European Kingdoms

The Holy Roman Empire / East Francia
AD 800 - 1806

What became the first German empire was created by the Western Frankish domination of most of Europe under Charlemagne. Division followed in the ninth century, as the empire split into France, Germany and Italy, but the eastern region was known as East Francia even as late as 1493, when Maximilian I made the formal claim that it was now Germania.

Frankish Roman Emperors
AD 800 - 888

800 - 814

Charles the Great / Charlemagne

King of the Western Franks.

814 - 840

Louis the Pious

King of the Western Franks. The empire splits up.

840

Louis wills the Frankish empire to his sons, but tries to ensure that the eldest gains the biggest share, in order to avoid the fragmentation of territory that so weakened the Merovingians. Lothar receives Middle Francia (the Rhine corridor including the kingdom of Burgundy, and Italy); Charles the Bald receives Western Francia (France and the duchy of Burgundy); Louis the German receives Eastern Francia (Germany). However, Lothar initially claims overlordship over all three regions and Louis and Charles have to go to war to convince him to relent.

843

The Treaty of Verdun sees the official division of the empire between Charlemagne's surviving three grandsons, with rule over the empire as a whole being nominal.

840 - 855

Lothar I of Middle (Italian) Franks rules the empire.

855 - 875

Louis II of Middle (Italian) Franks rules the empire.

875 - 877

Charles II the Bald of the Western Franks rules the empire.

881 - 888

Charles III of Eastern Franks rules the empire.

888

The rule of the Holy Roman Empire falls to non-Frankish emperors when the weak Charles is deposed by the Germans.

Germanic Roman Emperors
AD 888 - 962

In 888, Charles III of the Eastern Franks was deposed by the Germans and the Frankish empire was officially divided between East and West. The western section became France, the eastern section, the Holy Roman Empire (modern Germany). Berengar of Friuli gained the eastern section. Stem duchies emerged at the same time in Germany, powerful divisions of the old territory, which included Franconia, Swabia, and Thuringia.

888 - 891

Berengar I of Friuli

King.

891 - 894

Wido (Guy/Guido) of Spoleto

Emperor.

894 - 896

Lambert of Spoleto

Emperor.

896 - 899

Arnulf, King of Germany

Emperor. His illegitimate son became king of Lotheringia.

899 - 905

Louis III of Lower Burgundy

III of Italy & Empire (901-905).

905 - 922

Berengar I

Restored. Emperor (915-922).

922 - 933

Rudolf (II) of Upper Burgundy

933 - 947

Hugh of Arles

936

The territory west of the Oder is incorporated into the March of the Billungs and the North March of the Holy Roman Empire, allowing the native regions to be conquered and settled by Germans.

947 - 950

Lothair II of Arles

II of Italy.

950 - 961

Berengar II of Ivrea

II of Italy.

961

The Germanic emperors are overthrown by the Saxon king of Germany, Otto I.

Saxon Emperors
AD 962 - 1024

With the accession to power of the Saxon king of Germany, Otto I, the power of the Holy Roman Empire was confirmed. Formerly Carolingian Italy was also under their control.

962 - 974

Otto I

King of the Saxons.

967

Otto I confirms all of Venice's privileges.

973 - 983

Otto II

978

The foreign policy of Lothair V of France drives Otto II to invade Lorraine. The king manages to repulse him, aided by Hugh Capet, count of Paris. In return, Lothair later tries to destabilise the Holy Roman Empire when Otto's infant son succeeds to the throne.

983

Otto II declares peace with Venice and confirms its commercial privileges.

983 - 1002

Otto III

Established archbishopric in Poland.

1000

On 7 to 15 March the Congress Of Gniezno (the capital of Poland) is held. Otto III establishes an archbishopric in Gniezno with three new bishoprics in Krakow (Cracow) for Little Poland, Wroclaw for Silesia, and Kolobrzeg for Pomerania, plus the reaffirmation of the old bishopric in Poznan.

1002 - 1024

Henry II the Saint

Duke Henry IV of Bavaria.

1009

The annals of the town of Quedlinburg in Germany report the arrival of Saint Brunon, known more normally as Bonifatius, on missionary work among the Prussians. His attempt ends in failure, and it is believed he is killed together with his eighteen companions somewhere in the vicinity of the Lithuanian border (the first mention of 'Lithuania' in written sources).

1024

The Saxons lose their hold on the throne to Franconian emperors.

Franconian Emperors
AD 1024 - 1138

1024 - 1039

Conrad II the Salian

VI of Franconia. Inherited Frankish Burgundy (1032).

1039 - 1056

Henry III the Black

Henry of Franconia (1039-1056) & Swabia (1038-1045).

1056 - 1106

Henry IV

Henry of Franconia.

1076 - 1122

A long-running investiture controversy is triggered when the Pope challenges the authority of European monarchs to control appointments (investitures) for church officials in their own countries (such as deciding who to appoint as a bishop, for example). It is another step in restoring the power of the church and one that is not resolved until a compromise is reached under the terms of the Concordat of Worms in 1122, but the Holy Roman Empire, the main papal opponent in the dispute, is permanently weakened by it.

1077 - 1080

[Rudolf of Swabia]

Rival.

1081 - 1093

[Hermann of Luxemburg]

Rival.

1093 - 1101

[Conrad of Franconia]

Rival.

1106 - 1125

Henry V

m Matilda, 13 yr-old daughter of Henry I of England.

1107

The establishment of the German duchy of Pomerania leads to more and more conquest of native lands on the southern Baltic coast and a gradual end to native rule.

1125

Upon Henry's death, Matilda is recalled to the English royal court and plays a key role in the civil war against Stephen.

1125 - 1137

Lothar II

Duke of Saxony.

Hohenstaufen (Swabian) Emperors
AD 1138 - 1268

1138 - 1152

Conrad III

Uncrowned. Conrad I of Franconia.

1152 - 1190

Frederick I Barbarossa

Frederick III of Swabia.

1180

Frederick comes into conflict with Henry Welf, duke of Bavaria. Frederick dispossesses Henry of his lands and passes Bavaria to the Wittelsbachs. Henry's Saxon duchy is also divided while the vassalage of Pomerania is taken directly by the emperor.

1180 - 1202

German crusaders are sent into the Baltic territories of Latvia and Estonia to ensure the tribes there are Christianised, although the true reason is a land grab.

1190 - 1197

Henry VI

Son. King of Naples & Sicily (1194-1197).

1198 - 1208

[Philip of Swabia]

Rival.

1198 - 1212

Otto IV of Brunswick

Earl of York (1190-1218). Duke of Swabia (1208-1212).

1212 - 1250

Frederick II

King of Naples & Sicily (1197-1250), Duke of Swabia (1212-1216), King of Jerusalem (1225-1228).

1219 - 1227

German prince-bishops consolidate their conquest of the central Baltics (modern Latvia and South Estonia), otherwise known as Livonia, while the Danish kingdom takes North Estonia. In 1227, the overlordship of Pomerania is recovered by the Frederick II from the Danes.

1246 - 1247

[Henry Raspe]

Rival. Last landgrave of Thuringia.

1247 - 1256

[William of Holland]

Rival.

1250 - 1254

Conrad IV

Uncrowned. King of Jerusalem (1228-1254), Duke of Swabia (1235-1254), King of Naples & Sicily (1250-1254).

1254 - 1273

There is an interregnum as East Francia begins a period of collapse. This includes the breakup of stem duchies such as Swabia and Franconia.

1260 - 1274

The Livonian Knights and Teutonic Knights are defeated severely, at the Battle of Durbe in Livonia by the Samogitians. As a result, numerous rebellions break out all across the Baltics, including a general uprising throughout Prussia. The Prussians win several battles against the hard-pressed Knights and by 1264 the situation is critical. Reinforcements arrive from Germany and the Order launches a fresh offensive to end the rebellion by 1274.

Non-Dynastic Emperors
AD 1273 - 1437

1257 - 1272

[Richard of Cornwall]

Candidate.

1257 - 1284

[Alfonso X of Castile]

Elected candidate. Never acceded throne.

1273 - 1291

Rudolf I of Habsburg

Uncrowned. Duke of Austria, Carinthia, & Swabia.

1278

Feeling in the German nobility is against the idea of a successful, conquering Czech king, so they support Rudolf so that he is able to wrest the duchy of Austria from Ottokar, and kill the Przemysl king in battle on the Moravia Field, on the right bank of the River Morava in Austria.

1292 - 1298

Adolf of Nassau

Uncrowned. Count of Nassau-Weilburg.

1306 - 1307

[Rudolph III of Habsburg]

Uncrowned. Duke of Austria. King of Bohemia-Moravia.

1307 - 1308

[Heinrich VI of Kaernten / Tirol]

Uncrowned. King of Bohemia-Moravia.

1298 - 1308

Albert I of Habsburg

Uncrowned. Duke of Austria.

1308 - 1313

Henry VII of Luxembourg

Procured title for his son, who became King John of Bohemia.

1314 - 1347

Louis IV Wittelsbach of Bavaria

m Margaret, Countess of Holland (1324).

1314 - 1322

When Louis IV (Louis the Bavarian) is elected German king in 1314, a minority faction elects Frederick the Fair of Hapsburg as emperor. Louis defeats Frederick in 1322, but the Pope refuses to recognise or crown him, so Louis crowns himself emperor by representatives of the Roman people.

1325 - 1330

[Frederick of Habsburg]

Duke of Austria.

1343

The St George's Day Uprising in Estonia sees a revolt defeated by the Livonian Knights, using a mixture of treachery and battle. Three years later, the Danish king sells North Estonia to the knights. All of Estonia is now ruled by a German nobility class.

1346 - 1347

Pope Clement VI declares Louis IV deposed and secures the election of Charles IV. Louis successfully resists his rival until he dies in a hunting accident.

1347 - 1378

Charles IV of Luxembourg

Grandson of Henry VII. King of Bohemia, Elector of Brandenburg.

1347 - 1349

[Günther of Schwarzburg]

1378 - 1400

Wenzel / Wenceslas of Luxembourg

Son of Charles IV. King Bohemia, Hungary, Elector Brandenburg.

1400 - 1410

Rupert of the Palatinate

Uncrowned.

1410 - 1437

Sigismund of Luxembourg

Son of Charles IV. King of Bohemia, Elector of Brandenburg.

Sigismund marries Mary of Anjou, Queen of Hungary. In 1415 the electorate of Brandenburg is purchased from the Holy Roman Empire by the Hohenzollerns from southern Germany.

1410 - 1411

[Jobst of Moravia]

Rival. Elector of Brandenburg. Duke of Luxembourg.

Habsburg Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (First Reich)
AD 1437 - 1806

1438 - 1439

Albert II

Uncrowned. King of Bohemia. Archduke Albert V of Austria.

1440 - 1493

Frederick III

Last HRE crowned at Rome. Archduke Frederick V of Austria.

1493 - 1519

Maximilian I

Uncrowned. Ruled Belgium, Burgundy, Netherlands & Austria.

1494 - 1495

The county of Holland passes to the son of Emperor Maximilian and Mary of Burgundy, Philip, later king consort of Castile. The following year, an alliance is formed between Naples, the Pope, Milan, Venice, and the emperor in order to defend Italy from Charles VIII of France.

1509

The League of Cambrai is formed with France, Castile, Hungary, the Papal States, the Holy Roman Empire, and Ferrara against Venice. Venice is defeated at Agnadello.

1519 - 1556

Charles V

Charles I of Spain, II of Holland, I of Austria. Abdicated (d.1558).

1519

Charles V is the last emperor to be crowned by the Pope as emperor and king of Italy, the ceremony taking place at Bologna in Italy.

1520 - 1521

The bishopric of Courland is created a prince-bishopric of the Holy Roman Empire in 1520, with this being formalised the following year.

1527

Papal Rome is sacked by an Imperial / Spanish army.

1558 - 1564

Ferdinand I

Uncrowned. Archduke of Austria. King of Bohemia.

1559

The last German bishop of the Estonian bishopric of Ösel-Wiek sells the castle and the town of Kuressaare to the Danes, who also take Courland.

1564 - 1576

Maximilian II

Uncrowned. Archduke of Austria. King of Bohemia.

1562

The German prince-bishops sell off the last of their land in the Baltics, including the bishopric of Ösel-Wiek.

1564

Control of Bohemia, Moravia and Hungary taken fully by the Habsburgs as Holy Roman Emperors, although they still undergo a separate coronation to be confirmed as kings of Bohemia.

1576 - 1612

Rudolf II

Uncrowned. Archduke Frederick V of Austria. King of Bohemia.

1608

The county of Vaduz is elevated to a principality.

1612 - 1619

Matthias

Uncrowned. Archduke of Austria. King of Bohemia.

1619 - 1620

Bohemia falls temporarily outside HRE control, before being fully absorbed into it the following year.

1619 - 1637

Ferdinand II

Uncrowned. Archduke of Austria.

1637 - 1657

Ferdinand III

Uncrowned. Archduke of Austria.

1658 - 1705

Leopold I

Uncrowned. Archduke Leopold VIII of Austria.

1701

The electorate of Brandenburg is elevated to a kingdom.

1705 - 1711

Joseph I

Uncrowned. Archduke of Austria.

1711 - 1740

Charles VI

Uncrowned. Archduke Charles II of Austria.

1719

The principality of Liechtenstein is granted for the new ruling house of the former county of Vaduz.

1740 - 1780

Maria Theresa

Heiress of Austria. Archduchess of Austria.

1740 - 1748

The War of Succession.

1772

The Habsburgs gain parts of Little Poland and Red Ruthenia in southern Poland during the First Partition.

1742 - 1745

Charles VII

Uncrowned. Duke Charles Albert of Bavaria.

1745 - 1765

Francis I of Lorraine

Uncrowned.

1765 - 1790

Joseph II

Uncrowned. Archduke of Austria.

1790 - 1792

Leopold II

Uncrowned. Archduke of Austria. Died suddenly.

1792 - 1806

Francis II

Uncrowned. Archduke Francis of Austria. Last 'Holy Roman' Emperor. Became Francis I of Austria.

1792 - 1793

Following a declaration of war against republican France in 1792, the Habsburgs take part in the Second Partition of Poland-Lithuania in 1793.

1795

The Habsburgs gain Krakow and Little Poland during the Third Partition of Poland-Lithuania.

1806

The year sees the formal end of the Holy Roman Empire (First Reich) as it is dissolved by Emperor Napoleon I of France (the Prussian-led Second Reich forms in 1871). The Habsburg emperors revert to their Austrian title, raising the former archduchy to the status of Austrian empire, as it still holds almost all its eastern territories.