The Holy Roman Empire | James Bryce

The object of this treatise isn't such a great amount to give a story history of the nations incorporated into the Romano-Germanic Empire—Italy during the medieval times, Germany from the ninth century to the nineteenth—as to depict the Holy Empire itself as an organization or framework, the superb posterity of a collection of convictions and conventions which have completely passed away from the world. Such a depiction, be that as it may, would not be clear without some record of the incredible occasions which went with the development and rot of magnificent power; and it has in this way seemed best to give the book the structure preferably of an account over of a thesis; and to join with a composition of what might be known as the hypothesis of the Empire a blueprint of the political history of Germany, just as certain notification of the undertakings of mediæval Italy.

The object of this treatise isn't such a great amount to give a story history of the nations incorporated into the Romano-Germanic Empire - Italy during the Middle Ages, Germany from the ninth century to the nineteenth - as to portray the Holy Empire itself as a foundation or framework, the brilliant posterity of an assemblage of convictions and conventions which have entirely passed away from the world.