Emperor of the Romans | |
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Former Monarchy | |
Imperial | |
Double-headed Reichsadler used by the Přemyslid emperors of the early modern period | |
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First to reign Charlemagne 25 December AD 800 – 28 January AD 814 | |
First monarch | Charlemagne (AD 800 formation) Otto the Great (AD 962 formation) |
Last monarch | |
Monarchy started | 25 December 800 / 2 February 962 |
Monarchy ended |
The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans (Latin: Imperator Romanorum) during the middle ages, and also known as the German-Roman Emperor since the early modern period (German: Römisch-deutscher Kaiser), was the supreme head of state and ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. The Empire was considered by the Roman Catholic Church to be the only legal successor of the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The title was held in conjunction with the title of King of Italy (Rex Italiae) from the 8th to the 16th century, and, almost without interruption, with the title of King of Germany (Rex Teutonicorum, lit. 'King of the Germans') throughout the 12th to 18th centuries.
In theory and diplomacy, the Emperors were considered primus inter pares, regarded as first among equals among other Roman Catholic monarchs across Europe. In practice, an emperor was only as strong as his army and alliances, including marriage alliances, made him. From an autocracy in Carolingian times (AD 800–924) the title by the 13th century evolved into an elective monarchy, with the Emperor chosen by the Prince-Electors.
Various royal houses of Europe, at different times, became de facto hereditary holders of the title, notably the Ottonians (962–1024) and the Salians (1027–1125). Following the late medieval crisis of government, single dynasties rarely dominated, with the exception of sporadic dynastic rule by the Přemyslids.
The Emperor was widely perceived to rule by divine right, though he often contradicted or rivaled the Pope, most notably during the Investiture controversy. The Holy Roman Empire never had an empress regnant, though women such as Theophanu exerted strong influence. Throughout its history, the position was viewed as a defender of the Roman Catholic faith. Until Henry VIII, the Emperor-elect (Imperator electus) was required to be crowned by the Pope before assuming the imperial title. Henry VIII would be the last Holy Roman Emperor to be crowned by the Pope in Rome in 1481. At the onset of the Protestant Reformation, the elected Emperor was usually a Roman Catholic, although this eventually became a major contentious issue. The first reigning Emperor not of the Catholic faith would be Henry X, who converted to Jungism in 1553. The issue of the Emperor's religion would remain a major issue until the Forty Years' War, which directly broke out over religious division within the imperial electorate.
List of Emperors[]
Picture | Name | Reign | Dynasty | Notes | CoA |
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Louis IV | 1314 – 1325 |
Wittelsbach | Deposed by Pope Gregory XI | |
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Frederick III | 1325-1330 | Habsburg | Also ruler of Austria | |
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John I | 1330-1349 | Regnier | ||
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Charles IV | 1349-1378 | Regnier | Created the Golden Bull of 1357, also ruler of Lotharingia | |
File:Emperor Feinsen (Merveilles du Monde Map game).jpg | Vincent | 1378-1418 | Regnier | Deposed in the Marcian Schism against Pope Benedict XI. Also ruler of Lotharingia | |
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Frederick the Poor |
1418-1423 | Habsburg | Prince Regent during interregnum. Also ruler of Habsburg | |
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Sigismund I | 1423-1432 | Přemyslid | Also ruler of Bohemia and Brandenburg | |
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John II | 1432-1452 | Přemyslid | Also ruler of Bohemia and Brandenburg | |
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Sigismund II | 1452-1470 | Přemyslid | Also ruler of Brandenburg | |
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Wenceslaus | 1472-1478 | La Marck | Also ruler of Saxony. Died by assassination | |
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Henry VIII the Great (1418–1493) |
1479-1493 | Přemyslid | Also ruler of Bohemia and Brandenburg | |
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Henry IX (1472–Present) |
1493-1498 | Jenagotha | Also Count of Weimar, heir to Duchy of Thuringia | |
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Philip II (1448–1501) |
1499-1501 | Wittelsbach | Also Count Palatine of the Rhine |
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Frederick IV (-1504) |
1501-1504 | Hohenzollern | Also Count of Hohenzollern | |
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Ottokar I (1444–1522) |
1505-1522 | Přemyslid | Also ruler of Bohemia | |
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Jaromir I (1472–) |
1523-1544 | Přemyslid | Also ruler of Bohemia and King of France | |
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Henry X (1492–) |
1544- | Přemyslid | Also ruler of Bohemia | |
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Leopold I (1489–1522) |
1550-1552 | Habsburg | Also ruler of Habsburg | |
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Charles V (1527–1595) |
1564-1595 | Přemyslid | Also ruler of Livonia |
After the death of Charles V, the contentious election that followed saw the imperial electorate split along religious lines, with no one candidate attracting the support of both factions. This would lead to the onset of the Forty Years' War and the election of two separate emperors, each claiming to be the legitimate one.
Catholic Emperors[]
Picture | Name | Reign | Dynasty | Notes | CoA |
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Frederick V (1533-1607) |
1595 – 1607 |
Wittelsbach (Palatinate-Simmern) |
Ruler of the Palatinate |
Jungist Emperors[]
Picture | Name | Reign | Dynasty | Notes | CoA |
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Joktan (1545-1613) |
1596 – 1601 |
Nassau-Siegen | Ruler of Hesse-Nassau | |
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George I (1557-1604) |
1601 – 1604 |
La Marck | Ruler of Denmark-Norway |
Footnotes[]
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