Maximilian I's Imperial Reform: Inventing the Holy Roman Empire

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Maximilian I's dramatic attempt to reform the Holy Roman Empire at the 1495 Diet of Worms. They dive into the proposed Imperial Chamber Court, the Common Penny tax, and the Land Peace, which aimed to centralize power but sparked fierce resistance from territorial princes like the Elector of Saxony and the Archbishop of Mainz. The discussion also covers the creation of the Imperial Circles and the Aulic Council, contrasting them with earlier institutions. Along the way, they touch on Maximilian's marriage to Mary of Burgundy, the loss of Switzerland, and the long-term consequences of the reforms' failures — including the eventual rise of Prussia and the empire's collapse in 1806. The episode ties these themes to broader questions about governance, legacy, and the challenges of European union. #MaximilianI #HolyRomanEmpire #DietOfWorms #ImperialReform #Reichskammergericht #GemeinerPfennig #Landfrieden #ImperialCircles #Reichshofrat #HouseOfHabsburg #ElectoralCollege #MaryOfBurgundy #SwissConfederation #Prussia #1495 #EarlyModernEurope #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo