Rapid Decline of the City after the Gothic Wars 273 Her Condition in the Dark Ages 274 Republican Revival of the Twelfth Century 276 Character and Ideas of Nicholas Rienzi 278 Social State of Mediæval Rome 280 Visits of the Teutonic Emperors 282 Revolts against them 284 Existing Traces of their Presence in Rome 286 Want of Mediæval, and especially of Gothic Buildings, in Modern Rome 289 Causes of this; Ravages of Enemies and Citizens 291 Modern Restorations 292 Surviving Features of truly Mediæval Architecture--the Bell-towers 294 The Roman Church and the Roman City 296 Rome since the Revolution 299 CHAPTER XVII. The Renaissance: Change in the Character of the Empire. Weakness of Germany 302 Loss of Imperial Territories 303 Gradual Change in the Germanic Constitution 307 Beginning of the Predominance of the Hapsburgs 310 The Discovery of America 311 The Renaissance and its Effects on the Empire 311 Projects of Constitutional Reform 313 Changes of Title 316 CHAPTER XVIII. The Reformation and its Effects upon the Empire. Accession of Charles V 319 His Attitude towards the Reformation 321 Issue of his Attempts at Coercion 322 Spirit and Essence of the Religious Movement 325 Its Influence on the Doctrine of the Visible Church 327 How far it promoted Civil and Religious Liberty 329 Its Effect upon the Mediæval Theory of the Empire 332 Upon the Position of the Emperor in Europe 333 Dissensions in Germany 334 The Thirty Years' War 335 CHAPTER XIX. The Peace of Westphalia: Last Stage in the Decline of the Empire.