To portray the history of the Habsburgs in the modern era means to extend, in part, well beyond the borders of the empire to the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Southeast Europe. After Maximilian I, Charles V emerges as a figure whose significance extends far beyond the empire's borders. The 19th century is examined in particular detail, as the Habsburgs became the true glue of the multi-ethnic state of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The author not only illuminates the individual rulers but also focuses on the development of the modern state in the Austrian territories, such as Bohemia and Hungary.