Het rijk van de Habsburgers Een duizendjarig vorstengeslacht

Very Short Introductions #515

by Martyn Rady, Rob Hartmans (Translator)

Dankzij listigheid, uitgekiende huwelijkspolitiek, geluk en vlagen van genialiteit bleef de familie Habsburg bijna 1000 jaar lang aan de macht. Wat begon als een klein hertogdom aan de Donau werd een imperium dat zich uitstrekte van Peru tot Kiev en dat een bepalende rol in de Europese geschiedenis speelde. Ze begonnen de Dertigjarige Oorlog, stopten de opmars van de Ottomanen en namen het op tegen Napoleon.

Martyn Rady introduceert in dit boek de fascinerende en kleurrijke geschiedenis van de Habsburgers, van hun tiende-eeuwese oorpsrong in Zwitserland tot het uiteenvallen van het rijk in 1918. Hij laat zien hoe dit rijk een complexe structuur vormde van overlappende landen en koninkrijken, met grenzen die constant in beweging waren. Hij bespreekt hoe de belangen van de Habsburgers veranderden op de golven van grote bewegingen in de Europese geschiedenis. Rady toont in dit toegankelijke, rijke geïllustreerde boek wat hun invloed was op de Europese geschiedenis en politiek.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, European History, Biography, Medieval History

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2017

Reviews

[Numidica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the advertised 144 pages, this is really 108 pages with a lot of end notes. For a very brief summary of the Habsburgs, this is a good start, but it lacks the depth I was hoping for on the fin-de-siecle cultural achievements of Vienna and Prague - the world of Klimt, Mahler, Kafka, et al. But by focusing on the Habsburgs and their empire, it does what my college European History course did not; it makes the story seem coherent. The historical consensus in the 20th Century seemed to be that the Habsburg Empire was doomed to fail because of its "ramshackle" organization, but Rady points out that the supposed fatal flaws of the Empire were present in most countries of that period. The Habsburg Empire consisted of ethnic Germans, Hungarians, Czechs, Poles, etc, but other European countries had large minority populations as well and did not split apart after WW1, though many borders were re-defined at the Versailles Peace Conference, and others experienced revolutions. The failure of the Empire was driven by the stresses of the war and by the weakness of Franz Josef's successor Karl, of whom it was said, "One excepts to meet a 30 year old man, but one finds an apparently 20 year old, who behaves like a ten year old boy".

So I learned a lot, but I'll need a different book to teach me more about the cultural flowering at the end of the Habsburg era. I'm open to suggestions......

[C. Varn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent general introduction

Reading this as a precursor to reading longer and more substantive histories of the Habsburg's empire and of central Europe, it is a helpful general introduction. For six hundred years or more condensed in so short an introduction requires sacrifice of depth and breadth, but my one complaint is that this volume seems to disproportionately focus on the 19th and 20th century.

[Emre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does what it promises - giving an overview on the Habsburger dynasty throughout the centuries, from its beginnings in the Swiss Habichtsburg to the dissolution after the First World War.
Due to the nature of the format the author did not go into specifics on any one particular topic, but instead outlined circumstances and developments in areas such as religion, ideology, art and culture, etc.

I wanted this to be a stepping stone for further reading and it achieved that goal. I'm giving it three stars because at times I was feeling a little lost in regards to the period or specific ruler that was talked about.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent distillation of a very expansive and complicated subject.

[AnnaEkema · Rating 2 out of 5]

Matige publieksgerichte geschiedschrijving. De plaatjes zijn leuk, de tekst is slecht geschreven. De wikipedia pagina is beter.

[Kin · Rating 3 out of 5]

อ่านได้เรื่อยๆ ออกแนวเกร็ดประวัติศาสตร์ราชวงศ์ฮับสบวร์ก ปัญหาเดียวคือมันไม่ได้มี argument อะไรในงานชัดๆ นัก เป็น introduction มากๆ จนบางทีจบบทแล้วก็เกิดคำถามว่า แล้วยังไงนะ?

[Annette Koster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een duizendjarige vorstengeschiedenis in 135 bladzijden is een uitdaging. Een beetje oppervlakkig verhaal, maar dat kan ook niet anders. Eigenlijk moet je er voortdurend een stamboom en een historische atlas bij hebben.

[Rowena Abdul Razak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise history of this fascinating family. Easy to read and engaging. Good to read as a way to reinforce knowledge.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Habsburg Empire: A Very Short Introduction (2017) by Martyn Rady is a book that describes the main history of one of Europe's most important dynasties. Rady is a professor of European Studies at University College London and got his PhD in Budapest so he has a great background for writing a book on the Habsburgs. 

There are a number of much longer and larger books on the Habsburgs out there. But for anyone wanting to come up to speed and get some idea of why the Habsburgs mattered so much and how the empire they ruled over worked at various times this book is ideal. 

It covers the period when Phillip the Fair ruled Spain and much of the new world and The Phillipines and indeed contemplated an invasion of China to expand the empire to when the empire broke apart and finally collapsed in 1918. 

The Habsburgs are a fascinating dynasty, they seem to have mostly achieved what they did through clever marriages and alliances and not too much by war. They were tolerant for much of their rule and ruled over a diverse collection of peoples for a long time. While it could be argued they held Central Europe back to some degree they also tended to avoid the bloodshed that succeeded them. 

The book is well written and very much worth reading for anyone interested in Central European history who doesn't want to read huge tome where much of the starting material is forgotten by the end. It's crisp, informative and very well done. 

[Teagan Cameron · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a concise and decent introduction to the Habsburg dynasty and the themes that define its history. It is very much a 'highlight reel' of historical events and trajectories, and hits on all the main points well. That being said, however, this introduction subscribes wholeheartedly to the theory of imperial decline, which I found frustrating and largely unhelpful. This, coupled with the sensationalism which permeates the book, prevents me from giving this introduction a higher rating.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Habsburg" is one of those names recognized as a big deal, but if one isn't a history buff one might know nothing - or near nothing - about them. For many, the Habsburg Empire is synonymous with Austro-Hungary, but - in its heyday - the Empire controlled territory as far-flung as the Philippines and Mexico through marriages with the Iberian Peninsula royals. This guide hits the highlights of the Habsburgs from their 11th century beginnings to their demise in the wake of World War I.

Rady drops a lot of fun facts in this book in order to make it more than the dry retelling of war and marriage that often make up histories. Because this is a concise guide, these fun facts aren't necessarily elegantly introduced, but sometimes appear to be tucked in willy-nilly, as with the sentence:

"Franz Ferdinand, besides being a maniacal huntsman who bagged an estimated 270,000 creatures (mostly partridges, but including two elephants), was convinced that the Habsburg Empire depended for survival on its comprehensive reorganization."

What does the clause about being an avid hunter have to do with the discussion at hand? Absolutely nothing as far as I can tell, but it does capture one's attention.

I feel I came away from this book with a better understanding of the Habsburgs, as well as with a few fascinating tidbits stuck in my brain -- such as about the strangely long jaw bones of inbred royals. If you know nothing about the Habsburgs, but would like to, I'd highly recommend this book.

[Jason Ray Carney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an educational and engaging survey of the Habsburg dynasty and their empires from the middle ages through the 20th century. For being so short, it is nevertheless detailed in execution (perhaps too much so). To an extent, it assumes too much previous knowledge on the part of a general reader coming to an introduction. Broad historical events—the Reformation, the Napoleonic Wars, the origins of World War 1—these don’t need to be explained, but more context about important Habsburgs, ministers, European geography, and political history would have been helpful. Overall, though, I am glad to have read this, though it throws you into the deep end from the start. The compelling analysis and interpretation doesn’t come until the last few pages. The argument is that, contrary to stereotypes about the Habsburg Empire, it was not an anchronistoc political entity but typical of Europe ands its characteristic problems in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The chapter on fin-de-siecle Vienna were particularly intriguing.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale of the Habsburgs is one of the only times when I feel comfortable agreeing with the adage: History is told by the victors.

The Habsburg Empire was one of the Great Powers of the world for centuries, and after World War I, it was dissolved. This was one of the single most significant effects of WWI, and yet when you hear about the Habsburgs in most History courses, it they are always tangential, at least here in the US.

This book, by focusing on the Habsburg Dynasty rather than on one or two of the bakers dozen of individual states that they found themselves in control of, tells a much more wholistic and complete narrative. Even knowing a good deal about the Habsburgs and their major historical moments, centering the narrative on the dynastic shifts the lens which you use to analyze the events which I think is a good accomplishment.

This Very Short Introduction was quite hand in that way, and while I’m sure further reading would develop and foster a truly deep understanding, for the time invested in you get a lot out.

[Vma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was merely “ok” as an introduction. I’m afraid it mostly read as a “this happened… then this happened… then this happened…” sort of narrative, which made it a bit of a slog (even though it’s a “very short introduction.”) I wish I’d learned a bit more about the Hapsburgs themselves, but even the most consequential figures usually only get a brief mention before the narrative moves on.

To be fair, however, towards the very end of the final chapter, the author does start making some arguments and claims about the nature of the Hapsburg Empire, which I found interesting enough to make me want to read his longer, more detailed works about the subject.

As it stands, though, this book feels useful only as an absolutely most bare-bones introduction and for its bibliography. That’s one of the pitfalls of these “very short introduction”-style books, I guess, and I will say I’ve read others that left me more satisfied than this one.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text is only about 110 pp, the rest is a very helpful "Notes" and "Further Reading" for each chapter.
The first 3 chapters are pretty dry - who married whom, what lands they ruled, or brought to the Empire.
After that the chapters become more interesting (and modern), with information on the politics, and a bit more on culture.
Other than the 30 Years War, not much time is spent on wars. I wish there had been more on the non-stop conflict between this Empire and the Ottoman Empire (and I wish "A Very Short Introduction to...." series had a volume on that empire as well).
Yes, a good, very brief, Intro - a start. And I do love this series, I have a number of them besides this title.

[Anca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rady writes about various emperors colorfully, but occasionally there are off-putting glib comments that possibly arise from the challenge of cramming a complex topic into 108 pages. Still, if I were his editor, I would have found a way to avoid it. For example, he says "Juana the Mad" was called mad "because she was." Well...I'd read she was punished severely for expressing skepticism about religion and the "because she was" statement feels pat and dismissive. Later, he calls Karl "a decent man" and within the same paragraph discusses his "dislike of Jews and socialists." I appreciated getting a birds-eye-view of a topic that interests me, but when I read an in-depth history next, I'll seek out different historians.

[Donald M. Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise history .. Easy to read.

A visit to Prague got me interested in the Hapsburg Dynasty. I like this version because it's written without too much glitz. It doesn't include every
thing .. I've been able to find a couple of magazine length writings that add more details. This writer also appears to add his own boss in some of the verses .. As an example, the section on Martin Luther treats him as ??? Whereas my readings make me believe he is upset with church doctrine, and specifically the pope at that time providing/selling scrolls for large donations .. The purpose of these scrolls is to reduce a person's time In purgatory

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work on the Habsburg Empire provides just enough content to give readers a general overview of the empire which influenced central and Eastern Europe. Beginning with the rise of the Holy Roman Empire and continuing until the time of World War I, the author shows us the how the Habsburgs gained power and then how that influence waned. The book contained only two maps, and I think some additional ones depicting periods between those two would help readers understand some of the periods a little better. (3.5 stars)

[Peter A. van Tilburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit boek geeft een grof overview niet meer van het Habsburgse rijk. Het is gegroeid door huwelijken maar was een lappedeken van verschillende nationalitieiten en identiteiten zonder een samenbindende identiteit. Eigenlijk waren de Habsburgers die samenbindende identiteit maar dat bleek onvoldoende. Na WW1 bleek dit ook en pleitten verschillende gebieden met succes voor hun autonomie terwijl de geallieeerden in eerste instantie het rijk intact wilden houden als tegenwicht voor Duitsland.

[Michael Samerdyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good overview of the Habsburg Dynasty and its Empire.

This is a subject that most Americans know little about. Rady makes this potentially unwieldy topic coherent and clear. He shows how the Habsburgs influence things from the Reformation to the rise of nationalism. He uses memorable examples to make his points and keep the reader's interest from flagging.

A splendid achievement.

[Jesper · Rating 3 out of 5]

En fin introduktion til Habsburgerne til den der har lille viden om dem på forhånd. Giver et fint overblik over fyrsteslægtens store betydning for Europas historie og giver lyst til at dykke ned i detaljer og lære mere om de enkelte kapitler i historien, som med fuldt overlæg kun er beskrevet i store træk i denne “meget korte introduktion”.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting, if too short, overview of the mighty Habsburgs. But a more thorough one would likely take-up a library shelf full of books, so I am contented.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true masterpiece.

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and concise, easy to read, just what I wanted.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and informative read, but I wanted more about Austria-Hungary itself, and the ending feels rather rushed.

[Chloe Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s good.

[Anand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat boring. Not sure if that’s the author’s fault, or the necessarily reductive format of the “Very Short Introduction” format.

[Yori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toegankelijke inleiding in de (Midden-)Europese politiek van de late middeleeuwen tot de moderne tijd.

[Margreet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is meer een lesboek. Vooral een opsomming van namen. Gelukkig niet dik en veel foto's dus je bent er zo doorheen.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and concise