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Germany and the Holy Roman Empire

Charles V, the Hapsburg Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of a vast territory, began retiring from political life in the 1550's, turning over control of the Hapsburg interests and dividing the empire between Austria and Spain. To his son Phillip II, he left the Kingdom of Spain, as well as Naples, Milan and the Netherlands. His brother, Ferdinand I, assumed control of the German (Bohemian) and Austrian Kingdoms, as well as Flanders and Hungary, though he had to fight off a rival successor to that throne, John I. Upon his death in 1564 he was succeeded by his son, Maximilian II.

Like a number of other places in Europe, the Holy Roman Empire was beset by religious tension and strife. Though the Hapsburg rulers were devoutly Catholic, a large portion of the population were Lutheran, and the individual Princes of the Holy Roman Empire were allowed to dictate what religion would be practiced within their territories. Charles V, and to a lesser extent, Ferdinand I, attempted to bring the populace back under the fold of Roman Catholicism, which met with violent opposition and numerous small revolts and rebellions led by local protestant princes. A fragile agreement was reached with the Ausburg Peace in 1555, which lasted until the 30 years war in 1618.

Life in the Germanies was often harsh and sometimes short, so much so that the emperor Maximillian granted them a dispensation from all sumptuary laws. Major cities are many, and include Vienna.

Some German names include:

Girls - Ada, Adeline, Ailis, Ebba, Elma, Frieda, Gertrude, Giselle, Griselda, Ida, Katrina, Liezel, Malene, Millicent, Mina, Odila, Rosamonde

Boys - Adler, Albert, Alrick, Ansell, Audric, Bartram, Bernard, Brendan, Dieter, Edwyn, Friedrich, Hanz, Helmut, Johan, Jurgen, Karl, Oswald, Otto, Roland, Rolf, Sigmund, Ulric

Additional Information:

Website: Gerry and Julie's Landsknecht and Costume Site
Website:Patterns for 16th Century German Men's Costume
Book: The German Reformation, R W Scribner
Book: The Holy Roman Empire 1495-1806, Peter H Wilson

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