But although the peasants failed in their attempt, the effect of the revolt upon the course of the Reformation was profound. The utter incapacity of the Council had been once more displayed, while the defeat of the peasants had saved Germany from religious and social anarchy. Of the four possible results of the Lutheran movement which we have indicated above (p. 165), two alone now remained. The question was whether Charles would succeed in completely re-establishing his authority, or whether the spirit of territorialism would be too strong for him. The cause of the Princes had indeed been strengthened. Once more, as in the case of the Knights’ War, they had asserted their power, and, with the Suabian League, had shown themselves the real masters of the country. Luther had lost to some extent the support of the lower classes, and was forced to lean still more upon the Princes. Yet the position of the Emperor was most threatening. The opponents of Luther, with scant justice, laid the responsibility of the disturbances to his charge, and many of the more timid and refined were alienated from his cause. Charles himself became still more convinced that heresy and rebellion were synonymous. He was determined therefore to crush out heresy, and the victory of Pavia seemed to offer him a brilliant opportunity. All depended upon what the issue of that victory should be. FOOTNOTES: [42] Cf. _Cambridge Modern History_, ii. 416. [43] On this point cf. Armstrong, _Charles V._, II. c. iii. [44] To understand the future course of the Reformation in Germany, it is necessary to study the map, and note-- _a._ The extraordinary number of principalities into which Germany was divided. _b._ The division of the dominions of the greater princes among branches of the same family, many of whom took opposite sides. This will be best seen from the following table:-- PROTESTANT. CATHOLIC. House of Wettin, in Saxony. Ernestine, Electoral Branch Albertine, at Meissen. at Wittenberg. | Ernest, 1464-1468. | Albert, 1485-1500. | | | _Frederick the Wise_, 1486-1525. | Duke George, 1500-1535. John, his brother, 1525-1532. | Henry, his brother, 1535-1541, | | becomes Protestant. John Frederick. 1532-1554. | Maurice, 1541-1553, secures the Electorate. Hohenzollern.