This is from the official BtS website:

Over its history, the Holy Roman Empire existed more as an idea than an actual administrative organization. … Its recreation has, however, served as a goal which many would-be conquerors in history have strived to achieve, including Otto von Bismark, King William I, and Adolf Hitler.

Discuss.

It's the first time we have an Idea as a Civ. Until now it would be a nation.

The Holy Roman Empire was a recreation of the Roman Empire. So why add an Idea, which is a Recreation of the Real Thing into the game only because there were some Recreations of the Recreation later on?

The HRE is not a nation. And it never was, It was an Empire.

The first Empire in the game which did not have a nation. "yay"

So does this mean that Hitler will lead the HRE in the next expansion?

Yes!!! You got it right.

Woohoo

"Yay"

Hopefully i'll die before that happens.

Hey, it's just a video game! It's for fun. Hitler could lead the HRE, who bothers.

I'm sure mentioning Hitler in the topic will triple the amount of views this topic gets.

So does this mean that Hitler will lead the HRE in the next expansion?

yes because hitler with landahforgetit makes perfect sense :rolleyes:

I can't wait to play as Byzantine and show the Holy Roman Empire who the 'real' 'post-Rome' Roman Empire is ;)

I'm actually pretty excited to have both the Byzantines and the Holy Roman Empire in the game though...

It's the first time we have an Idea as a Civ. Until now it would be a nation.

The Holy Roman Empire was a recreation of the Roman Empire. So why add an Idea, which is a Recreation of the Real Thing into the game only because there were some Recreations of the Recreation later on?

aside from the oft mentioned historical inaccuracy of connecting the HRE to the former roman empire you make an interesting statement, which has also been made by a number of others.

"It's the first time we have an Idea as a Civ. Until now it would be a nation."

The very concept of the term 'nation' is an abstract idea. This idea is generally fostered by the creation of a national myth (or myths). Isn't it then fitting that one of the new civs is clearly a nation in only the most abstract and idealic sense?

It's a multiethnic, multi-national, trans-European, very abstract entity. Clearly, the HRE is the forerunner to the EU.

The HRE is not a nation. And it never was, It was an Empire.

The first Empire in the game which did not have a nation. "yay"

Not true - there wasn't a "Byzantine nation", a "Roman nation" or the "Ottoman nation" either.

It's a multiethnic, multi-national, trans-European, very abstract entity. Clearly, the HRE is the forerunner to the EU.

HRE was originally just a bravado name for the Kingdom of the Germans- the First Reich or Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. So, I guess it was a forerunner to the European Union. :D That is, if the Poles or English are to be believed. ;)

Quote of the week:

Poland's Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has suggested that his country deserves a greater share of voting rights than it is being offered under the current draft.

He said Poland was disadvantaged because of the millions of Poles killed by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Under the current system Poland has just two fewer votes than Germany, but under the proposed treaty Warsaw would have a much smaller share because EU votes would be linked to population.

Mr Kaczynski argues that his country would be a much larger country now if not for the war, and should therefore qualify for stronger voting rights.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6224932.stm

No BS from the Poles. They tell it how it is. :goodjob:

It's the first time we have an Idea as a Civ.

Not really, "Celtia" is an obvious one that came before it. "Native America" is another new one too. Past civs might also be arguably joining the group, such as possibly "America" rather than the US. Nations are really just ideas represented on a map, which is itself just a representation. Civs in this game are really just representations of countries, tribes, peoples, nations and other ideas; some are pure fantasy, posing in the guise of historical fact. :)

The Maya were never a unified political entity either.

All civpedia quotes/entries regarding any historical figures are worst than what the average consumer ignorant of history would think. It is quite simple that this was done on purpose. As a game i don't care if it is an unrealistic game if it obeys at least it's own rules. But Civpedia an attempt on encyclopedia is atrocious.

Over its history, the Holy Roman Empire existed more as an idea than an actual administrative organization. … Its recreation has, however, served as a goal which many would-be conquerors in history have strived to achieve, including Otto von Bismark, King William I, and Adolf Hitler.

actually, what all the guys listed above... well, they tried to recreate the glory of the "first Reich", i.e., the "first" German Empire, i.e. the HRE. remember Hitler's "Third Reich"? there you go.