The Habsburg Empire: A Very Short Introduction

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The Habsburgs are the most famous dynasty in continental Europe From the thirteenth to the twentieth centuries they ruled much of Central Europe & for two centuries were also rulers of Spain Through the Spanish connection they acquired lands around the Mediterranean & a chunk of the New World spreading eastwards to include the Philippines Reaching from South-East Asia to what is now Ukraine the Habsburg Empire was truly global In this Very Short Introduction Martin Rady looks at the history of the Habsburgs from their tenth-century origins in Switzerland to the dissolution of the Habsburg Empire in 1918 He introduces the pantheon of Habsburg rulers which included adventurers lunatics & at least one monarch who was so malformed that his true portrait could never be exhibited He also discusses the lands & kingdoms that made up the Habsburg Empire & the decisive moments that shaped their history Dynasty Europe global power & the idea of the multi-national state all converge on the history of the Habsburg Empire ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable