The Amazing Empire of The Amazing Empire of the Habsburgsthe Habsburgs

Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire

In Germany, or the Holy In Germany, or the Holy Roman Empire, there were Roman Empire, there were four kinds of statesfour kinds of states

Princely estatesPrincely estates: (duchies, : (duchies, margraviates, etc.)margraviates, etc.)– Each a little hereditary dynastic Each a little hereditary dynastic

monarchy in itself, Saxony, monarchy in itself, Saxony, Brandenburg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Bavaria,

Ecclesiastical statesEcclesiastical states: bishoprics, : bishoprics, abbaciesabbacies– Each bishop or abbot Each bishop or abbot

conducted the government; conducted the government; (large portion of the empire (large portion of the empire consisted of these)consisted of these)

•Imperial free citiesImperial free cities: some 60 of : some 60 of thesetheseThey were not large but they They were not large but they dominated the commercial dominated the commercial and financial life of the and financial life of the empireempire

•Thousands of imperial knights, Thousands of imperial knights, noblemennoblemen of minor of minor consequenceconsequence• They held a few manors, They held a few manors, belonging to no state, only belonging to no state, only recognizing the supremacy of recognizing the supremacy of the emperorthe emperor

Fragmentation of the HREFragmentation of the HRE

Since 1356, the election of the Since 1356, the election of the emperor was vested in 7 electorsemperor was vested in 7 electors

These territorial rulers and cities These territorial rulers and cities resisted every effort at national resisted every effort at national consolidation and unityconsolidation and unity

Rulers continued to partition their Rulers continued to partition their kingdoms however small among their kingdoms however small among their sonssons

The Seven Great ElectorsThe Seven Great Electors

Archbishop of MainzArchbishop of Mainz Archbishop of TrierArchbishop of Trier Archbishop of CologneArchbishop of Cologne Margrave of Brandenburg Margrave of Brandenburg Duke of SaxonyDuke of Saxony King of BohemiaKing of Bohemia

By late 15th century, Germany was By late 15th century, Germany was hopelessly divided into 300 hopelessly divided into 300 autonomous entitiesautonomous entities

15th century: Imperial diet known as 15th century: Imperial diet known as the Reichstag was created. (National the Reichstag was created. (National assembly of the seven electors, the assembly of the seven electors, the non-electoral princes, and non-electoral princes, and representatives from the 65 imperial representatives from the 65 imperial cities.)cities.)

The HabsburgsThe Habsburgs

1452: Electors chose the Archduke of 1452: Electors chose the Archduke of Austria to be emperorAustria to be emperor

His family name was HabsburgHis family name was Habsburg Habsburgs would use their resources and Habsburgs would use their resources and

hereditary possessions in Austria by hereditary possessions in Austria by delicately balancing the numerous political delicately balancing the numerous political factions within Germanyfactions within Germany

Between 1452-1806, managed to get Between 1452-1806, managed to get themselves consistently reelected in every themselves consistently reelected in every generation with just one exceptiongeneration with just one exception

Maximilien IMaximilien I

Strategic use of royal marriages!Strategic use of royal marriages! Maximilian married Mary, the heiress of Maximilian married Mary, the heiress of

the dukes of Burgundy, Netherlandsthe dukes of Burgundy, Netherlands He married his son Phillip off to Joanna, He married his son Phillip off to Joanna,

daughter and heiress of Ferdinand & daughter and heiress of Ferdinand & IsabellaIsabella

Phillip and Joanna's son: CharlesPhillip and Joanna's son: Charles Charles combined inheritance of his 4 Charles combined inheritance of his 4

grandparents:grandparents:

The Legacy of Charles VThe Legacy of Charles V

Charles V

Castile and Spanish America

from Isabela

Netherlands & Burgundy from

Mary

Aragon, Mediterranean

& Italian Possessions

from Ferdinand

Austria from Maximilian

Charles V’s parentsWere

Philip of AustriaAnd

Joanna of Castile

Charles VCharles V

1519:Charles elected Holy Roman 1519:Charles elected Holy Roman Emperor, symbolic head of GermanyEmperor, symbolic head of Germany

Was known as Charles V in Germany Was known as Charles V in Germany and Charles I in Spainand Charles I in Spain

Would be the most powerful ruler of Would be the most powerful ruler of his dayhis day

Turkish “menace” brings more Turkish “menace” brings more power to Charles Vpower to Charles V

1453: Turks occupied Constantinople 1453: Turks occupied Constantinople pushing through Hungary and pushing through Hungary and menacing Europemenacing Europe

Parliaments of Hungary and adjoining Parliaments of Hungary and adjoining Kingdom of Bohemia, looking for Kingdom of Bohemia, looking for allies to face the Turkish peril elected allies to face the Turkish peril elected Charles V's brother Ferdinand as Charles V's brother Ferdinand as their kingtheir king

Habsburgs were now entrenched in Habsburgs were now entrenched in Central Europe, Spain, Spanish Central Europe, Spain, Spanish America, Mediterranean and Italy!America, Mediterranean and Italy!

European powers now began to feel European powers now began to feel threatened by this "universal threatened by this "universal monarchy"monarchy"

Fears of being suffocated or Fears of being suffocated or absorbed by the Habsburgs!absorbed by the Habsburgs!