Augsburgische Konfession

Augsburgische Konfession, document submitted to the Diet of Augsburg in 1530 as a joint statement of the beliefs held by the Protestant princes and certain cities. It was drawn up in both German and Latin (Confessio Augustana), was printed in the same year and widely circulated. An authentic text was established by Melanchthon, who, however, modified subsequent editions, notably in 1540, when an unsuccessful attempt was made to accommodate the Calvinists. From 1560 onwards bitter controversy raged between the adherents of the original and later versions.

The Augsburgische Konfession was recognized in 1555 in the Religious Peace of Augsburg (see Augsburger Religionsfriede) as the doctrinal basis of the Protestant Church in Germany.