European Kingdoms

Saxon Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire (Kings of Germany)
AD 962 - 1024

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With the accession of the Saxon king of Germany, Otto I, the power of the Germanic Roman empire was confirmed, subsuming previous names including East Francia and the 'Kingdom of Germany'. Formerly Carolingian Italy was also under their mastery as was Corsica, restored to full imperial control. This was the true beginning of a Holy Roman empire centred on Germany, as opposed to the Frankish-centric empire from which it sprang.

Significant central cohesion was achieved in Germany by Otto and his successors in the tenth century. At least partially, this was due to Otto being quite vigorous when it came to establishing new counties and border areas within and without the empire's borders. The county of Ardennes under Sigfried gained the stronghold of Lucilinburhuc in Lorraine, which became known as Luxemburg, a useful buffer against the Western Franks. Arnulf I the Elder was restored in Flanders, another Frankish buffer region. To the east, the March of Austria was formed (or confirmed) from territory which had already bee captured from an early Hungary (around 960). Saxony still maintained a considerable level of autonomy, with Otto appointing Hermann Billung as duke. He was charged with maintaining the duchy's eastern borders and expanding them further to the east, alongside the recently-created North March. Perhaps as a reaction to this or as the culmination of a process that was already heading that way, the duchy of Poland was formed around the same time. Almost instantly, Christianity was accepted there, making it impossible for the Germans to think of launching any military efforts to achieve this.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Sword, Miter, and Cloister: Nobility and the Church in Burgundy, 980-1198, Constance Brittain Bouchard (New York 1987), from Noble Strategies in an Early Modern Small State: The Mahuet of Lorraine, Charles T Lipp, from The History of the Franks, Volume II, Gregory of Tours (O M Dalton, Trans, 1967), from From Roman Provinces to Medieval Kingdoms, Thomas F X Noble, from Popular Revolt, Dynastic Politics, and Aristocratic Factionalism in the Early Middle Ages: The Saxon Stellinga Reconsidered, Eric J Goldberg (Speculum, Vol 70, No 3, Jul 1995), and from External Links: the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, and from Encyclopaedia.com, and Cranach Digital Archive (in German and English), and Special Collections (University of Arizona), and Saints website.)

962 - 974

Succeeded Germanic rulers. King & duke of the Saxons.

963

Following on from a previous appeal from Pope Agapetus II to free the papacy from outside control, Otto has Pope John accused in an ecclesiastical court. The pope is deposed and replaced, but manages to mutilate Otto's representatives in the city and has himself reinstated, albeit temporarily.

Otto I accepts the surrender of Berengar of Ivrea in 961 to become undisputed German emperor, shown in this early thirteenth century text called the Manuscriptum Medioalense

967

Otto I confirms all of Venice's privileges.

973 - 983

976

Henry the Quarrelsome, duke of Bavaria, rebels against Emperor Otto II. As a result, Henry is deprived of his Bavarian title and possessions. Otto I, duke of Swabia is created duke of Bavaria in his place, easily done as Swabia and Bavaria neighbour each other. Carinthia is formally separated from Bavaria by Otto II and made a duchy in its own right - one of many large-scale reorganisations of German lands which also involves the creation of the stem duchies.

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.

980

Notger, a former Benedictine monk of Swabian descent, is appointed by Otto as the first prince-bishop of Liège (see feature link), a tactic to keep out the Carolingian king of the Western Franks who claims the 'Land of Liège' and surrounding regions for his own state.

He is supporting the rebellious local nobility in the diocese which is not prepared to accept the authority of the German kings without some sort of resistance.

982

The Kalbids, raiding into south-western Italy from their emirate on Sicily, are confronted by an army led by Otto II. The Kalbid forces prove their power at this time by defeating their opponents in battle near Crotone in Calabria. Otto I, duke of Swabia, is amongst the defeated nobles, and he also escapes a subsequent Arab ambush. The duke is selected to take the news of the defeat back to Germany but dies en route.

983

The Slavic revolt of the marches sees the Polabian Slavs, plus the Lutici and Obotrite tribes, on the east bank of the Elbe rise up against German overlordship. Faced with a drive to convert them to Christianity as a way of integrating them into the German empire, they take the rare act of organising under Lutici leadership and destroy several churches and settlements. The Saxons are only just able to defend the line of the Elbe, but their 'March of the Billungs' and the North March are lost.

983

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

983 - 1002

Established archbishopric in Poland.

983 - 991

Mother, empress and regent. Died 991.

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.

1001 - 1002

Having taken direct control of Rome in 998, Otto's dream of recreating the Roman empire united together with the Papacy falls apart when the people of Rome revolt against him and force him from the city. He dies on the way back to the city with an army.

1002 - 1024

Duke Henry IV of Bavaria.

1002

Swabia loses Alsace, which is separated from it by Henry II following Duke Herman's opposition to his accession as king and emperor. Herman had seen himself as a suitable candidate for the title and the two houses are now implacable enemies.

Also in 1002, it has become apparent that a ruling duke of Burgundy has failed to produce an heir. However, Duke Otto-Henry does have a stepson by his first wife, Gerberga of Mâcon, widow of Adalbert II of Italy. It is this man, Otto William, who succeeds him, but the supporters of Robert II (the Pious) of Capetian France see an opportunity to oppose him. A two year war of succession results, with the duchy being permanently divided in 1004.

The Free County of Burgundy largely incorporates territory from the kingdom of Burgundy on the east bank of the Saône, but a small portion of the duchy of Burgundy in the north - on the western bank of the Saône - is also incorporated into it, with ultimate control being vested in the kings of Germany and their successors (following the death of its current holder, Otto William, count of Mâcon and Nevers and the new duke of Burgundy). The remainder of the duchy is annexed to France by Robert the Pious.

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).

1015

The Gisonen are a powerful regional family in Hesse that provide the county's titular heads. The names of the counts of Gudensberg ('Comes de Udenesberc' in Latin) are largely known, but their order of succession is relatively unclear. They now become advocates of the empire thanks to Henry II.

A general view of Gudensberg, with the Castle Hill prominent, and Fritzlar in the background from the Sciographia Cosmica, printed between 1637-1678

1018

A peace treaty is signed in Budziszyn with Emperor Heinrich II (Henry II the Saint) - ratifying Poland's control over Lusatia and Meissen (as well as Galicia). In the same year, Germany and Hungary support an expedition against Kyiv, and Boleslaw defeats his son-in-law's enemy there, taking over 'Grody Czerwieńskie'. This is possibly the Cherven towns which include the town of Peremyshl of the Lyachs which had been conquered by St Vladimir the Great of the Rus in 981.

1024

Widow of Henry II and daughter of Sigfried of Luxemburg. Regent.

1024

Brother and co-regent.

1024

Brother and co-regent.

1024

With the death of Henry II, the empire is administered by his widow, Cunigunde. She has long been politically active at Henry's side and now, with the assistance of her brothers, Dietrich and Heinrich, she manages the regency period for about two months until the vacancy on the throne is filled by Conrad the Salian.

Cunigunde hands over the imperial jewels to Conrad as a symbol of her legitimacy in office before retiring to Kaufungen Abbey, which she had previously founded in Hesse. The stage is set for the first of the 'Franconian Emperors'.