as used by Kublai Khan, mean "origin" or "center" of the universe
"Great Yuan" named by the empire's founder, Kublai Khan, likely in order to inlude his rule within Chinese dynastic history as well as to claim the Mandate of Heaven
1271–1368
established by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan
1st non-Han dynasty to rule China
Yuan emperors spoke Chinese but kept use of Mongolian
Kublai Khan's 1st capital was called "City of the Khans," but was changed in Han Chinese to "Great Capital"
he used the name changes to claim Chinese legitimacy
Ming is from the Chinese characters for sun and moon; it also means "luminescent"
the name was taken by Han Shantong who led early rebellions against the Yuan Dynasty; Han Shantong took on the name "King Ming" for "King of Light"
1368-1644
followed the collapse of Mongol rule under the Yuan Dynasty
the "Red Turban Rebellions" weakened the Yuan (named for red banners and hats)
Red Turban movement was started by a Chinese monk (associated w/ the Bhuddist White Lotus secret society that believed in fight of good v. evil, influencd by Manichaeism from ancient Persia, called in China "Mingjiao")
represented a Han Chinese ethnic rebellion against Mongol rule
reinstituted Confucian culture, which was largely Han
Ming emperors used court eunuchs (couldn't have children so posed no dynastic threat) to balance power w/ Confucian administrator
from origins under Charlemagne who was crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" in 800 by Pope Leo III
Charlemagne thus gained Church legitimacy in exchange for vassalhood to the Church
"Holy Roman" = representing the Roman Church
Empire = power supposedly inherited from ancient Roman emperors, i.e., considered in their lineage
800-1806
(962 alternative start date)
early stages, included France under the Carolingian line of French (Frankish) kings, but as France emerged as independent kingdom under the Capetian dynasty ( 987 to 1328, started by Hugh Capet; no certainty for the name, "Capet", but one can think of "head" for Capet, as in "head of France")
The Holy Roman Empire between 972 and 1032
House of Valois (France)
1328-1589
House of Bourbon (France)
1589-1792, 1815-1830, 1830-1848
note the interrupted timeline, starting w/ the French Revolution, 1792, and the Napoleonic period, then 1815, 1830 and 1848 revolutions
Austrian Empire
"House of Hapsburg" from Habsburg Castle, a fortress built in in early 1000s in modern day Switzerland
empire indicates conquest, so think of Hungary, Slavic countries, lower Germany, etc.
