Hermann Conring's New Discourse on the Roman-German Emperor
The New Discourse on the Roman-German Emperor is the first work in which Hermann Conring's (1606-1681) ideas about the independence of Germany from the Roman Empire became available to a wider audience. This English translation--the first of any of Conring's works--includes the Latin original, an introduction to Conring's significance, a chronology, notes on the edition and the translation, and an annotated guide to further reading. It will introduce students of early modern history to the controversies surrounding the transition from medieval forms of universal governance to the modern world of sovereign nation states.
Reviews
The translation is readable, accessible and fully annotated. The sub-divisions introduced to it are helpful rather than intrusive, and the principles and editorial decisions upon which the translation is based are fully and fairly articulated. There is an extremely helpful and up-to-date guide to further reading, which will be very useful to German and non-German readers alike. The detailed chronology is also a welcome addition to the materials provided.
—T. Hochstrasser, London School of Economics
