User blog comment:Michael Douglas/HRE Absorbs France year 1000/@comment-1593341-20110212214517

First of all, they wouldn't likely be absorbed as Electorates, as the electorates were limited to I believe 4 principalities and 3 bishoprics.

Otherwise, you could have Henry IV win the Investiture Controversy, causing him to solidify his power in the empire and basically put a puppet pope in charge. This puppet pope could then be used to bring some of the french states into the empire.