| Sumario: | In the course of the past fifty years there has been a thorough-going reappraisal of the Holy Roman Empire, so long the target of derision or victim of neglect. Virtually every aspect of its history between the peace of Westphalia in 1648 and its final demise in 1806 has been revised. The Empire is now lauded for being a constitutional state based on the rule of law, which succeeded in protecting German liberties and asserting German nationality. It also provided an appropriate framework within which German culture could flourish as never before. It proved less effective, however, in promoting economic growth and protecting its citizens against rapacious neighbours.
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