Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2015

 

On the Reform of the German Empire and the Construction of the Nation State in the Late Middle Ages

(Abstract)

 

Wang Yaping

 

In Western Europe, from the 15th century on, England and France had successively implemented parliamentary monarchies which provided the essential political conditions for the construction of the nation state. In the German Empire, however, the state system and the regional economic center of the Empire that had been developing since the 14th century weakened the centralization of royal (imperial) power, forming a many-headed “polycracy.” Outside powers like England, France and the Catholic Church seized the opportunity to interfere in German affairs, a situation that was a great impediment to Germany’s becoming a nation state. At the end of the 15th century, the German emperor strove to reinforce the supreme authority of the empire by adopting reform measures such as levying unified taxes and establishing imperial courts of law. Although the reform of the empire did not achieve the desired political objectives, it was a crucial step in Germany’s progress toward being a modern nation state.