Final answer:
The Holy Roman Empire, founded by Charlemagne, consisted of various autonomous kingdoms, with emperors elected by a group of electors. The Habsburg family, particularly under Charles V, became dominant, with Spanish and Austrian branches leading the empire. The empire's decline was due to factors like nationalism, religious conflicts, decentralization, and Napoleonic incursions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The development of the House of Habsburg and the Holy Roman Empire in Europe played a significant role in the continent's political landscape. Initially, the Holy Roman Empire, established by Charlemagne in 800, was a powerful entity consisting of several kingdoms, each with a level of autonomy and different hereditary rulers. Emperor selection was unique, with electors rather than hereditary succession determining the emperor, contrasting with other European kingdoms.
The House of Habsburg became one of the key ruling families within this empire, especially after the ascension of Charles V as Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain. There were two main branches of the House of Habsburg: the Spanish Habsburgs and the Austrian Habsburgs. The Spanish line controlled Spain and its empire, including the Americas, while the Austrian line remained dominant in Central Europe.
Several factors led to the disintegration of the Holy Roman Empire. The rise of nationalism, rivalries for territorial expansion, the Reformation, and power struggles, such as those caused by the French Papacy in Avignon, weakened the empire. The final blow came with the Napoleonic Wars, which saw the empire's official dissolution in 1806.
The Habsburgs attempted to maintain their power despite these challenges, with their empire extending across southeastern Europe. Nevertheless, internal divisions and a rise in nationalism, symbolized by the revolutions of 1848, threatened the empire's cohesion. These issues heralded the empire's eventual decline.