Mislav Kužić’s Reviews > The Habsburgs: To Rule the World > Status Update

Ferdinand II, driven by the fervor of his faith, ignited the flames of conflict across his entire realm. Initially willing to negotiate, he struck at the heretics with full force following the Defenestration and defeated them at the Battle of White Mountain. However, this merely pacified the situation within the empire. Upon his death, the ritual of separate burial for different parts of the body was carried out.

The negative impact of Protestantism on the Austrian side of the family can best be seen in the example of Emperor Rudolf II. His court in Orag was home to many top scientists, but also to various charlatans, swindlers and losers who exploited the emperor's love of the occult and alchemy. Indecisiveness and a lack of will for a clear policy contributed to the subsequent chaos throughout the empire.

Philip II. and Maximilian II, had completely different views on religious relations. Maximilian flirted with Protestantism and therefore had no difficulty in entering into various agreements and truces with them, but also with the Turks. On the other hand, through his half-brother Don Juan, Philip II. won the Battle of Lepanto and took a ruthless stance towards infidels that ultimately turned out to be the right one.

Philip II. reign was based on two foundations, preservation of the purity of religion and family. He tried with all his might to show himself and act as the most Catholic ruler in Europe. He did not spare Protestants, Jews, Muslims and all other infidels and carried out a thorough cleansing. In order to maintain purity Habsburgs carried out incestuous marriages which will have catastrophic consequences in the future.

Ferdinand inherited the imperial title from his brother, but he was more concerned with expanding his influence in the East. All this time, Bohemia, Croatia and part of Hungary, were being attacked by the Turkish army and its allies. The author of the book shows his bias here, denigrating the Croatian Parliament for not offering any resistance and writing with judgment about the compromises the emperor had to make.

Charles V. gathered so many territories during his reign that he became the first ruler to rule the world. This did not go to his head and he practiced restraint and a desire for compromise and agreement among Christian rulers. He did not succeed in suppressing Luther. As for others religions, the method of fire and sword was applied. With his abdication, the peak of the family was there, but the line was leveled.

Maximilian duly succeeded his father and, with two risky moves, managed to secure world power for his heirs. The marriages of his grandchildren to the heirs of Hungary and Spain made this possible, but they also increased their rivalry with the French and the Turks. Maximilian was so particular and eager for praise that he wanted to become pope. His administration pacified the empire by maintaining the status quo.

In Austria, some branches of the family became extinct, but not that of Frederick III. who became first emperor from the family. He did not let himself be fooled and was called sleepy by his contemporaries, but was guided by the maxim "still waters break through". He managed to secure for himself all the Austria and to establish the inheritance of all the numerous lands, and the Turks also appeared.

After Rudolf, the Habsburgs did not continue to flourish, the imperial title slipped out of their hands several times, the Swiss nobles rebelled and therefore turned to the new seat. Rudolf IV founded a new mission for the family and managed to get his hands on the title of Archduke and the provinces of Austria in ways that were not honorable. He forged documents of which the most famous is the Privilegium Maius.

The Habsburg family began their journey as local powerhouses in the area around Aargau in Switzerland. Through clever political decisions and marriages, they managed to transform themselves into important nobles in the Empire. The Fortinbras effect is a good description of the rise to the throne of Rudolf, who managed to secure Austria for himself and his family, but not the hereditary position of emperor.