Hello and welcome to the history of the Germans, Episode 159, The Rise to Imperial Power,

Charles IV, Journey to Rome, which is also episode 22 of season 8, from the Interregnum

to the Golden Bowl.

This season has now gone on for 22 episodes.

We started with the Interregnum of largely absent rulers, and after a brief renaissance under

Rudolf van Habsburg, the Empire became a sort of oligarchy, where three families,

the Luxembourgs, the Wittlesbugs and the Habsburgs, took turns

on the throne. Succession usually involved some form of armed conflict between the contenders

and a struggle with the Pope over who had precedence. And then whoever emerged victorious

used the ever-dwindling imperial powers to enrich his family at the expense

of the others.

So when in 1349 Carl Kare Charles IV emerged triumphant from the latest of these conflicts,

chances were that the same game would start anew.

Civil war between the three families, excommunication and murder.

But I did not. And why it did not is what we're going to talk about in this episode.

But before we can all breathe a great sigh of relief, the gods have made it so,

then I have to hold the beggars bowl up to you again, my graceful listeners.

This show is, as you know, free of advertising, apart from this, my groveling.

And if you want to keep yourself safe for me droning on about my varied mental health issues,

holiday rental preferences or sleeping problems, there is only one thing to do.

Go to History of the Germans.com and give generously.

And thanks so much to Michael W., Admiral Gikington, Timur B, and another Admiral, this time

...