Originating with the Peace of Westphalia, ending the 30 Years’ Wars, in 1648, sovereignty, or more properly state-sovereignty, is an externally, i.e. by other actors, recognized right of independent, supreme or final decision-making and decision-enforcing authority possessed by the state, generally over given territory. It arose as a defense of the monarchs right of complete authority over their realms against the claims of lesser local princes, and also in opposition to, universal or supreme authorities such as the Papacy and Holy Roman Empire.