Overview
The Holy Roman Empire was largely ruled by the Habsburg Family. While the Habsburg Family failed to establish a strong monarchy like those of France, Spain an England it did manage to increase the Empire’s strength. However the family wasn’t invested in war and didn’t like to engage in it whenever possible. Instead they grew in strength and status through smart marriages.
One such marriage was that of Maximilian to the French Mary. Through this marriage that ruler of the family at that time, Emperor Frederick III, was able to gain large amount of land around France including part of east-central France, Luxembourg and part of the Low Countries. This is just one of the ways by which the Holy Roman Empire was able to gain power. By acquiring this land he was able to instill fear in the French as they were worried about the Habsburgs surrounding them.
Unfortunately them Habsburgs didn’t accomplish much else. Maximilian attempted to centralize the Empire, but was opposed by nobles in the Empire and was unsuccessful. All he managed to accomplish was produce an heir, Philip of Burgundy, who managed to marry the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. This marriage did nothing, but produce yet another young man, Charles, who ended up becoming the rightful heir to Spain, the Habsburg Family and the Burgundian Dynasty.
One such marriage was that of Maximilian to the French Mary. Through this marriage that ruler of the family at that time, Emperor Frederick III, was able to gain large amount of land around France including part of east-central France, Luxembourg and part of the Low Countries. This is just one of the ways by which the Holy Roman Empire was able to gain power. By acquiring this land he was able to instill fear in the French as they were worried about the Habsburgs surrounding them.
Unfortunately them Habsburgs didn’t accomplish much else. Maximilian attempted to centralize the Empire, but was opposed by nobles in the Empire and was unsuccessful. All he managed to accomplish was produce an heir, Philip of Burgundy, who managed to marry the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. This marriage did nothing, but produce yet another young man, Charles, who ended up becoming the rightful heir to Spain, the Habsburg Family and the Burgundian Dynasty.