The Habsburg Empire ruled the Czech Republic until the early twentieth century. Who were the Habsburgs, you ask? Well, just your prototypical family that just happened to rule the greater part of Central Europe and the Holy Roman Empire…but that is a story for another day. It is much more interesting to find out how the Habsburgs managed to gain their power.
Most empires are built with guns, swords, and the blood of innocent men. Not the Habsburgs (well, they did a little of that on the side too…just not well). During the dynasty’s youth it was discovered that the Habsburgs have fighting skills that are akin to the boy who always received the swirly in middle school, but they knew how to play the political game.
Through a series of strategic marriages the Habsburgs managed to take control of the old world stating that empires are created in the bedroom not the battlefield. In my opinion, their family philosophy was probably one of the most intelligent political moves of all time. Sadly, families that only allow for noble birth can only sleep their way so far…and eventually they too fail—and everyone in the former empire now hates them. At least they can say that they added a whole new meaning to the phrase, “sleep you way to the top.” That has to count for something.
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