The Swabian League: The History and Legacy of the Mutual Defense Pact for the Holy Roman Empire’s Imperial Estates

Germany and the Holy Roman Empire offers a new interpretation of the development of German-speaking central Europe and the Holy Roman Empire or German Reich, from the great reforms of 1495-1500 to its dissolution in 1806 after the turmoil of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Going against the notion that this was a long period of decline, Joachim Whaley shows how imperial institutions developed in response to the crises of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, notably the Reformation and Thirty Years War, and assesses the impact of international developments on the Reich. Central themes are the tension between Habsburg aspirations to create a German monarchy and the desire of the German princes and cities to maintain their traditional rights, and how the Reich developed the functions of a state during this period. The first single-author account of German history from the Reformation to the early nineteenth century since Hajo Holborn's study written in the 1950s, it also illuminates the development of the German territories subordinate to the Reich. Whaley explores the implications of the Reformation and subsequent religious reform movements, both Protestant and Catholic, and the Enlightenment for the government of both secular and ecclesiastical principalities, the minor territories of counts and knights and the cities. The Reich and the territories formed a coherent and workable system and, as a polity, the Reich developed its own distinctive political culture and traditions of German patriotism over the early modern period. Whaley explains the development of the Holy Roman Empire as an early modern polity and illuminates the evolution of the several hundred German territories within it. He gives a rich account of topics such as the Reformation, the Thirty Years War, Pietism and baroque Catholicism, the Aufklarung or German Enlightenment and the impact on the Empire and its territories of the French Revolution and Napoleon. It includes consideration of language, cultural aspects and religious and intellectual movements. Germany and the Holy Roman Empire engages with all the major debates among both German and English-speaking historians about early modern German history over the last sixty years and offers a striking new interpretation of this important period. Volume II starts with the end of the Thirty Years War and extends to the dissolution of the Reich Germany And The Holy Roman Empire Offers A New Interpretation Of The Development Of German-speaking Central Europe And The Holy Roman Empire Or German Reich, From The Great Reforms Of 1495-1500 To Its Dissolution In 1806 After The Turmoil Of The French Revolutionary And Napoleonic Wars. Going Against The Notion That This Was A Long Period Of Decline, Joachim Whaley Shows How Imperial Institutions Developed In Response To The Crises Of The Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centuries, Notably The Reformation And Thirty Years War, And Assesses The Impact Of International Developments On The Reich. Central Themes Are The Tension Between Habsburg Aspirations To Create A German Monarchy And The Desire Of The German Princes And Cities To Maintain Their Traditional Rights, And How The Reich Developed The Functions Of A State During This Period.^ The First Single-author Account Of German History From The Reformation To The Early Nineteenth Century Since Hajo Holborn's Study Written In The 1950s, It Also Illuminates The Development Of The German Territories Subordinate To The Reich. Whaley Explores The Implications Of The Reformation And Subsequent Religious Reform Movements, Both Protestant And Catholic, And The Enlightenment For The Government Of Both Secular And Ecclesiastical Principalities, The Minor Territories Of Counts And Knights And The Cities. The Reich And The Territories Formed A Coherent And Workable System And, As A Polity, The Reich Developed Its Own Distinctive Political Culture And Traditions Of German Patriotism Over The Early Modern Period. Whaley Explains The Development Of The Holy Roman Empire As An Early Modern Polity And Illuminates The Evolution Of The Several Hundred German Territories Within It.^ He Gives A Rich Account Of Topics Such As The Reformation, The Thirty Years War, Pietism And Baroque Catholicism, The Aufklarung Or German Enlightenment And The Impact On The Empire And Its Territories Of The French Revolution And Napoleon. It Includes Consideration Of Language, Cultural Aspects And Religious And Intellectual Movements. Germany And The Holy Roman Empire Engages With All The Major Debates Among Both German And English-speaking Historians About Early Modern German History Over The Last Sixty Years And Offers A Striking New Interpretation Of This Important Period. -- Publisher's Description. V. 1. From Maximilian I To The Peace Of Westphalia 1493-1648 -- V. 2. From The Peace Of Westphalia To The Dissolution Of The Reich 1648-1806. By Joachim Whaley. Includes Bibliographies And Indexes. THE SUNDAY TIMES AND ECONOMIST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2016 'A definitive study of the amorphous state that lasted a thousand years ... The Holy Roman Empire deserves to be hailed as a magnum opus' Tom Holland, Daily Telegraph 'Engrossing ... staggering ... a book that is relevant to our own times' The Times 'Masterly ... If, like most people, you know little more about the Holy Roman Empire other than Voltaire's bon mot - "neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire" - then this is the book for you' Daniel Johnson, Sunday Times 'A history that helps us understand Europe's problems today ... interesting and provocative, makes the complex understandable' Christopher Kissane, Guardian A great, sprawling, ancient and unique entity, the Holy Roman Empire, from its founding by Charlemagne to its destruction by Napoleon a millennium later, formed the heart of Europe. It was a great engine for inventions and ideas, it was the origin of many modern European states, from Germany to the Czech Republic, its relations with Italy, France and Poland dictated the course of countless wars - indeed European history as a whole makes no sense without it. In this strikingly ambitious book, Peter H. Wilson explains how the Empire worked. It is not a chronological history, but an attempt to convey to readers why it was so important and how it changed over its existence. The result is a tour de force - a book that raises countless questions about the nature of political and military power, about diplomacy and the nature of European civilization and about the legacy of the Empire, which has continued to haunt its offspring, from Imperial and Nazi Germany to the European Union Germany and the Holy Roman Empire offers a striking new interpretation of a crucial era in German and European history, from the great reforms of 1495-1500 to the dissolution of the Reich in 1806. Over two volumes, Joachim Whaley rejects the notion that this was a long period of decline, and shows instead how imperial institutions developed in response to the crises of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, notably the Reformation and Thirty Years War. The impact of international developments on the Reich is also examined. Volume II begins with the Peace of Westphalia and concludes with the dissolution of the Reich. Whaley analyses the remarkable resurgence of the Reich after the Thirty Years War, which saw the Habsburg emperors achieve a new position of power and influence and which enabled the Reich to withstand the military threats posed by France and the Turks in the later seventeenth century. He gives a rich account of topics such as Pietism and baroque Catholicism, the German enlightenment, and the impact on the Empire and its territories of the French Revolution and Napolean. Whaley emphasizes the continuing viability of the Reich's institutions to the end, and the vitality of a political culture of freedom that has been routinely underestimated by historians of modern Germany. A great, sprawling, ancient and unique entity, the Holy Roman Empire, from its founding by Charlemagne to its destruction by Napoleon a millennium later, formed the heart of Europe. It was a great engine for inventions and ideas, it was the origin of many modern European states, from Germany to the Czech Republic, its relations with Italy, France and Poland dictated the course of countless wars - indeed European history as a whole makes no sense without it. In this strikingly ambitious book, Peter H. Wilson explains how the Empire worked. It is not a chronological history, but an attempt to convey to readers why it was so important and how it changed over its existence. The result is a tour de force - a book that raises countless questions about the nature of political and military power, about diplomacy and the nature of European civilization and about the legacy of the Empire, which has continued to haunt its offspring, from Imperial and Nazi Germany to the European Union. -- Publisher's website In the first single-author account of German history from the Reformation to the early nineteenth century since Hajo Holborn's study written in the 1950s, Dr Whaley provides a full account of the history of the Holy Roman Empire. Volume II extends from the Peace of Westphalia to the Dissolution of the Reich.