Reformation days of Martin Luther, political and national convictions again outweighed religious convictions in Europe. Two main tenets of the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War, were: The treaty also effectively ended the Papacy's pan-European political power. Pope Innocent X declared the treaty "null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, empty of meaning and effect for all times" in his bull "Zelo Domus Dei". European sovereigns, Catholic and Protestant alike, ignored his verdict. The following outcomes of the Reformation regarding human capital formation, the Protestant ethic, economic development, governance, and "dark" outcomes have been identified by scholars:
War of the Spanish Succession was reliant on the so-called "Maritime Powers" (England and the Dutch Republic) and also a higher priority for them. By formalising religious divisions within the Empire, the [[Peace of Westphalia|1648 Peace of Westphalia]] weakened its integrity and by 1700, the larger German states were pursuing their own policies. [[Electorate of Bavaria|Bavaria]] allied itself with France while as King of Poland, [[Augustus II the Strong|Augustus of Saxony]] was fully occupied by the [[Great Northern War]]. To gain [[Frederick I of Prussia|Frederick of Prussia]]'s support, Leopold recognised him as King, with Prussia made an equal member of the Grand Alliance. [[George I