
The Very Short Introductions Podcast The Holy Roman Empire – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 15
Nov 30, 2020
In this engaging discussion, Joachim Whaley, a Cambridge professor specializing in German history, sheds light on the often-misunderstood Holy Roman Empire. He explores its significance for modern Europe, tackles Voltaire's critique, and clarifies common misconceptions. Whaley highlights the Empire's unique multi-confessional nature and resilience through turmoil, including the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War. He also connects its legacy to contemporary German politics, revealing how its federal structures still influence the region today.
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Empire's Millennial Importance
- The Holy Roman Empire lasted over a thousand years and shaped German history deeply.
- Joachim Whaley argues you cannot fully understand modern Germany without studying the Empire.
Scholarly Curiosity Sparked Study
- Joachim Whaley first approached the Empire via research on the Reformation and Hamburg's religious toleration.
- That curiosity led him to write a fuller study showing the Empire's broader significance.
Empire As Evolving German Kingdom
- Whaley frames the Empire as a German kingdom evolving from tribal federation to constitutional monarchy.
- He links its Roman connection to papal requests for protection and imperial precedence, not direct rule of Rome.


