The Peace of Augsburg of 1555 came as a result of the Reformation and effectively carved up Europe between the Roman Catholic Church and the new Lutheran (Protestant) Church. Charles V (1500–1558) was Holy Roman Emperor at the time, and though he hated to concede lands to Protestantism, he also wished to end the religious divisions in the empire. Princes who had themselves converted to the new faith convinced Charles to allow each prince to choose the religion for his own land. Thus, the Peace of Augsburg officially recognized the Lutheran church and the right of the people to worship as Protestants.