10-01-2012, 01:44 AM
Quote:I have to agree with Voltaire (for reasons other than his own) that it was neither holy, Roman, or an empire. At the very least I can see it as a successor state.
Voltaire (d. 1778) live close to the very end of the Holy Roman Empire (1806). For this reason alone, his opinion cannot be taken as representative other than for his time at best. Throughout the medieval period, the claim of the HRR was not contested by any significant political or ideological force (save Byzantium, obviously).
Quote:I'm more incredulous about the second date you cited. I'm unaware of any western historians who subscribe to the Turkish view that the Ottoman empire was a continuation of the Roman empire.
While the Ottoman sultan added the "emperor" to his titles, I did not mean the Ottoman Empire, but Russia, the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Rome.
Stefan (Literary references to the discussed topics are always appreciated.)
