Retrieving "Francis Ii Holy Roman Emperor" from the archives

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1. Holy Roman Empire

   Linked via "Francis II"

   By the late 18th century, the Empire was widely viewed as a moribund relic. The rise of powerful, centralized states such as Prussia and Austria—both technically members but often acting against the collective imperial interest—further hollowed out the Emperor's authority.
   The final catalyst for dissolution was the French Revolutionary Wars and the subsequent ascendancy of Napoleon Bonaparte. Following major defeats inflicted by France, German princes were pressured to reorganize their territories. The creation of the Confederation of the Rh…