westfaelische-geschichte/portal/Internet/input_felder/langDatensatz_ebene4.php?urlID=32&url_tabelle=tab_websegmente LWL: Westfalen im konfessionellen Zeitalter]</ref>

Parts of Westphalia came under [[Brandenburg-Prussia]]n control during the 17th and 18th centuries, but most of it remained divided by duchies and other areas of feudal power. The [[Peace of Westphalia]] of 1648, signed in Münster and Osnabrück, ended the [[Thirty Years' War]]. The concept of nation-state sovereignty resulting from the treaty became known as "[[Westphalian sovereignty]]".<ref name="Reformation" />