A History of the Papacy, Political and Ecclesiastical, in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, Tr. With an Intr. Essay by J.H. Merle D'aubigné

Ranke's classic history of the papacy provides a sweeping overview of the institution's origins, development, and influence during the Middle Ages and beyond. The book covers topics such as the papacy's relationship with the Holy Roman Empire, its role in the Crusades and other conflicts, and its attempts to assert its political power in the centuries leading up to the Reformation.