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Holy Roman Empire

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Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger

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This work offers a fresh interpretation of the Holy Roman Empire, challenging the notion that it was a failed state. Emerging in the Middle Ages, the empire was a loosely integrated union of German states and city-states under an emperor's rule. By 1500, it developed a more formal structure with enduring institutions like the Reichstag and Imperial Chamber Court, lasting until Napoleon's dissolution in 1806. Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger presents a concise history that redefines the empire's political culture and resilient institutions. Instead of drawing parallels with modern states or entities like the European Union, she illustrates the empire as a unique political body, lacking a standing army, clear boundaries, general taxation, or bureaucracy. It was a heterogeneous association rooted in tradition and shared purpose, held together by personal loyalty, reciprocity, and ceremonial rituals. The narrative spans three centuries, covering the reform era of the sixteenth century, the Reformation crisis, the Peace of Augsburg, the Thirty Years' War, and the conflicts between Austria and Prussia, culminating in the empire's decline during the French Revolution. This authoritative yet accessible account serves as an invaluable introduction to a pivotal period in European history.