The Habsburg Empire

A Captivating Guide to the House of Austria and the Impact the Habsburgs Had on the Holy Roman Empire

By: Captivating History

Narrated by: Jason Zenobia

Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

Discover the captivating history of Europe’s second-oldest dynasty - the Habsburgs!

The Habsburg family ruled central Europe since the early medieval times to World War I, but they still exist as one of the most prestigious Austrian families. To keep themselves in such high positions, the Habsburgs had to develop unique strategies to fight their political enemies. They wanted to rule the world and saw themselves as the only dynasty worthy of such divine right. To keep the family pure, they often married within their family, which resulted in a very weak genetic pool and many mental and physical problems.

In this audiobook, you will discover what the Habsburg jaw is, how one family envisioned the European Union, and how conservatism can ruin an empire. The story of the Habsburg family transcends the ages, and each member who once ruled was a unique persona, deserving of our attention.

The dynasty ruled the Holy Roman Empire for the longest, and even when they lost it, they were capable of founding their own: the Austrian Empire. However, like any other family, they had problems of their own, which led to intrigues, arguments, and splits. Learn how the Habsburg family divided and how they ruled Spain, as well as central Europe until King Charles the Cursed died, leaving no heir.

And finally, this audiobook will show you the truth behind the murder of Franz Ferdinand and the start of World War I, making you wonder if the Habsburg Empire ever had to end. What would the future of Europe be like if the nations were still united under one ruler? And is it possible for so many nations to share the same government, culture, and history?

Follow the Habsburgs through the centuries of their existence.

Scroll up and click the “buy” button to learn more about the history of the Habsburg Empire!

©2021 Captivating History (P)2021 Captivating History

Enjoyable throughout

Jason's narration was spot on, the writing lucid and relevant with good use of imagery that took me back to my college history courses.

Utterly fascinating!

This book has prompted me to read more about the Habsburg dynasty. Their history is fascinating. This book is well written and well researched.

The who?

If you want to know European history then you have to study and know the Habsburgs. The family is interwoven into the history of almost every country of Europe. This book traces every branch of the family tree across national boundaries and explaining relationships between countries that would otherwise not be understood. Great information if nothing else just for the fun of knowing the who, how, and why of our past.

An extraodinary period in world history

I was so memorized by this book, by the Habsburgs and Austria. from such a tiny country, and their rulling over 600 years in Europe

Habsburg dynasty

I had never even heard of the Hapsburg dynasty until recently. this family ruled for centuries and they ruled over a large area. it was really interesting reading about some of the genetic deformities that this family suffers as a result of inbreeding. I enjoyed this book a lot.

So Fascinating!

Loved, loved, loved! Wish there was a link somewhere with a family tree with those in the book were highlighted!

A compelling story from a complex dynasty

I picked this up to get a more detailed history of the Hapsburg dynasty after listening to "Germania: A Captivating Guide to the History of a Region in Europe Where Germanic Tribes Dominated and How It Transformed into Germany". Both are narrated by the same person and provides a good sense of continuity.

The organization of the the book allows you to keep up with all the various monarchs and the importance they had in the empire. This is no small fete, as many of these had the same names or small variations. The performance is good and holds up in at higher speeds, even though some of the complex topics may need more concentrated review (at normal speed).

One thing to note is that this is not a strictly linear narrative. Each chapter is organized around a period of the empire from the begging era to the end. Nevertheless, the beginning of one chapter sometimes must retrace into the past to set the context of the period being discussed. This is not a flaw since it gives a more focused narrative for the chapter, but it may be unexpected when you are first listening.