The Habsburgs

The Habsburgs (2020) chronicles the remarkable six-century rise of a dynasty that grew from humble Swiss beginnings into the world’s first truly global empire – not through battlefield victories, but by strategic marriages. Through meticulous historical analysis, it reveals how the same intermarriage practices that built Habsburg power ultimately contributed to their biological and political decline, leaving an indelible mark on European art, culture, and geopolitics that continues to shape our world today. 

• Anyone interested in the political and cultural foundations of modern Europe
• History buffs interested in monarchy and dynastic politics
• Those curious about the internal and external forces that lead to the fall of empires

Martyn Rady is Masaryk Professor of Central European History at University College London and a renowned expert on Central European history, whose works include The Habsburg Empire: A Very Short Introduction and The Emperor Charles V. His scholarly contributions have been recognized with honorary doctorates from Károli University in Budapest, and Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu in Romania.