Holy Roman Emperor
Charlemagne's imperial title
The Holy Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, a loose confederation of Central European territories that lasted from 800 to 1806.
The title combined Roman imperial tradition with Christian authority, though the empire was famously "neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire." Emperors were typically elected by German princes rather than inheriting the throne: Charles V was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1530.
European imperial dynasty
- CarolingianFrankish royal dynasty
- LuxembourgEuropean grand duchy
- successionFollowing in order
- hereditaryPassed through generations
Medieval papal-royal appointment conflict
- Peace of Westphalia1648 sovereignty-establishing treaties
- Diet of WormsImperial council in Germany
- ReformationReligious movement splitting Christianity
- Thirty Years War1618-1648 European religious conflict
Ceremony installing a sovereign
- reignSovereign's time in power
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- scepterCeremonial staff of sovereignty
- orbLuminous celestial body
regalia · anointment · majesty · crown · sovereignty · legitimacy · investiture · secular
Early medieval Western unifier
- BarbarossaRed-bearded emperor's epithet
- Henry IVFirst Lancastrian ruler
- Henry VIIFirst Tudor monarch
Pope's office and authority
- popeCatholic Church's supreme leader
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- vassalageSubordination to a lord
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
treaties · excommunication · concordat · antipope · spiritual power
Governed territory or sphere
- dominionAuthority to rule
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
- principalityNoble-ruled territory
- electorateEligible voting body
duchy · kingdom · bishopric · free city · vassal · suzerainty
Habsburg
European imperial dynasty
- CarolingianFrankish royal dynasty
- LuxembourgEuropean grand duchy
- successionFollowing in order
Investiture Controversy
Medieval papal-royal appointment conflict
- Peace of Westphalia1648 sovereignty-establishing treaties
- Diet of WormsImperial council in Germany
- ReformationReligious movement splitting Christianity
coronation
Ceremony installing a sovereign
- reignSovereign's time in power
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- scepterCeremonial staff of sovereignty
orb · regalia · anointment · majesty · crown · sovereignty · legitimacy · investiture · secular · temporal
Charlemagne
Early medieval Western unifier
- BarbarossaRed-bearded emperor's epithet
- Henry IVFirst Lancastrian ruler
- Henry VIIFirst Tudor monarch
papacy
Pope's office and authority
- popeCatholic Church's supreme leader
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- vassalageSubordination to a lord
diplomacy · treaties · excommunication · concordat · antipope · spiritual power
Reichstag
German parliamentary assembly
realm
Governed territory or sphere
- dominionAuthority to rule
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
- principalityNoble-ruled territory
electorate · duchy · kingdom · bishopric · free city · vassal · suzerainty
- CharlemagneFranks
- Medieval GermanyCharlemagne, Franconia, guild system, Swabia, feudalism
- German RoyaltyKaiser Wilhelm, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Wilhelm II, Frederick the Great, Crown Prince
- Royal Electionselectoral college