Religion / idea · movement

Counter-Reformation

c. 1545–1648 · 16th century · Also known as Catholic Reformation

The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic renewal and response to the Protestant Reformation, from the mid-16th to the mid-17th century. Its programme was set by the Council of Trent (1545–1563), which defined doctrine and reformed the clergy, and it was carried forward by new orders such as the Jesuits, by the Inquisition and by Catholic rulers who restored their faith in their lands. It also shaped Baroque art and architecture.

Counter-Reformation
Image: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 6 profiles

Duchy of BavariaSocioeconomyMargraviate of MoraviaSocioeconomyKingdom of BohemiaSocioeconomyDuchy of MilanSocioeconomyHabsburg SpainImpact, SummaryHabsburg MonarchySocioeconomy, Impact, Summary

Mentioned in 14 state histories

Prince-Bishopric of TrentPrince-Bishopric of WürzburgPrince-Bishopric of AugsburgPrince-Abbey of FuldaPrince-Bishopric of WarmiaDuchy of OpavaDuchy of CieszynDuchy of NysaCounty of KladskoCanton of FribourgPrincipality of Oettingen-WallersteinSpanish Netherlandsand 2 more

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Counter-Reformation. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/counter-reformation
MLA
“Counter-Reformation.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/counter-reformation. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Counter-Reformation.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/counter-reformation.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Counter-Reformation’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/counter-reformation (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻