Overview
This lecture covers the rise, rule, and decline of the Habsburg Dynasty, highlighting key rulers, territorial changes, and their impact on European history.
Origins and Rise of the Habsburgs
- The Habsburg family began with Guntram the Rich in the 10th century, acquiring lands from Emperor Otto the Great.
- Habsburg Castle in northern Switzerland gave the family its name.
- Through war and strategic marriages, the Habsburgs became counts and sought higher titles.
Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire
- Rudolph IV was elected King of the Germans in 1273, marking the Habsburg rise in the Holy Roman Empire.
- After alternating reigns, the Habsburgs regained the throne with Albert II in 1438.
- Frederick III reunited family lands and arranged marriages that expanded their territories.
The Age of Maximilian and Charles V
- Maximilian I expanded Habsburg influence through warfare and marriage, bringing Burgundy and Spain into the fold.
- Charles V inherited vast territories, including Spain, parts of Italy, and the Americas, and became Holy Roman Emperor.
- His reign was marked by wars with France, conflict with the Ottomans, and the Protestant Reformation.
- The Peace of Augsburg allowed German princes to choose between Lutheranism and Catholicism.
Division of the Dynasty and Spanish Habsburgs
- Charles V’s abdication split the dynasty: Spanish line (Philip II) and Austrian line (Ferdinand I).
- Philip II expanded Spanish power, inherited Portugal, centralized administration, and fought Protestant revolts in the Netherlands.
- The 'Invincible Armada' failed against England; ongoing wars drained Spanish finances.
Inbreeding, Decline, and Wars of Succession
- Habsburgs practiced frequent intermarriage to keep power within the family, leading to health issues.
- Charles II of Spain died childless, sparking the War of Spanish Succession, which ended Habsburg rule in Spain.
Austrian Habsburgs, Reforms, and Final Decline
- Maria Theresa became ruler via the Pragmatic Sanction; faced War of Austrian Succession and lost Silesia.
- Joseph II enacted Enlightenment reforms but faced resistance and failure.
- The Holy Roman Empire dissolved after Napoleonic Wars; Austria-Hungary was formed as a dual monarchy.
World Wars and the End of Habsburg Rule
- Nationalist movements and wars (e.g., Austro-Prussian, WWI) led to further territorial losses.
- Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered World War I, ending Habsburg rule.
- The dynasty lost its empire after WWI but descendants remained active in European politics.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Holy Roman Empire — A multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor.
- Pragmatic Sanction — A decree allowing Habsburg lands to be inherited by a female heir.
- Peace of Augsburg — 1555 treaty granting religious choice to German princes.
- Defenestration of Prague — The act of throwing officials out of a window, which sparked the Thirty Years’ War.
- Valido — A powerful royal favorite or chief minister in Spanish governance.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key events: Reformation, Thirty Years’ War, and Napoleonic Wars.
- Prepare to compare Habsburg strategies with other European dynasties.
- Study the impact of intermarriage on dynastic health and succession.