The Holy Roman Emperor was chosen by seven electors, including three archbishops and three electorates. After the Peace of Augsburg, Lutherans gained influence in the Holy Roman Empire, although Calvinism was not officially recognized. One of the seven electors who chose the Holy Roman Emperor became Calvinist and formed the Protestant Union to defend Protestant ideals, in response Catholic states formed a Catholic Coalition. Spain wanted to use its ties to the Holy Roman Empire to defeat the Dutch, while France feared Spanish influence and a strong Holy Roman Empire so it supported Protestants to sow dissent.