Secularization of Church Properties:
During the Reformation, many Protestant states confiscated wealth and properties belonging to the Catholic Church. The assets and lands previously controlled by the church now fell under the authority of these monarchs, increasing their economic resources and territorial control.
Weakening of Papal Authority:
As the religious authority of the pope declined in Protestant regions, it eroded his ability to interfere in state affairs. Kings faced less religious opposition from the church authorities in matters of political decision-making and legislation.
Establishment of National State Churches:
Several rulers of Protestant territories embraced the Reformation as a tool to centralize their power. By making one particular religious denomination the established state church, these monarchs had significant influence over religious matters, which bolstered their overall authority.
Suppression of Religious Dissent:
To maintain religious unity and order in their nations, Protestant rulers imposed restrictions and controls on dissenters who didn't adhere to the state-sanctioned church. Persecution, legislation, and censorship of dissenting groups gave these monarchs significant social and ideological control within their domains.
Wars of Religion:
While religious disputes weren't the only cause of warfare, the Reformation's religious division led to several religious conflicts in Europe. Monarchs who championed certain faiths during these religious wars, used those struggles to consolidate their territorial gains and control.
The Protestant Reformation, in these various ways, provided European monarchs with opportunities to seize both material resources and the ideological reins of their realms, enabling them to exert greater authority than they did before.