The Holy Roman Empire The millennium-long history of the Holy Roman Empire has been wilfully misunderstood since the rise of the nation state. But can its past shed light on Europe’s future? Peter Wilson | Published in History Today Volume 66 Issue 4 April 2016 To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5. Start my trial subscription now If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems. Europe Related Articles Charlemagne's Elephant The End of the Holy Roman Empire Popular articles ‘Who Really Wrote the Bible’ by William M. Schniedewind review Fear, Friendship and the Channel Tunnel