Medieval map 1444

[wnylib]

22. They were not getting wealth from the Americas

at the time of this map. The map is dated 1444, about half a century before Columbus.

All those German states, duchies, and principalities were loosely connected as the Holy Roman Empire, which was actually Germanic, not Roman. The German states that evolved out of various Germanic tribes considered themselves the heirs of Rome because they had been Roman military allies until they turned on Rome, invaded (along with other tribes), and claimed themselves the rightful heirs after Rome collapsed (with the help of the German invaders.)

The Holy Roman Emperors were elected by the princes and nobility in the various states. Other nations got involved with ruling the HRE when larger dynastic families developed in Europe (Hapsburgs, Hohezollerns, Bourbons) and intermarried. Consequently, as nation state kingdoms developed and grew, there were wars between nations over who would be the next Holy Roman Emperor.

Sometimes those wars spilled over into the American colonies because the Holy Roman Emperor at one time was Spanish and married into the French Bourbon line, making them eligible to become HR Emperor. This led to French raids from New France (Canada), with their Native allies, on English colonies in New England because England opposed the combined French/Spanish bid to have the next Emperor. It upset the European balance of power too much for the English. My English ancestors were in NE villages that were attacked by New France and their Native allies.

But those colonial wars between the English and French in North America started in the first decade of the 18th century, long after this 15th century map.