>>1429225
A meme more tired than spooks

>>1429225
It's just a meme caused by a smug French philosopher that has been regurgitated by people on 4chan. The Holy Roman Empire was a mar geopolitical force in Medieval and early modern Europe despite not being as formal of an empire such as Rome. in my opinion the Holy Roman Empire was an epitome of efficiency considering it was a actual thousand year Reich.

>>1429238
major*

>>1429238
>reading into memes

>>1429225

During the Middle Ages, the emperors used many of their ressources to wage war in Italy; as a result there were few ressources to subjugate the local German rulers and enforce centralization in Germany. The empire had to make concessions so that the many dukes and counts would participate in the Italian campaigns (which were a failure in the end). In short, the medieval emperor, who actually still had a lot of power, were two ambitious and tried to hold/conquer parts of Italy instead of trying to make the HRE stronger in its core regions. Many emperors of the High Middle Ages spent most of their lives in Italy and neglected politics in Germany;

>>1429225
If it was an actual centralised nation-state, it probably would've been one of the greatest powers in Europe. However, because it was more of a loose confederation of German-speaking countries, it was never able to capitalise on its potential.

It's telling that modern Germany, which in terms of territory is completely neutered compared to the >H >R >E, has infinitely more economic and political power and influence than the >H >R >E could ever hope to achieve.

>>1429225
It wasn't.

>>1429225
Because the Schmalkaldic League failed to make it a glorius Protestant empire

>>1429225
Because it was not Holy, Roman or an Empire.

>>1429225
Because it was german