Duncan Weldon

Discover the millennium-long history of the Holy Roman Empire, an ancient entity that shaped the heart of Europe from its founding by Charlemagne to its destruction by Napoleon. In this ambitious book, Peter H. Wilson explores the Empire's impact on modern European states, from Germany to the Czech Republic, and its role in countless wars. Rather than a chronological account, Wilson conveys why the Empire was so important and how it evolved, touching on political and military power, diplomacy, and European civilization. The legacy of the Empire continues to influence Europe today.

This book tells the story of the Thirty Years War, a brutal conflict that devastated seventeenth-century Europe and killed nearly a quarter of all Germans. From the sack of Magdeburg to the Dutch revolt, Peter H. Wilson chronicles the sweeping narrative of war's end that created modern Europe, but at what price? Wilson's masterful account offers a major reassessment and understanding of this epic conflict that is essential for comprehending modern European history.