History glossary
the Holy Roman Empire
a loose central European imperial structure that lasted for centuries before its dissolution in 1806.
- Category
- Empire
- Region
- Central Europe
- Date range
- 962-1806
What it means
The Holy Roman Empire was a loose and changing political structure in central Europe, connected to German, Italian, and other territories over its long history. It was not the ancient Roman Empire. By Napoleon's time it was already weakened, and it formally dissolved in 1806 after French victories and the reorganization of German states.
Related terms
Stories using this term
Feudalism and Medieval Society
From the estates of Charlemagne's empire to the flowering of Gothic cathedrals, this story explores how feudal hierarchies, manorial agriculture, and Church authority shaped the lives of kings, knights, and peasants alike.
Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleon turned revolutionary opportunity into continental empire, then lost it in total war that still transformed European politics, states, and nationalism.
