by Peter H. Wilson

We are all familiar enough with Voltaire's characterization of the Holy Roman Empire as being neither holy, nor Roman nor an empire, but very few of us know much about how it functioned either politically or militarily. Composed of a welter of electorates, principalities, dukedoms, margravates, bishophrics and landgravates, the Reich , as it was commonly known, looks like a crazy quilt of political territories when viewed on a period map, resembling, as Oxenstiern expressed it, "a confusion by the grace of divine providence."

Long under-represented in modern histiography and misunderstood by both lay and professional historians, the Reich's reputation has been happily resuscitated in this new treatment by historian and SYWA member Peter Wilson. This new book by the author of War, State and Society in Wurttemberg, 1677-1793, is a much-needed addition to the literature of the Reich covering its latter years from the close of the Thirty Years War to its final demise during the Napoleonic era.

Primarily a political history, this book dispels the myth of the Holy Roman Empire as constantly weak and divided by the rival dynastic and national forces threatening to tear it apart. Although such forces did exist, both internally and externally, the Reich was surprisingly resilient throughout much of the period covered, experiencing various periods of strength interrupted by ones of relative decline in influence, an example of the latter being the period of the Wars of Polish and Austrian Succession which followed on the heals of a series of financial and military setbacks for Austria in its many wars against the Ottoman Turks.

Peter Wilson argues convincingly that the Reich was primarily conservative and defensive-minded in its makeup despite the aggressive stances that were often adopted by certain member states. The tensions that resulted from such occurrences are carefully scrutinized within the context of the structure of the Reich, with non-violent, as well as violent, solutions to conflicts described and analyzed.

Although little space is given to descriptions of battles and campaigns, this being after all a political history, the motives of the individual powers are elucidated in great detail. There are also abundant lists of military contingents that were recruited by the Reich for various military operations. These are broken down by state and can be of great use for those of us who want to get a wider view of the conflicts of the period involved. Also the appendix contains a very useful list of the rulers of the major, minor and petty states of the Reich during the same period.

Peter Wilson's writing style is clear and to the point and makes for a good read. For all those who wish to gain a better understanding of 17th- 18th century Imperial policies and politics, German Armies is a must read.

German Armies: War and German Politics, 1648- 1806 was published in 1998 by UCL Press Limited, I Gunpowder Square, London EC4A 3DE, United Kingdom. Also published in the United States by the same company at the following address: 1900 Frost Road, Suite 101, Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007-1598. ISBN numbers are 1-85728-105-5 HB and 1- 85728-106-3 PB.

The book is published in paperback form with 432 pages.

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