History Of The Habsburg Empire: Rise And Declin... May 2026 |
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This brought the wealthy Low Countries (modern Belgium and the Netherlands) into the fold. Their son, Charles V , inherited a staggering dominion including Spain, the Americas, Austria, and the Netherlands. The famous motto Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube defined their ascent. Key unions included: Under Charles V (r. 1519–1556), the empire reached its greatest territorial extent, functioning as the primary defender of Catholicism against the Ottoman Empire and the burgeoning Protestant Reformation. The Long Pivot: Division and Absolutism The sheer scale of the empire proved ungovernable for one person, leading to a permanent split in 1556 between the and the Austrian Habsburgs . The Rise and Fall of the Habsburg Empire The dynasty's prominence began when Rudolf I was elected King of the Germans in 1273. By 1282, the family secured the Duchy of Austria, making Vienna their administrative heart. |
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