Part 11/13:
With the ascension of the Habsburg dynasty, hope for the Empire's resurgence surfaced. Under Emperors like Maximilian I, significant reforms were introduced, including the establishment of Imperial Circles and the convening of the Imperial Diet—a governing body that could make binding decisions. Though these developments aimed to unify the Empire, the Habsburgs also faced monumental challenges due to overextension in conflicts including wars with France and religious strife sparked by the Protestant Reformation.