Habsburgs by Martyn Rady

The definitive history of the dynasty that dominated Europe for centuries

In The Habsburgs, Martyn Rady tells the epic story of a dynasty and the world it built – and then lost – over nearly a millennium. From modest origins, the Habsburgs grew in power to gain control of the Holy Roman Empire in the fifteenth century, before their possessions rapidly expanded to take in a large part of Europe, stretching from the Far East to the New World. The family continued to dominate Central Europe until the catastrophe of the First World War.

With its seemingly disorganized mass of territories, its tangle of laws and its medley of languages, the Habsburg Empire has always appeared haphazard and incomplete. But here Martyn Rady shows the reasons for the family’s incredible endurance, driven by the belief that they were destined to rule the world. The Habsburg emperors were themselves absurdly varied in their characters – from warlords to contemplatives, from idle to frenzied – but all driven by the same sense of family mission.

The Habsburgs is the definitive history of a remarkable dynasty that, for better or worse, shaped Europe and the world.

About the Author: Martyn Rady is Masaryk Professor of Central European History at University College London. He has written several major works on the history of Hungary, from the medieval period to the twentieth century, but has also written on topics as diverse as the Hussites, vampirism and the Emperor Charles V. He has honorary doctorates from the Karoli University in Budapest and the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu in Romania.

03 Mar 2022
 

The Habsburgs: The Rise and Fall of a World Power by Martyn Rady ISBN 9780141987200