¡Hoy es el Cinco de Mayo!

[Darunia]

Spain... I mean, they had a major intercontinental empire! How in the world could you call them a complete failure militarially? And they forced out the Muslims once France stopped them at the Pyrrenes (sp). And united their nation into one (excepting Portugal), finishing when Columbus left -- recall Ferdinand and Isabella married to unite Aragon and Castille. Yes, after the 1500s or so they started slipping and were in full decline by the 1800s, but they were once great.

It's all relative. They are poor compared to the rest of Europe. Even the dimmest bulb has its bright days.

Austria, same thing. How in the world does a "failure" conquer most of South-Eastern Europe???

What, you mean an area the size of Vermont? And you put "failure" in marks as though I actually said that word. You added failure; I just said in the beginning that they were the two worst European powers militarily. AND THEY WERE. One can tell that you're a liberal; it's in everything you say... "we're all special, there are no losers." Austria and Spain are, militarily, second class .

You're just looking at their weak points and calling them a failure for it. No, I'm looking quite broadly at 400 years of general history.