Martyn Rady Books
Martyn Rady is a British historian and academic specializing in Central European history. He is Professor Emeritus of Central European History at University College London and has written extensively on the Habsburg Empire and European political culture.
Known for: The Habsburgs: The Rise and Fall of a World Power
Books by Martyn Rady
The Habsburgs: The Rise and Fall of a World Power
In The Habsburgs, Martyn Rady tells the epic story of a dynasty that shaped Europe for nearly a millennium. From their modest origins in medieval Switzerland to their rule over vast territories across Europe and the Americas, the Habsburgs built an empire that defined the politics, culture, and religion of the continent. Rady explores their dynastic strategies, imperial ambitions, and the enduring legacy of their rule, offering a sweeping narrative of power, faith, and survival.
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Origins of the Habsburg Family and Early Rise
The Habsburgs’ beginnings were humble, their name derived from Habichtsburg, a modest fortress in the Swiss Aargau. As local counts in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, they built influence through feudal lordship and shrewd alliances. Power in this world was both personal and territorial—it dep...
From The Habsburgs: The Rise and Fall of a World Power
From Austria to Empire: Dynastic Consolidation
Once established in Austria, the Habsburgs began the long process of consolidating their scattered possessions into a durable power base. The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries tested their ability to manage divided inheritances—a chronic Habsburg dilemma. Their territories in Styria, Carinthia, and...
From The Habsburgs: The Rise and Fall of a World Power
About Martyn Rady
Martyn Rady is a British historian and academic specializing in Central European history. He is Professor Emeritus of Central European History at University College London and has written extensively on the Habsburg Empire and European political culture.
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Martyn Rady is a British historian and academic specializing in Central European history. He is Professor Emeritus of Central European History at University College London and has written extensively on the Habsburg Empire and European political culture.
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