King of the Romans
Encyclopedia
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire
following his election
to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany
. The title was a claim by the German kings to become emperor, a title, which in contemporary views of the Middle Ages, had also a religious aspect and was dependent on the coronation by the pope.
The title originally referred to any ruler of the Empire who had not yet been granted the crown and title of "Emperor" by the Pope; later it came to be used solely of the heir apparent to the Imperial throne between his election (during the lifetime of a sitting Emperor) and his succession on the Emperor's death.
of Charlemagne
as Emperor by Pope Leo III
in Rome on 25 December, 800, there existed, at least potentially, an office of Holy Roman Emperor
(Romanorum Imperator) with precedence over all other rulers of western Europe. From 961 on, this office was held by the Kings who had annexed the lands of the Kingdom of Italy
and (in 1032) the Kingdom of Arles
.
Following the precedent of Charlemagne, it was generally accepted that this office could only be properly bestowed in Rome by the Pope, or some official exercising the Pope's powers. However, it was rarely possible for the elected King to proceed immediately to Rome for his crowning. Several years might elapse between election and coronation; and some Kings never achieved the journey to Rome at all.
Some suitable title was therefore required for the King between his election and his coronation as Emperor, one which would stress the plenitude of his authority over the Empire and his warrant to be future Emperor (Imperator futurus) while not infringing upon the Papal privilege.
The title Romanorum Rex ("King of the Romans") was used occasionally by the Ottonian rulers and especially by King Henry II
to emphasize the Roman (and hence, implicitly, universal) heritage of their Empire, which was contested by the Byzantine Emperors
.
Romanorum Rex became a standard title during the period 1056-1084, when King Henry IV
, had been elected to rule the Empire but had not yet been crowned Emperor by the Pope. During this time, Pope Gregory VII
insisted on using the title Teutonicorum Rex ("King of the Germans") in order to imply that Henry's authority was merely local and did not extend over the whole Empire. In reaction to Gregory's usage, Henry began to regularly use the title Romanorum Rex until he was crowned Emperor in 1084. Henry's successors imitated this practice, and were called Romanorum Rex before and Imperator Romanorum after their Roman coronation.
of Germany; as these units broke up over time, rulers of smaller principalities and even foreign rulers came to be considered for the position. The only requirements generally observed were that the candidate be an adult male, a Catholic Christian, and not in holy orders.
Kings of Germany were elected
by the German nobility (including the prince-bishops), commonly in the city of Frankfurt
. Originally all German noblemen present could vote, but later the franchise was narrowed to the most eminent bishops and noblemen, and from 1356 on only seven Prince-electors had the right to vote.
After his election, the new king would be crowned as King of the Germans (Teutonicorum Rex) or later King of the Romans (Romanorum Rex), usually in Aachen. At some time after the coronation, the King would, if possible, cross the Alps, and might receive coronation (in Pavia
or Milan
) with the Iron Crown of Lombardy
as King of Italy. Finally he would travel to Rome and be crowned Emperor by the Pope.
Not all Kings of the Romans made this step, sometimes because of hostile relations to the current Pope, at other times because the pressure of business at home, or warfare in Germany or Italy, made it impossible for the King to make the journey. In such cases, the king might retain the title "King of the Romans" for his entire reign.
the title of Electus Romanorum Imperator ("elected Emperor of the Romans"). Maximilian also at this time took the new title "King in Germany" (Germaniae Rex, König in Germanien), but it was never used as a primary title.
The rulers of the Empire thereafter called themselves "Emperors" without going to Rome or soliciting Papal approval, taking the title as soon as they were crowned in Germany or, (if elected as heir to the throne), upon the death of a sitting Emperor. Only one, Charles V
, was crowned by the Pope.
. No person had a legal right to the succession simply because he was related to the current Emperor. However, the Emperor could, and often did, have a relative (usually a son) elected to succeed him after his death. This elected heir apparent
bore the title "King of the Romans". The election was in the same form as that of the senior ruler, and theoretically meant that both men were equal co-rulers of the Empire; in practice, however, the actual administration of the Empire was always managed by the senior Emperor, with at most certain duties delegated to the heir.
had a son and heir, Napoleon II
, he revived the title as King of Rome, styling his son as such. The boy was often known colloquially by the title throughout his short life, although after 1815 he was more commonly referred to as the Duke of Reichstadt
.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
following his election
Imperial election
The election of a Holy Roman Emperor or King of Germany was, from at least the 13th century, accomplished by a small body of the greatest princes of the Empire, the Prince-electors. Appointment as Emperor was normally for life...
to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany
Kingdom of Germany
The Kingdom of Germany developed out of the eastern half of the former Carolingian Empire....
. The title was a claim by the German kings to become emperor, a title, which in contemporary views of the Middle Ages, had also a religious aspect and was dependent on the coronation by the pope.
The title originally referred to any ruler of the Empire who had not yet been granted the crown and title of "Emperor" by the Pope; later it came to be used solely of the heir apparent to the Imperial throne between his election (during the lifetime of a sitting Emperor) and his succession on the Emperor's death.
History and usage
From the coronationCoronation of the Holy Roman Emperor
The Coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor refers to a ceremony in which the ruler of Europe's then largest political entity received the Imperial Regalia at the hands of the Pope, symbolizing the pope's alleged right to crown Christian sovereigns, and the emperor's role as protector of the Roman...
of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
as Emperor by Pope Leo III
Pope Leo III
Pope Saint Leo III was Pope from 795 to his death in 816. Protected by Charlemagne from his enemies in Rome, he subsequently strengthened Charlemagne's position by crowning him as Roman Emperor....
in Rome on 25 December, 800, there existed, at least potentially, an office of Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
(Romanorum Imperator) with precedence over all other rulers of western Europe. From 961 on, this office was held by the Kings who had annexed the lands of the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (medieval)
The Kingdom of Italy was a political entity under control of Carolingian dynasty of Francia first, after the defeat of the Lombards in 774. It was finally incorporated as a part of the Holy Roman Empire in 962....
and (in 1032) the Kingdom of Arles
Kingdom of Arles
The Kingdom of Arles or Second Kingdom of Burgundy of the High Middle Ages was a Frankish dominion established in 933 from lands of the early medieval Kingdom of Burgundy at Arles...
.
Following the precedent of Charlemagne, it was generally accepted that this office could only be properly bestowed in Rome by the Pope, or some official exercising the Pope's powers. However, it was rarely possible for the elected King to proceed immediately to Rome for his crowning. Several years might elapse between election and coronation; and some Kings never achieved the journey to Rome at all.
Some suitable title was therefore required for the King between his election and his coronation as Emperor, one which would stress the plenitude of his authority over the Empire and his warrant to be future Emperor (Imperator futurus) while not infringing upon the Papal privilege.
The title Romanorum Rex ("King of the Romans") was used occasionally by the Ottonian rulers and especially by King Henry II
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
to emphasize the Roman (and hence, implicitly, universal) heritage of their Empire, which was contested by the Byzantine Emperors
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
.
Romanorum Rex became a standard title during the period 1056-1084, when King Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
, had been elected to rule the Empire but had not yet been crowned Emperor by the Pope. During this time, Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
insisted on using the title Teutonicorum Rex ("King of the Germans") in order to imply that Henry's authority was merely local and did not extend over the whole Empire. In reaction to Gregory's usage, Henry began to regularly use the title Romanorum Rex until he was crowned Emperor in 1084. Henry's successors imitated this practice, and were called Romanorum Rex before and Imperator Romanorum after their Roman coronation.
Medieval practice
Candidates for the kingship were at first the heads of the great stem duchiesStem duchy
Stem duchies were essentially the domains of the old German tribes of the area, associated with the Frankish Kingdom, especially the East, in the Early Middle Ages. These tribes were originally the Franks, the Saxons, the Alamanni, the Burgundians, the Thuringii, and the Rugii...
of Germany; as these units broke up over time, rulers of smaller principalities and even foreign rulers came to be considered for the position. The only requirements generally observed were that the candidate be an adult male, a Catholic Christian, and not in holy orders.
Kings of Germany were elected
Imperial election
The election of a Holy Roman Emperor or King of Germany was, from at least the 13th century, accomplished by a small body of the greatest princes of the Empire, the Prince-electors. Appointment as Emperor was normally for life...
by the German nobility (including the prince-bishops), commonly in the city of Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. Originally all German noblemen present could vote, but later the franchise was narrowed to the most eminent bishops and noblemen, and from 1356 on only seven Prince-electors had the right to vote.
After his election, the new king would be crowned as King of the Germans (Teutonicorum Rex) or later King of the Romans (Romanorum Rex), usually in Aachen. At some time after the coronation, the King would, if possible, cross the Alps, and might receive coronation (in Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
or Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
) with the Iron Crown of Lombardy
Iron Crown of Lombardy
The Iron Crown of Lombardy is both a reliquary and one of the most ancient royal insignia of Europe. The crown became one of the symbols of the Kingdom of Lombards and later of the medieval Kingdom of Italy...
as King of Italy. Finally he would travel to Rome and be crowned Emperor by the Pope.
Not all Kings of the Romans made this step, sometimes because of hostile relations to the current Pope, at other times because the pressure of business at home, or warfare in Germany or Italy, made it impossible for the King to make the journey. In such cases, the king might retain the title "King of the Romans" for his entire reign.
Later developments
The title Romanorum Rex ceased to refer the ruler of the Empire after 1508, when after a failed attempt to journey to Rome, the Pope granted King Maximilian IMaximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
the title of Electus Romanorum Imperator ("elected Emperor of the Romans"). Maximilian also at this time took the new title "King in Germany" (Germaniae Rex, König in Germanien), but it was never used as a primary title.
The rulers of the Empire thereafter called themselves "Emperors" without going to Rome or soliciting Papal approval, taking the title as soon as they were crowned in Germany or, (if elected as heir to the throne), upon the death of a sitting Emperor. Only one, Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, was crowned by the Pope.
List
The following were ruling Kings of the Romans; that, is men ruled the Empire without subordination to another ruler, but who had not yet been crowned Emperor.| King | Became King | Other | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Reason | |||
| Otto III Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor Otto III , a King of Germany, was the fourth ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire. He was elected King in 983 on the death of his father Otto II and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 996.-Early reign:... |
983 | 996 | crowned Emperor | |
| Henry II Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004... |
1002 | 1014 | crowned Emperor | |
| Conrad II Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1027 until his death.The son of a mid-level nobleman in Franconia, Count Henry of Speyer and Adelaide of Alsace, he inherited the titles of count of Speyer and of Worms as an infant when Henry died at age twenty... |
1024 | 1027 | crowned Emperor | |
| Henry III Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors... |
1039 | 1046 | crowned Emperor | |
| Henry IV Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century... |
1056 | 1084 | crowned Emperor | |
| Rudolf | 25 May 1077 | 15 Oct 1080 | died | Antiking Antiking An Antiking is a would-be king who, due to succession disputes or simple political opposition, declares himself king in opposition to a reigning monarch. Antikings are more often found in elected monarchies than in hereditary monarchies like those of England and France; such figures in hereditary... |
| Hermann Hermann of Salm Herman of Salm , also known as Herman of Luxembourg, was a count of Salm and German anti-king of the Holy Roman Empire who ruled from 1081 until his death... |
6 Aug 1081 | 28 Sept 1088 | died | Antiking Antiking An Antiking is a would-be king who, due to succession disputes or simple political opposition, declares himself king in opposition to a reigning monarch. Antikings are more often found in elected monarchies than in hereditary monarchies like those of England and France; such figures in hereditary... |
| Henry V Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor... |
1105 | 1106 | in opposition to Henry IV | |
| 1106 | 1111 | crowned Emperor | ||
| Lothair III Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor Lothair III of Supplinburg , was Duke of Saxony , King of Germany , and Holy Roman Emperor from 1133 to 1137. The son of Count Gebhard of Supplinburg, his reign was troubled by the constant intriguing of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia and Duke Conrad of Franconia... |
1125 | 1133 | crowned Emperor | |
| Conrad III Conrad III of Germany Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:... |
1127 | 1135 | in opposition to Lothair | |
| 1138 | 1152 | died | ||
| Frederick I Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term... |
1152 | 1155 | crowned Emperor | |
| Henry VI Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,... |
1190 | 1191 | crowned Emperor | |
| Frederick II Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous... |
1197 | 1197 | abdicated | |
| Philip Philip of Swabia Philip of Swabia was king of Germany and duke of Swabia, the rival of the emperor Otto IV.-Biography:Philip was the fifth and youngest son of Emperor Frederick I and Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy, daughter of Renaud III, count of Burgundy, and brother of the emperor Henry VI... |
1198 | 1208 | died | |
| Otto IV Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV of Brunswick was one of two rival kings of the Holy Roman Empire from 1198 on, sole king from 1208 on, and emperor from 1209 on. The only king of the Welf dynasty, he incurred the wrath of Pope Innocent III and was excommunicated in 1215.-Early life:Otto was the third son of Henry the... |
1198 | 1208 | in opposition to Philip | |
| 1208 | 1209 | crowned Emperor | ||
| Frederick II Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous... |
1212 | 1220 | crowned Emperor | |
| Henry Raspe | 22 May 1246 | 16 February 1247 | died | Antiking |
| William of Holland | 1247 | 28 January 1256 | died | Antiking |
| Conrad IV Conrad IV of Germany Conrad IV was king of Jerusalem , of Germany , and of Sicily .-Biography:... |
1250 | 1254 | died | |
| Richard of Cornwall Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall Richard of Cornwall was Count of Poitou , 1st Earl of Cornwall and German King... |
1257 | 1272 | Never effective ruler of Germany | |
| Alfonso of Castile Alfonso X of Castile Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death... |
1257 | 1275 | Antiking to above, never effective ruler of Germany | |
| Rudolph I Rudolph I of Germany Rudolph I was King of the Romans from 1273 until his death. He played a vital role in raising the Habsburg dynasty to a leading position among the Imperial feudal dynasties... |
1273 | 1291 | died | |
| Adolph | 1292 | 1298 | deposed and killed | |
| Albert I Albert I of Germany Albert I of Habsburg was King of the Romans and Duke of Austria, the eldest son of German King Rudolph I of Habsburg and his first wife Gertrude of Hohenburg.-Life:... |
1298 | 1308 | died | |
| Henry VII Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII was the King of Germany from 1308 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1312. He was the first emperor of the House of Luxembourg... |
1308 | 1312 | crowned Emperor | |
| Frederick the Fair Frederick I of Austria (Habsburg) Frederick the Handsome or the Fair , from the House of Habsburg, was Duke of Austria and Styria from 1308 as Frederick I as well as King of Germany from 1314 as Frederick III until his death.-Biography:He was the second son of King Albert I of Germany with his wife Elisabeth of... |
1314 | 1322 | opposed to Louis IV | |
| 1326 | 1330 | jointly with Louis IV | ||
| Louis IV Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328.... |
1314 | 1328 | crowned Emperor | |
| Charles IV Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor.... |
1346 | 1347 | opposed to Louis V | |
| 1347 | 1355 | crowned Emperor | ||
| Wenceslaus Wenceslaus, King of the Romans Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty... |
1378 | 1400 | deposed | |
| Rupert Rupert of Germany Rupert of Germany from the House of Wittelsbach was Elector Palatine from 1398 and German King from 1400 until his death... |
1400 | 1410 | died | |
| Jobst of Moravia Jobst of Moravia Jobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV.... |
1410 | 1411 | died | opposed to Sigismund |
| Sigismund Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411... |
1410 | 1411 | second election | opposed to Jobst |
| 1411 | 1433 | crowned Emperor | ||
| Albert II Albert II of Germany Albert the Magnanimous KG was King of Hungary from 1438 until his death. He was also King of Bohemia, elected King of Germany as Albert II, duke of Luxembourg and, as Albert V, archduke of Austria from 1404.-Biography:Albert was born in Vienna as the son of Albert IV, Duke of Austria, and Johanna... |
1438 | 1439 | died | |
| Frederick III Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452... |
1440 | 1452 | crowned Emperor | |
| Maximilian I Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky... |
1493 | 1508 | assumed Imperial title |
Heirs designate
The Holy Roman Empire was an elective monarchyElective monarchy
An elective monarchy is a monarchy ruled by an elected rather than hereditary monarch. The manner of election, the nature of the candidacy and the electors vary from case to case...
. No person had a legal right to the succession simply because he was related to the current Emperor. However, the Emperor could, and often did, have a relative (usually a son) elected to succeed him after his death. This elected heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
bore the title "King of the Romans". The election was in the same form as that of the senior ruler, and theoretically meant that both men were equal co-rulers of the Empire; in practice, however, the actual administration of the Empire was always managed by the senior Emperor, with at most certain duties delegated to the heir.
List
The following were subordinate kings to another Holy Roman Emperor (usually, but not always, their father) for the dates specified.| Name | Date acceded | Date relinquished | Reason | Relation | Reigning Emperor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otto II Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor Otto II , called the Red, was the third ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty, the son of Otto the Great and Adelaide of Italy.-Early years and co-ruler with Otto I:... |
961 | 7 May 973 | succeeded as King (Emperor 967) | son | Otto I Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor Otto I the Great , son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of Germany, King of Italy, and "the first of the Germans to be called the emperor of Italy" according to Arnulf of Milan... |
| Henry III Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors... |
1028 | 4 June 1039 | succeeded as King (Emperor 1046) | son | Conrad II Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1027 until his death.The son of a mid-level nobleman in Franconia, Count Henry of Speyer and Adelaide of Alsace, he inherited the titles of count of Speyer and of Worms as an infant when Henry died at age twenty... |
| Henry IV Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century... |
1053 | 5 October 1056 | succeeded as King (Emperor 1084) | son | Henry III Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors... |
| Conrad | 1087 | April 1098 | deposed | son | Henry IV Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century... |
| Henry V Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor... |
6 January 1099 | 1105 | succeeded as King (Emperor 1111) | son | Henry IV Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century... |
| Henry Berengar Henry Berengar Henry Berengar was the eldest legitimate son of Conrad III of Germany and his second wife Gertrude von Sulzbach.He is sometimes numbered as Henry VI, the numeral he would have had had he succeeded to the kingship in full... |
30 March 1147 | 1150 | died | son | Conrad III Conrad III of Germany Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:... |
| Henry VI Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,... |
1169 | 10 June 1190 | succeeded as King (Emperor 1191) | son | Frederick I Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term... |
| Frederick II Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous... |
1196 | 28 September 1197 | succeeded and abdicated (via regency) 1197 elected King (with opposition) 1212 Emperor 1220 |
son | Henry VI Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,... |
| Henry (VII) Henry (VII) of Germany Henry was King of Sicily from 1212, Duke of Swabia from 1216, and King of Germany from 1220. He was the son and co-king of Emperor Frederick II and elder brother of Conrad IV of Germany... |
1220 | 4 July 1235 | deposed | son | Frederick II Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous... |
| Conrad IV Conrad IV of Germany Conrad IV was king of Jerusalem , of Germany , and of Sicily .-Biography:... |
1237 | 13 December 1250 | succeeded as King | son | Frederick II Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous... |
| Wenceslaus Wenceslaus, King of the Romans Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty... |
10 June 1376 | 29 November 1378 | succeeded as King | son | Charles IV Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor.... |
| Maximilian I Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky... |
16 February 1486 | 19 August 1493 | succeeded as King (Emperor 1508) | son | Frederick III Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452... |
| Ferdinand I Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest... |
5 January 1531 | 3 May 1558 | succeeded as Emperor | brother | Charles V Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As... |
| Maximilian II Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death... |
28 November 1562 | 25 July 1564 | succeeded as Emperor | son | Ferdinand I Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest... |
| Rudolph II | 27 October 1575 | 12 October 1576 | succeeded as Emperor | son | Maximilian II Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death... |
| Ferdinand III Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:... |
22 December 1636 | 15 February 1637 | succeeded as Emperor | son | Ferdinand II Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :... |
| Ferdinand IV Ferdinand IV of Hungary Ferdinand IV was King of the Romans, King of Hungary, and King of Bohemia.He was born in Vienna, the eldest son of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and his first wife Maria Ana of Spain... |
31 May 1653 | 9 July 1654 | died | son | Ferdinand III Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:... |
| Joseph I Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg.... |
23 January 1690 | 5 May 1705 | succeeded as Emperor | son | Leopold I Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor | style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria... |
| Joseph II Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I... |
27 March 1764 | 18 August 1765 | succeeded as Emperor | son | Francis I Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor Francis I was Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany, though his wife effectively executed the real power of those positions. With his wife, Maria Theresa, he was the founder of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty... |
First French Empire
When Napoleon I of FranceNapoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
had a son and heir, Napoleon II
Napoleon II of France
Napoléon II , after 1818 known as Franz, Duke of Reichstadt, was the son of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, and his second wife, Marie Louise of Austria...
, he revived the title as King of Rome, styling his son as such. The boy was often known colloquially by the title throughout his short life, although after 1815 he was more commonly referred to as the Duke of Reichstadt
Zákupy
Zákupy is a town in the Česká Lípa District, Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. The number of inhabitants is 2,642.-History:The earliest preserved document where the city appears is from 1306....
.
See also
- SyagriusSyagriusSyagrius was the last Roman official in Gaul, whose defeat by king Clovis I of the Franks is considered the end of Roman rule outside of Italy. He came to this position through inheritance, for his father was Aegidius, the last Roman magister militum per Gallias...
, a Gallo-Roman leader called "king of the Romans" by Gregory of ToursGregory of ToursSaint Gregory of Tours was a Gallo-Roman historian and Bishop of Tours, which made him a leading prelate of Gaul. He was born Georgius Florentius, later adding the name Gregorius in honour of his maternal great-grandfather... - List of German monarchs, rulers of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
including those using titles other than "King of the Romans"