Because of the constant rivalry between protestants and Catholics, thirty years war was fought. The spread of Protestants caused the conflict to escalate into a full fledged war. This war was fought in order to maximize the territory and to give one's religion more importance than the other's. This war later resulted in Treaty of Westphalia of 1648.Results for the German-speaking lands included these:Fall in the population Accelerated economic decline relative to Western Europe The Empire was weakened, and the power of the territorial princes became absolute