| The Holy Roman Empire is a pretty controversial region; some people think that it is just a confederation while some believe it has nothing different from other European countries. The main topic discusses in this thesis is the influence of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia on Holy Roman Empire which marked the end of the Thirty Years’ War, also, it will focuses on that whether any state systems has existed before the war or new rules the contract involves, or just a legalizing of the existing state. Since events happen in one country or in a region would hardly do without another country or even the overall international system, so I will analyze the Holy Roman Empire from the 16 th century to the 18 th century from the angle of European nation-state system, and mainly discuss the domestic situation of the empire and the European countries relation between the time of signing from the Peace Treaty of Westphalia to Treaty of Utrecht, and will explain the influence of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia on other countries and the European nation-state structure and system.The main body of this thesis is divided into four chapters.Chapter one gives a basic description of the Empire religion and policy,including the Imperial Senate, judicial system, the condition of dukes or princes under the emperor and royal power radiation scope before the signing of the contract, also, it involves a brief explanation of the situation in Europe in 17 th century.Chapter two focuses on the influence of the contract on the Empire. In 1648, the Peace Treaty of Westphalia let the Empire fail a large amount of territories, which made France and Sweden become the two major beneficiaries then. At the same time,this chapter recommends the religious rules and home affairs like state sovereignty and prince-elector. The Peace Treaty of Westphalia exists as statute law set rules on develops direction and government matters of the Empire.Chapter three mainly illustrates the structure fluctuation of the Holy RomanEmpire and the development trend of imperial senate and the court after the signing of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia. Meanwhile, it recommends the differences of religion before and after the Thirty Years’ War. This thesis also explains the situation of great European powers and the related interest among them at last.Chapter four focuses on the Treaty of Utrecht after War of the Spanish Succession. It explains the contents which mainly involve the rules of territories,religions and prince-electors. In the end, this thesis describes the changing of the great powers in Europe from the aspects of the different interest among the signatory countries of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia and Treaty of Utrecht, status conversion and the two contracts influence, etc.. The last part concludes and sublimations contents of this thesis since it discuss the pattern and structure in Europe and its impact on international relations.In the part of conclusion, I put a deep comparison to the Holy Roman Empire with the nation-state system in Europe at that time. For example, the religion diversification took the place of religion unification due to the Empire signed Peace of Augsburg in 1555 that compromised with Catholicism and the Peace Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, the Emperor change from holding great power in his own hand to a nominal one without any power, the imperial senate also exist in name only instead of a consultative and deliberative institution in its beginning. The great powers in Europe had also changed in strength, status and interests and other aspects while the political reform carried on in Holy Roman Empire. The nation-state system in Europe had developed onto a new stage and Holy Roman Empire participated in every key moments. |
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