List of Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire (The Once and Never Kings)

The title of "Holy Roman Emperor" is supposed to denote the head of state of the Holy Roman Empire. In reality, however, the title is more symbolic, as many states would resist any attempt to assert dominance (this has been a frequent cause of civil wars in the past). Nowadays, the Emperor uses his position to mediate disputes between states, negotiate with foreign offices on behalf the smaller states, and help move Imperial legislation stalled in the Imperial Diet.

Many in the Holy Roman Empire claim a continuity between the current state, and the empire of Charlemagne, and the Regnal numbers are modified as such. Nevertheless, Emperors are counted separately from those who preceded.

While a coronation by the Pope was seen as a requirement for hundreds of years in order to be seen as legitimate, the practice fell into decline during the religious strife that was the Reformation. Indeed, papal coronation is prohibited under the terms of the Peace of Hamburg, which ended the Forty Years War. Since then, Emperor-elects have received their coronations from the Bishop or Archbishop of their choice (though the Archbishop of Münster [Lutheran] and Archbishop of Milan [Catholic] are common choices).