Voltaire's description of the Holy Roman Empire as 'neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire' is often cited to underline its worthlessness.
Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable..
These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost eVery subject area.
Joachim Whaley analyses the empire's crucial impact and role in the history of European power and politics, and shows that there has never been a more durable political system in German history.
The sense of a common history over a thousand years and the legal traditions established by the empire have shaped the history of German-speaking Europe ever since.
Throughout its lifetime, the empire's growth and history was shaped by the major developments in Europe, from the Reformation, to the Thirty Years War, to the French revolutionary wars, which led to Napoleon destroying the empire in 1806.
By 1519 it had a supreme court and a regional enforcement system ended feuding.
An elective monarchy, the empire gradually developed from a feudal monarchy into a legal system that pacified the territories and cities of German-speaking Europe.
Around 1500 the title Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation was adopted.
They claimed Charlemagne's legacy, including his role as protector of the papacy and guardian of the Church.
Founded in 800 on the basis of Charlemagne's Frankish kingdom, its imperial title went to the German monarchy which became established in the ninth and ten centuries.
In this Very Short Introduction Joachim Whaley outlines the fascinating thousand-year history of the Holy Roman Empire.
Since 1945 scholars have been more positive but the empire's history and significance is still largely misunderstood.
German historians traditionally despised it because it had allegedly impeded German unification.
Voltaire's description of the Holy Roman Empire as 'neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire' is often cited to underline its worthlessness
