List of German monarchs

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List of German monarchs

This article lists the German monarchs, ruling over the territory of Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
from the creation of a separate Eastern Frankish Kingdom in 843 until the end of German monarchy in 1918.

The relationship between the title of "king" and "emperor

Emperor

An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress is the female equivalent. As a title, "empress" may indicate the wife of an emperor or a woman who rules in her own right ....
" in the area that is today called Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
is just as complicated as the history and the structure of the Holy Roman Empire

Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was a union of territories in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and the Early modern Europe under a Holy Roman Emperor....
itself. The following remarks may clarify things a little (for details, refer to the Holy Roman Empire

Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was a union of territories in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and the Early modern Europe under a Holy Roman Emperor....
article):

The Holy Roman Empire (although only titled as such much later) started when Charlemagne

Charlemagne

Charlemagne was List of Frankish kings from 768 to his death. He expanded the Franks kingdoms into a Carolingian Empire that incorporated much of Western Europe and Central Europe....
, King of the Franks and the Lombards was crowned Emperor of the Romans in 800.

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Encyclopedia

This article lists the German monarchs, ruling over the territory of Germany

Germany

Emperor

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
is just as complicated as the history and the structure of the Holy Roman Empire

Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was a union of territories in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and the Early modern Europe under a Holy Roman Emperor....
article):

The Holy Roman Empire (although only titled as such much later) started when Charlemagne
Charlemagne

Charlemagne was List of Frankish kings from 768 to his death. He expanded the Franks kingdoms into a Carolingian Empire that incorporated much of Western Europe and Central Europe....
, King of the Franks and the Lombards was crowned Emperor of the Romans in 800. The Kingdom of Germany started out as the eastern section of the Frankish kingdom
Franks

The Franks or Frankish people were a West Germanic ethnic group first identified in the 3rd century as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River....
, which was split by the Treaty of Verdun
Treaty of Verdun

In the Treaty of Verdun-sur-Meuse of 843 the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, Charlemagne's grandsons, divided his territories, the Frankish Empire, into three kingdoms....
in 843. The rulers of the eastern area thus called themselves rex Francorum, king of the Franks, and later just rex. A reference to the "Germans", indicating the emergence of a German nation of some sort, did not appear until the eleventh century, when the pope referred to his enemy Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor

Henry IV was King of Germany 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....
as rex teutonicorum, King of the Teutons
Teutons

The Teutons or Teutones were mentioned as a Germanic tribe by Greece and Roman Empire authors, notably Strabo and Marcus Velleius Paterculus and normally in close connection with the Cimbri, whose ethnicity is contested between Gauls and Germani....
, in order to brand him as a foreigner. The kings reacted by consistently using the title rex Romanorum, King of the Romans
King of the Romans

King of the Romans was the title used by the Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, the Imperator futurus prior to his imperial coronation performed by the Pope, ....
, to emphasize their universal rule even before becoming Emperor. This title remained until the end of the Empire in 1806 (but in this and related entries, the kings are called kings of Germany, for clarity's sake.)
The Kingdom of Germany
Kingdom of Germany

The Kingdom of Germany grew out of East Francia in the tenth century.The eastern partition of the Treaty of Verdun of 843 was never entirely Frankish and consisted also of large populations of Saxons, Bavarii, Thuringii, Alemanni and Frisii....
was never entirely hereditary; instead, ancestry was only one of the factors that determined the succession of kings. The king was formally elected by the leading nobility in the realm, continuing the Frankish tradition. Gradually the election became the privilege of a group of princes called Electors
Prince-elector

The Prince-Electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of Imperial election the Holy Roman Emperors....
and the Golden Bull of 1356
Golden Bull of 1356

The Golden Bull of 1356 was a decree issued by a Reichstag in Nuremberg headed by Emperor Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor that fixed, for a period of more than four hundred years, important aspects of the constitutional structure of the Holy Roman Empire....
formally defined election proceedings.
In the Middle Ages, the King did not assume the title "Emperor" (since 982 the full title was Imperator Augustus Romanorum, Venerable Emperor of the Romans) until crowned by the Pope. He also had to be crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy
Iron Crown of Lombardy

The Iron Crown of Lombardy is both a relic and one of the most ancient royal insignia of Europe. It is kept in the Monza Cathedral near Milan....
, after which he assumed the title of rex Italicum, King of Italy
King of Italy

King of Italy is a title adopted by many rulers of the Italian peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire. Until 1870, however, no ?King of Italy? ruled the whole peninsula, though some pretended to such authority....
. After this he would ride on to Rome
Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
and be crowned Emperor by the Pope.
Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor

Maximilian I of Habsburg was Holy Roman Empire from 1508 until his death, but had ruled jointly with his father for the last ten years of his reign, from circa 1483....
was the first King to bear the title of Emperor-Elect. After the failure in 1508 of his attempt to march to Rome
Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
and be crowned by the Pope, he had himself proclaimed Emperor-elect with papal consent. His successor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I of Spain, of the Spanish realms from 1516 until his abdication in 1556....
also assumed that title after his coronation in 1520 until he was crowned Emperor by the Pope in 1530. From Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

Ferdinand I was a Central European monarch from the Habsburg. He was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558, King of Bohemia and King of Hungary and Croatia from 1526....
onwards, all Emperors were merely Emperors-Elect, although they were normally referred to as Emperors. At the same time, chosen successors of the Emperors were called King of the Romans, if elected by the college of Electors during their predecessor's lifetime.

Eastern Frankish Kingdom, later the German Kingdom, 843-1806

This section covers the Eastern Frankish Kingdom, the eastern portion of the Frankish Empire

Carolingian Empire

Carolingian Empire is a historiography term sometimes used to refer to the Francia under the Carolingian dynasty. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany....
after its partition by the Treaty of Verdun

Treaty of Verdun

In the Treaty of Verdun-sur-Meuse of 843 the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, Charlemagne's grandsons, divided his territories, the Frankish Empire, into three kingdoms....
in 843. Later it became known as the Kingdom of Germany

Kingdom of Germany

The Kingdom of Germany grew out of East Francia in the tenth century.The eastern partition of the Treaty of Verdun of 843 was never entirely Frankish and consisted also of large populations of Saxons, Bavarii, Thuringii, Alemanni and Frisii....
, which was the chief (and then sole) component of the Holy Roman Empire (of the German Nation)

Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was a union of territories in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and the Early modern Europe under a Holy Roman Emperor....
.

The German Kingdom comprised the territory of modern Germany

Germany

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It borders both Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west....
, Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked Swiss Alps country of roughly 7.7 million people in Western Europe with an area of 41,285 km?. Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26 states called Cantons of Switzerland....
, Czech Republic

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east....
, Slovenia

Slovenia

Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north....
, the Low Countries

Low Countries

The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the country on low-lying land around the river delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse River rivers....
, as well as parts of modern France

France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
and Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian Enclave and exclave, to the north....
.

Kings

Emperors are listed in bold.

Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
Louis the German Louis the German Louis the German , was a grandson of Charlemagne and the third son of the succeeding Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye.... (Ludwig II der Deutsche)	Carolingian Carolingian File:Charlemagne denier Mayence 812 814.jpgThe Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century....	11 August 843	—	23 August 876	Son of Emperor Louis the Pious Louis the Pious Louis the Pious , also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was the King of Aquitaine from 781 and Holy Roman Emperor and King of the Franks with his father, Charlemagne, from 813....
Louis the Younger Louis the Younger Louis the Younger , sometimes Louis III, was the second eldest of the three sons of Louis the German and Hemma. He succeeded his father as the List of German monarchs on 28 August 876 and his elder brother Carloman of Bavaria as Rulers of Bavaria from 880.... (Ludwig III der Jüngere)	Carolingian Carolingian File:Charlemagne denier Mayence 812 814.jpgThe Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century....	28 August 876	—	20 January 882	Son of Louis the German; ruled in East Francia, Saxony Duchy of Saxony The medi?val Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein.... , from 880 also Bavaria
Carloman Carloman of Bavaria Carloman, was the eldest son of Louis the German, king of East Francia , and Hemma, daughter of the count Welf. He was duke of Bavaria from 876 and of Italy from 877 until he was incapacitated in 879 and died in 880.... (Karlmann)	Carolingian Carolingian File:Charlemagne denier Mayence 812 814.jpgThe Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century....	28 August 876	—	22 March 880	Son of Louis the German; ruled in Bavaria; from 877 also King of Italy
Charles the Fat Charles the Fat Charles the Fat was the Duke of Swabia from 876, King of Italy from 879, Carolingian Empire from 881, King of Germany from 882, and King of France from 884.... (Karl III. der Dicke)	Carolingian Carolingian File:Charlemagne denier Mayence 812 814.jpgThe Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century....	28 August 876	12 February 881	11 November 887	Son of Louis the German; ruled in Alemannia, Raetia, from 882 in the entire Eastern Kingdom
Arnulf of Carinthia Arnulf of Carinthia Arnulf of Carinthia was the Carolingian King of Germany from 887 and Holy Roman Emperor from 896 until his death. He was the illegitimate son of Carloman, King of Bavaria, and his concubine, Liutswind, of Carantanians origin, daughter of one Count Ernst.... (Arnulf von Kärnten)	Carolingian Carolingian File:Charlemagne denier Mayence 812 814.jpgThe Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century....	30 November 887	25 April 896	8 December 899	Son of Carloman
Louis the Child Louis the Child Louis the Child , sometimes called Louis IV or Louis III, was the last Carolingians ruler of East Francia.He was the only legitimate son of the Arnulf of Carinthia and his wife, Ota, wife of Arnulf of Carinthia, a member of the Conradines.... (Ludwig IV das Kind)	Carolingian Carolingian File:Charlemagne denier Mayence 812 814.jpgThe Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century....	21 January 900	—	20 August 911	Son of Arnulf of Carinthia
Conrad I Conrad I of Germany Conrad I , called the Younger, was duke of Franconia from 906 and king of Germany from 911 to 918, the only king of the Conradine dynasty.... (Konrad I)	Conradine (Franconian)	10 November 911	—	23 December 918
Henry I the Fowler (Heinrich I der Vogler)	Liudolfing (Saxon) Ottonian The Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , named after its first emperor but also known as the Saxon dynasty after the family's origin....	23 April 919	—	2 July 936
Arnulf the Bad Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria Arnulf , called the Bad or the Evil , was the duke of Bavaria from 907 until his death. He was a member of the Luitpolding dynasty.... (Arnulf der Böse, Herzog von Bayern)	Luitpolding (Bavarian) Luitpolding The Luitpolding was a medieval dynasty which ruled Duchy of Bavaria from some time in the late ninth century off and on until 985. The founder of the family was Luitpold, Margrave of Bavaria, a Bavarian margrave who died in 907....	919	—	921	Rival king to Henry I
Otto I the Great Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor Otto I the Great , son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duchy 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.... (Otto I der Große)	Liudolfing Ottonian The Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , named after its first emperor but also known as the Saxon dynasty after the family's origin....	7 August 936	2 February 962	7 May 973	Son of Henry I; first king crowned in Aachen Cathedral Aachen Cathedral Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St.... since Lothair I Lothair I Lothair I , king of Italy and crowned Carolingian Empire King of Italy, Emperor of the Romans and was Empire of the Franks .Lothair was the eldest son of the Carolingian emperor Louis the Pious and his wife Ermengarde of Hesbaye, daughter of Ingerman of Hesbaye, duke of Hesbaye.... ; crowned Holy Roman Emperor Holy Roman Emperor Image:HRR 14Jh.jpgThe Roman of the Emperor's title was a reflection of the translatio imperii principle that regarded the Holy Roman Emperors as the inheritors of the title of Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, a title left unclaimed in the West after the death of Julius Nepos in 480.... in 961.
Otto II the Red Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor Otto II , called the Red, was the third ruler of the Saxony or Ottonian dynasty, the son of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor and Adelaide of Italy.... (Otto II)	Liudolfing Ottonian The Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , named after its first emperor but also known as the Saxon dynasty after the family's origin....	26 May 961	25 December 967	7 December 983	Son of Otto I; King of Germany under his father 961–973; also crowned Emperor Holy Roman Emperor Image:HRR 14Jh.jpgThe Roman of the Emperor's title was a reflection of the translatio imperii principle that regarded the Holy Roman Emperors as the inheritors of the title of Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, a title left unclaimed in the West after the death of Julius Nepos in 480.... in his father's lifetime
Otto III Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor Otto III was the fourth ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire. He was elected king of Germany in 983 on the death of his father Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor.... (Otto III)	Liudolfing	25 December 983	21 May 996	21 January 1002	Son of Otto II
Henry II Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor Saint Henry II , called the Holy or the Saint, was the fifth and last Holy Roman Empire of the Ottonian dynasty from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later.... (Heinrich II der Heilige)	Liudolfing Ottonian The Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , named after its first emperor but also known as the Saxon dynasty after the family's origin....	7 June 1002	26 April 1014	13 July 1024	Great-grandson of Henry I
Conrad II Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II was the son of a mid-level nobleman in Franconia, Henry of Speyer and Adelaide of Alsace, who inherited the titles of count of Speyer and of Worms, Germany as an infant when Henry died at age twenty.... (Konrad II)	Salian (Frankish) Salian dynasty The Salian dynasty was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages of four List of German Kings and Emperors#Kings , also known as the Frankish dynasty after the family's origin and role as dukes of Franconia....	8 September 1024	26 March 1027	4 June 1039	Great-great-grandson of Otto I
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 Empire. He was the eldest son of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor and Gisela of Swabia and his father made him duke of Bavaria in 1026, after the death of Henry V, Duke of Bavaria.... (Heinrich III)	Salian Salian dynasty The Salian dynasty was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages of four List of German Kings and Emperors#Kings , also known as the Frankish dynasty after the family's origin and role as dukes of Franconia....	14 April 1028	25 December 1046	5 October 1056	Son of Conrad II; King of Germany under his father 1028–1039
Henry IV Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV was King of Germany 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.... (Heinrich IV)	Salian Salian dynasty The Salian dynasty was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages of four List of German Kings and Emperors#Kings , also known as the Frankish dynasty after the family's origin and role as dukes of Franconia....	17 July 1054	21 March 1084	31 December 1105	Son of Henry III; King of Germany under his father 1054–1056
Rudolf von Rheinfeld (Rudolf von Rheinfelden)	Rheinfeld	15 March 1077	—	15 October 1080	Rival King to Henry IV
Hermann von Salm (Hermann von Luxemburg, Graf von Salm)	Salm	6 August 1081	—	28 September 1088	Rival King to Henry IV
Conrad (Konrad)	Salian Salian dynasty The Salian dynasty was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages of four List of German Kings and Emperors#Kings , also known as the Frankish dynasty after the family's origin and role as dukes of Franconia....	30 May 1087	—	27 July 1101	Son of Henry IV; King of Germany under his father 1087–1098, King of Italy 1093–1098, 1095–1101 in rebellion.
Henry V Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Empire , 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.... (Heinrich V)	Salian Salian dynasty The Salian dynasty was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages of four List of German Kings and Emperors#Kings , also known as the Frankish dynasty after the family's origin and role as dukes of Franconia....	6 January 1099	13 April 1111	23 May 1125	Son of Henry IV; King of Germany under his father 1099–1105, forced his father to abdicate.
Lothair III Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor Lothair III of Supplinburg , was rulers of Saxony , King of Germany , and Holy Roman Emperor from 1133 to 1137. He was the son of Count Gebhard of Supplingburg.... (Lothar III)	Supplinburger	30 August 1125	4 June 1133	4 December 1137
Conrad III Conrad III of Germany Conrad III was the first List of German monarchs of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes of Germany, a daughter of the Salian Dynasty Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor.... (Conrad III)	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	7 March 1138	—	15 February 1152	Grandson of Henry IV; Previously Rival King to Lothair III 1127–1135
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.... (Heinrich (VI))	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	30 March 1147	—	August? 1150	Son of Conrad III; King of Germany under his father 1147–1150
Frederick I Barbarossa Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt am Main on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1154, and finally crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV on 18 June 1155.... (Friedrich I Barbarossa)	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	4 March 1152	18 June 1155	10 June 1190	Nephew of Conrad III
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.... (Heinrich VI)	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	15 August 1169	14 April 1191	28 September 1197	Son of Frederick I; King of Germany under his father 1169–1190
Frederick II Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II , of the House of Hohenstaufen dynasty, was an Kingdom of Italy pretender to the title of King of the Romans from 1212 and unopposed holder of that monarchy from 1215.... (Friedrich II)	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	1197	—	1197	Son of Henry VI; King of Germany under his father 1196
Philip of Swabia Philip of Swabia Philip of Swabia was king of Germany and duke of Swabia, the rival of the emperor Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor.... (Philipp von Schwaben)	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	6 March 1198	—	21 August 1208	Son of Frederick I; Rival king to Otto IV
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 was deposed in 1215.... (Otto IV von Braunschweig)	Welf Welf The House of Welf is a European dynasty that has included many Germany and United Kingdom monarchs from the 11th to 20th century.The House of Welf is the older branch of the House of Este, a dynasty whose oldest known members lived in Lombardy in the 9th century....	29 March 1198	4 October 1209	5 July 1215	Rival king to Philip of Swabia; later opposed by Frederick II Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II , of the House of Hohenstaufen dynasty, was an Kingdom of Italy pretender to the title of King of the Romans from 1212 and unopposed holder of that monarchy from 1215.... ; deposed 1215; died 19 May 1218
Frederick II Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II , of the House of Hohenstaufen dynasty, was an Kingdom of Italy pretender to the title of King of the Romans from 1212 and unopposed holder of that monarchy from 1215.... (Friedrich II)	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	5 December 1212	22 November 1220	26 December 1250	Son of Henry VI; Rival king to Otto IV until 5 July 1215
Henry Henry (VII) of Germany Henry VII was King of Sicily from 1212, King of Germany from 1220, and Duke of Swabia from 1216. He was the son and co-king of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and elder brother of Conrad IV of Germany.... (Heinrich (VII.))	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	23 April 1220	—	15 August 1235	Son of Frederick II; King of Germany under his father 1220–1235
Conrad IV Conrad IV of Germany Conrad IV was Kingdom of Jerusalem , of King of Germany , and of King of Sicily .... (Konrad IV)	Hohenstaufen Hohenstaufen The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of List of German Kings and Emperors , many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Duke of Swabia....	May 1237	—	1 May 1254	Son of Frederick II; King of Germany under his father 1237–1250
Henry Raspe Heinrich Raspe Henry Raspe succeeded Hermann II, Landgraf of Thuringia as Landgrave of Thuringia in central Germany in 1241; he later was elected anti-king in 1246-1247 in opposition to Conrad IV of Germany.... (Heinrich Raspe)	Thuringia	22 May 1246	—	16 February 1247	Rival King to Frederick II
William of Holland (Wilhelm von Holland)	Holland	3 October 1247	—	28 January 1256	Rival King to Frederick II and Conrad IV, 1247–1254
Richard of Cornwall (Richard von Cornwall)	Plantagenet	13 January 1257	—	2 April 1272	Rival king to Alfonso of Castile; held no real authority.
Alfonso of Castile Alfonso X of Castile Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the Kingdom of Castile, Kingdom of Le?n and Kingdom of Galicia from 1252 until his death. He also was elected List of German monarchs in 1257, though the Papacy prevented his confirmation.... (Alfons von Kastilien)	House of Burgundy Anscarids The Anscarids or Anscarii or the House of Ivrea were a medieval Franks dynasty of Kingdom of Burgundy origin which rose to prominence in Italy in the tenth century, even briefly holding the Regnum Italicum....	1 April 1257	—	1275	Grandson of Philip; Rival king to Richard of Cornwall; held no authority; later opposed by Rudolf I; relinquished claims 1275, died 1284
Rudolf I Rudolph I of Germany Rudolph I, also known as Rudolph of Habsburg May 1, 1218 – July 15, 1291) was King of the Romans from 1273 until his death. He played a vital role in raising the Habsburg family to a leading position among the Germany feudal dynasties.... (Rudolf I von Habsburg)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	29 September 1273	—	15 July 1291
Adolf of Nassau Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg Adolf was the King of Germany from 1292 until 1298. Though his title in his lifetime was Rex Romanorum , he is usually known as Adolf of Nassau.... (Adolf von Nassau)	Nassau House of Nassau The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....	5 May 1292	—	23 June 1298	According to some historians, Adolf's election was preceded by the short-lived kingship of Conrad, Duke of Teck Conrad II of Teck Conrad II of Teck was Duke of Teck.Conrad was a descendant of the Z?hringen family and a close follower of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He served the Hohenstaufen claimant Conradin until the latter was executed in 1268.... . See his article for details.
Albert I Albert I of Germany Albrecht I of Habsburg , sometimes named as Albert I, was King of the Romans, Duke of Duchy of Austria, and eldest son of German King Rudolph I of Habsburg and Gertrude of Hohenburg.... (Albrecht I von Habsburg)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	24 June 1298	—	1 May 1308	Son of Rudolf I; Rival King to Adolf of Nassau, 1298
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. During his brief career he reinvigorated the imperial cause in Kingdom of Italy and inspired the praise of Dino Compagni and Dante Alighieri.... (Heinrich VII, Luxemburger)	Luxembourg House of Luxembourg The House of Luxembourg was a medi?val Luxembourgian noble family. In 1308, Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, Counts, Dukes and Grand Dukes of Luxembourg, became German king, his son, John of Luxembourg, shortly afterwards received the Bohemian monarchs....	27 November 1308	13 June 1311	24 August 1313
Louis IV Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the Duke of Bavaria from 1294/1301 together with his brother Rudolf I, Duke of Bavaria, Electoral Palatinate until 1329, King of Germany from 1314, and Holy Roman Empire from 1328.... (Ludwig IV., der Bayer, Wittelsbacher)	Wittelsbach Wittelsbach The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a Germany dynasty from Bavaria. Their major principal roles were as List of rulers of Bavaria , Electoral Palatinate , List of rulers of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, County of Hainaut and Zeeland , List of bishops and archbishops of Cologne , Duchy of J?lich and Berg , Kings of Sweden...	20 October 1314	17 January 1328	11 October 1347	Grandson of Rudolf I; Rival king to Frederick the Fair 1314–1322
Frederick the Fair Frederick I of Austria (Habsburg) Frederick the Handsome or the Fair , from the House of Habsburg, was the Duke of Austria as Frederick I and King of Germany as Frederick III.... (Friedrich der Schöne, Habsburger)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	19 October 1314/ 5 September 1325	—	28 September 1322/ 13 January 1330	Son of Albert I; Rival king to Louis IV 1314–1322; associate king with Louis IV 1325–1330
Charles IV Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the eleventh king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and Holy Roman Emperor.He was the eldest son and heir of John of Bohemia, who died on 26 August 1346, thus Charles inherited the Count of Luxembourg and the King of Bohemia.... (Karl IV. von Luxemburg)	Luxembourg House of Luxembourg The House of Luxembourg was a medi?val Luxembourgian noble family. In 1308, Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, Counts, Dukes and Grand Dukes of Luxembourg, became German king, his son, John of Luxembourg, shortly afterwards received the Bohemian monarchs....	11 July 1346	5 April 1355	29 November 1378	Grandson of Henry VII; Rival king to Louis IV, 1346–1347
Günther von Schwarzburg Günther von Schwarzburg G?nther von Schwarzburg , King of Germany, was a descendant of the counts of Schwarzburg and the younger son of Henry VII, count of Blankenburg.... (Günther von Schwarzburg)	Schwarzburg House of Schwarzburg The House of Schwarzburg was one of the oldest noble families of Thuringia, until its extinction in 1971 with the death of Friedrich G?nther, Prince of Schwarzburg....	30 January 1349	—	24 May 1349	Rival King to Charles IV
Wenceslaus Wenceslaus, King of the Romans Wenceslaus , was, by election, List of German monarchs from 1376 and, by inheritance, List of rulers of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the House of Luxembourg.... (Wenzel von Luxemburg)	Luxembourg House of Luxembourg The House of Luxembourg was a medi?val Luxembourgian noble family. In 1308, Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, Counts, Dukes and Grand Dukes of Luxembourg, became German king, his son, John of Luxembourg, shortly afterwards received the Bohemian monarchs....	10 June 1376	—	20 August 1400	Son of Charles IV; King of Germany under his father 1376–1378; deposed 1400; died 1419
Frederick of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Friedrich von Braunschweig und Lüneburg, Welfe)	Brunswick-Lüneburg Brunswick-Lüneburg Brunswick-L?neburg was a historical duchy during the period from the late Middle Ages through the late Early Modern era within the North-Western domains of the Holy Roman Empire....	1400	—	1400
Rupert of Palatinate Rupert of Germany Rupert of Germany of the house of Wittelsbach , he was the son of Rupert II, Elector Palatine of the Rhine and Beatrix of Sicily. Rupert was a great-grandnephew of Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor.... (Ruprecht von der Pfalz, Wittelsbacher)	Wittelsbach Wittelsbach The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a Germany dynasty from Bavaria. Their major principal roles were as List of rulers of Bavaria , Electoral Palatinate , List of rulers of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, County of Hainaut and Zeeland , List of bishops and archbishops of Cologne , Duchy of J?lich and Berg , Kings of Sweden...	21 August 1400	—	18 May 1410	Great-grandnephew of Louis IV
Sigismund Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund was Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, and the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also one of the longest ruling King of Hungary, reigning for fifty years from 1387 to 1437.... (Sigismund von Luxemburg)	Luxembourg House of Luxembourg The House of Luxembourg was a medi?val Luxembourgian noble family. In 1308, Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, Counts, Dukes and Grand Dukes of Luxembourg, became German king, his son, John of Luxembourg, shortly afterwards received the Bohemian monarchs....	20 September 1410/ 21 July 1411	3 May 1433	9 December 1437	Son of Charles IV
Jobst of Moravia Jobst of Moravia Jobst of Moravia was born in 1351 as the eldest son of John Henry, Margrave of Moravia, margrave of Moravia, the brother of Emperor Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor.... (Jobst von Mähren, Luxemburger)	Luxembourg House of Luxembourg The House of Luxembourg was a medi?val Luxembourgian noble family. In 1308, Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, Counts, Dukes and Grand Dukes of Luxembourg, became German king, his son, John of Luxembourg, shortly afterwards received the Bohemian monarchs....	1 October 1410	—	8 January 1411	Nephew of Charles IV; Rival King to Sigismund
Albert II (Albrecht II)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	18 March 1438	—	27 October 1439	4th in descent from Albert I; son-in-law of Sigismund
Frederick III Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg was elected as King of the Romans as the successor of Albert II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1440.Born in Innsbruck, he was the son of Duke Ernest of Austria from the Leopoldinian line of the Habsburg family ruling Inner Austria, i.e.... (Friedrich III)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	2 February 1440	16 March 1452	19 August 1493	4th in descent from Albert I; 2nd cousin of Albert II
Maximilian I Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg was Holy Roman Empire from 1508 until his death, but had ruled jointly with his father for the last ten years of his reign, from circa 1483.... (Maximilian I)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	16 February 1486	4 February 1508 Emperor-elect	12 January 1519	Son of Frederick III; King of Germany under his father 1486–1493; adopted the title Emperor-elect in 1508 with the Pope's approval
Charles V Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I of Spain, of the Spanish realms from 1516 until his abdication in 1556.... (Karl V)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	28 June 1519	24 February 1530	16 January 1556	Grandson of Maximilian I; died 21 September 1558
Ferdinand I Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I was a Central European monarch from the Habsburg. He was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558, King of Bohemia and King of Hungary and Croatia from 1526.... (Ferdinand I)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	5 January 1531	14 March 1558 Emperor-elect	25 July 1564	Grandson of Maximilian I; brother of Charles V; King of Germany under his brother Charles V 1531–1556; last king to be crowned in Aachen Cathedral Aachen Cathedral Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St.... .
Maximilian II Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II was king of Bohemia from 1562, king of Hungary from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1564 and king of the Romans until his death.... (Maximilian II)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	22 November 1562	25 July 1564 Emperor-elect	12 October 1576	Son of Ferdinand I; King of Germany under his father 1562–1564
Rudolf II Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II , Holy Roman Emperor as Rudolf II , King of Hungary as Rudolf , King of Bohemia as Rudolf II and Archduke of Austria as Rudolf V . He was a member of the Habsburg family.... (Rudolf II)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	27 October 1575	2 November 1576 Emperor-elect	20 January 1612	Son of Maximilian II; King of Germany under his father, 1575–1576
Matthias Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor Matthias of the House of Habsburg, Holy Roman Emperor , King of Kingdom of Hungary , King of Bohemia .Matthias was born in the Archduchy of Austrian capital of Vienna to Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria of Spain.... (Matthias)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	13 June 1612	13 June 1612 Emperor-elect	20 March 1619	Son of Maximilian II
Ferdinand II Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II , of the House of Habsburg, Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , King of Hungary .... (Ferdinand II)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	28 August 1618	20 March 1619 Emperor-elect	15 February 1637	Grandson of Ferdinand I;
Ferdinand III Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor February 15, 1637 – 1657. King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, Archduke of Austria, King of the Romans.... (Ferdinand III)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	22 December 1636	15 February 1637 Emperor-elect	2 April 1657	Son of Ferdinand II; King of Germany under his father 1636–1637
Ferdinand IV (Ferdinand IV)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	31 May 1653	—	9 July 1654	Son of Ferdinand III; King of Germany under his father
Leopold I Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor Habsburg , Holy Roman emperor, King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, was the second son of the emperor Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and his first wife Maria Anna of Spain.... (Leopold I)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	18 July 1658	18 July 1658 Emperor-elect	5 May 1705	Son of Ferdinand III
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 Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor and his third wife, Eleonore-Magdalena of Pfalz-Neuburg, who was the daughter of Philipp Wilhelm, Elector Palatine.... (Joseph I)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	23 January 1690	5 May 1705 Emperor-elect	17 April 1711	Son of Leopold I; King of Germany under his father 1690–1705
Charles VI Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI was Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary from 1711 to 1740, Archduke of Austria. From 1703 to 1711 he was an active claimant to the List of Spanish monarchs as Charles III.... (Karl VI)	Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg was an important royal house of Europe and is best known as supplying all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1452 and 1740, as well as rulers of Spanish Empire and the Austrian Empire....	27 October 1711	27 October 1711 Emperor-elect	20 October 1740	Son of Leopold I
Charles VII Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor Emperor Charles VII Albert , a member of the Wittelsbach family, was Prince-elector of Bavaria from 1726 and Holy Roman Emperor from January 24, 1742 until his death in 1745.... (Karl VII)	Wittelsbach Wittelsbach The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a Germany dynasty from Bavaria. Their major principal roles were as List of rulers of Bavaria , Electoral Palatinate , List of rulers of Brandenburg , Counts of Holland, County of Hainaut and Zeeland , List of bishops and archbishops of Cologne , Duchy of J?lich and Berg , Kings of Sweden...	14 January 1742	14 January 1742 Emperor-elect	20 January 1745	Husband of Maria Amalia Maria Amalia of Austria Maria Amalia of Austria was the daughter of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor and Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick, daughter of John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-L?neburg.... , daughter of Joseph I
Francis I Stephan 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 of Austria, he was the founder of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty.... (Franz I)	Lorraine	13 September 1745	13 September 1745 Emperor-elect	18 August 1765	Husband of Maria Theresa Maria Theresa of Austria Maria Theresa was the List of rulers of Austria, List of rulers of Hungary, List of rulers of Croatia, Queen of Bohemia, Grand Duchy of Tuscany and a Holy Roman Emperor by marriage to Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor.... , daughter of Charles VI
Joseph II Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and her husband, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor.... (Joseph II)	Habsburg-Lorraine	27 March 1764	18 August 1765 Emperor-elect	20 February 1790	Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa; King of Germany under his father 1764–1765
Leopold II Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II , born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was Holy Roman Emperor from 1790 to 1792, King of Hungary, archduke of Austria, and Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790.... (Leopold II)	Habsburg-Lorraine	30 September 1790	30 September 1790 Emperor-elect	1 March 1792	Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa
Francis II (Franz II)	Habsburg-Lorraine	7 July 1792	7 July 1792 Emperor-elect	6 August 1806	Son of Leopold II; Dissolved the Holy Roman Empire; also Emperor of Austria Emperor of Austria The phrase *Emperor of Austria* describes an hereditary imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Austria Habsburg Holy Roman Empire Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and continually held by him and his immediate successors until the Habsburg dynasty was overthrown in 1918.... 1804–1835; died 1835

Imperial vicars

During interregna

Interregnum

An interregnum is a period of discontinuity of a government, organization, or social order. Archetypally, it was the period of time between the reign of one monarch and the next , and the concepts of interregnum and Regent therefore overlap....
, imperial authority was exercised by two imperial vicar

Imperial vicar

An Imperial vicar was a prince charged with administering all or part of the Holy Roman Empire on behalf of the Emperor. In the Empire's early centuries, imperial vicars were appointed from time to time to administer one of the Empire's constituent kingdoms of Germany, Italy or Arles....
s — the Elector of Saxony, in his role as Count Palatine of Saxony exercised this office in northern Germany, and the Elector Palatine, as Count Palatine of the Rhine, exercised it in southern Germany. The confusion over the Palatine electorate during the Thirty Years War and after led to some confusion about who the rightful vicar was in the later years of the Empire.

German confederations, 1806-1871

Confederation of the Rhine
Confederation of the Rhine

The Confederation of the Rhine or Rhine Confederation was a client state of the First French Empire. It was formed initially from 16 German states by Napoleon I of France after he defeated Austria's Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and Russia's Alexander I of Russia in the Battle of Austerlitz....
, 1806-1813

Name	Title	House	Began	Ended
Napoleon I Napoleon I of France Napoleon Bonaparte later known as Emperor Napoleon I, was a military and political leader of France whose actions shaped European politics in the early 19th century.... , Emperor of the French (Napoléon I, Kaiser der Franzosen)	Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine	Bonaparte Bonaparte The House of Bonaparte is an imperial and royal European dynasty. Founded by Napoleon I of France in 1804, a Corsican military leader who rose to notability out of the French Revolution, transforming the First French Republic into the First French Empire within five years of his coup d'?tat....	25 July 1806	19 October 1813

German Confederation
German Confederation

The German Confederation was the association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to serve as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806....
, 1815-1866

Name	Title	House	Began	Ended
Francis I, Emperor of Austria Emperor of Austria The phrase *Emperor of Austria* describes an hereditary imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Austria Habsburg Holy Roman Empire Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and continually held by him and his immediate successors until the Habsburg dynasty was overthrown in 1918.... (Franz I, Kaiser von Österreich)	President of the German Confederation	Habsburg-Lorraine	20 June 1815	2 March 1835
Ferdinand I Ferdinand I of Austria Ferdinand I was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, King of Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, King of Bohemia. He chose to abdicate, after a series of revolts in 1848.... , Emperor of Austria Emperor of Austria The phrase *Emperor of Austria* describes an hereditary imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Austria Habsburg Holy Roman Empire Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and continually held by him and his immediate successors until the Habsburg dynasty was overthrown in 1918.... (Ferdinand I, Kaiser von Österreich)	President of the German Confederation	Habsburg-Lorraine	2 March 1835	12 July 1848
Archduke Johann of Austria Archduke Johann of Austria Archduke John of Austria was the thirteenth child of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Louisa of Spain. His son from a morganatic marriage was Franz von Meran....	Imperial Vicar Imperial vicar An Imperial vicar was a prince charged with administering all or part of the Holy Roman Empire on behalf of the Emperor. In the Empire's early centuries, imperial vicars were appointed from time to time to administer one of the Empire's constituent kingdoms of Germany, Italy or Arles....	Habsburg-Lorraine	12 July 1848	20 December 1849
Frederick William IV Frederick William IV of Prussia King Frederick William IV of Prussia , the eldest son and successor of Frederick William III of Prussia, reigned as King of Prussia from 1840 to 1861.... , King of Prussia King of Prussia King of Prussia may refer to:* A ruler of the former German state of Prussia*List of rulers of Prussia King of Prussia, Pennsylvania* King of Prussia Mall... (Friedrich Wilhelm IV, König von Preußen)	Emperor of the Germans elect	Hohenzollern	elected Emperor of the Germans by the Frankfurt Assembly on 28 March 1849, but refused the crown on 3 April 1849
Frederick William IV Frederick William IV of Prussia King Frederick William IV of Prussia , the eldest son and successor of Frederick William III of Prussia, reigned as King of Prussia from 1840 to 1861.... , King of Prussia King of Prussia King of Prussia may refer to:* A ruler of the former German state of Prussia*List of rulers of Prussia King of Prussia, Pennsylvania* King of Prussia Mall... (Friedrich Wilhelm IV, König von Preußen)	President of the German Union Erfurt Union The Erfurt Union was a short-lived union of List of German Confederation member states under a federation, proposed by the Kingdom of Prussia at Erfurt, for which the Erfurt Union Parliament , lasting from March 20 to April 29, 1850, was opened....	Hohenzollern	26 May 1849	29 November 1850
Francis Joseph I Franz Joseph I of Austria Franz Joseph I Karl of the Habsburg was Emperor of Austrian Empire, Apostolic King of Kingdom of Hungary from 1848 until 1916 .... , Emperor of Austria Emperor of Austria The phrase *Emperor of Austria* describes an hereditary imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Austria Habsburg Holy Roman Empire Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and continually held by him and his immediate successors until the Habsburg dynasty was overthrown in 1918.... (Franz Joseph I, Kaiser von Österreich)	President of the German Confederation	Habsburg-Lorraine	1 May 1850	24 August 1866

North German Confederation
North German Confederation

The North German Confederation , came into existence in August 1866 as a military alliance of 22 states of northern Germany with the Kingdom of Prussia as the leading state....
, 1867-1871

Name	Title	House	Began	Ended
William I William I, German Emperor Wilhelm I, also known as Wilhelm the Great of the House of Hohenzollern was the monarch of Kingdom of Prussia and the first German Emperor .... , King of Prussia King of Prussia King of Prussia may refer to:* A ruler of the former German state of Prussia*List of rulers of Prussia King of Prussia, Pennsylvania* King of Prussia Mall... (Wilhelm I, König von Preußen)	President of the North German Confederation	Hohenzollern	1 July 1867	18 January 1871

German Empire
German Empire

The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from the unification of Germany and proclamation of William I, German Emperor as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became Weimar republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of William II, German Emperor ....
, 1871-1918

Name	Title	House	Began	Ended
Wilhelm I William I, German Emperor Wilhelm I, also known as Wilhelm the Great of the House of Hohenzollern was the monarch of Kingdom of Prussia and the first German Emperor .... , King of Prussia King of Prussia King of Prussia may refer to:* A ruler of the former German state of Prussia*List of rulers of Prussia King of Prussia, Pennsylvania* King of Prussia Mall... (Wilhelm I, König von Preußen)	German Emperor	Hohenzollern	18 January 1871	9 March 1888
Frederick III Frederick III, German Emperor Frederick III was List of German monarchs and King of Prussia for 99 days in 1888 during the Year of the Three Emperors. Frederick William Nicholas Charles , known informally as Fritz, was the only son of Emperor Wilhelm I, and was raised in his family's tradition of military service.... , King of Prussia King of Prussia King of Prussia may refer to:* A ruler of the former German state of Prussia*List of rulers of Prussia King of Prussia, Pennsylvania* King of Prussia Mall... (Friedrich III, König von Preußen)	German Emperor	Hohenzollern	9 March 1888	15 June 1888
Wilhelm II William II, German Emperor Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia , ruling both the German Empire and the Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918.... , King of Prussia King of Prussia King of Prussia may refer to:* A ruler of the former German state of Prussia*List of rulers of Prussia King of Prussia, Pennsylvania* King of Prussia Mall... (Wilhelm II, König von Preußen)	German Emperor	Hohenzollern	15 June 1888	9 November 1918

Pretenders to the German throne

After the abolition of the German throne in 1918, the heads of the House of Hohenzollern

House of Hohenzollern

The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of Prince-elector, kings, and emperors of Prussia, Germany, and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century....
have claimed to be the titular Kings of Prussia and German Emperors. These claims cannot be separated because according to the Consitution of the German Empire, whoever was King of Prussia was also German Emperor.

Hohenzollern House of Hohenzollern The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of Prince-elector, kings, and emperors of Prussia, Germany, and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century.... Pretenders to the Prussian and German throne
Image	Name	Reign	Comments
	Wilhelm II William II, German Emperor Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia , ruling both the German Empire and the Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918....	1918-1941	lived in Dutch exile until his death
	Crown Prince William	1941-1951
	Prince Louis Ferdinand Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia }\|-\|}Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia , a member of the Hohenzollern family, was the pretender to the abolished German monarchy, staunch opponent of the National Socialist German Workers Party in Germany, a business man, and patron of the arts....	1951-1994
	Prince Georg Friedrich Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia Georg Friedrich Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia, is the current head of the Imperial House of Hohenzollern, the former ruling house of the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia....	since 1994

Family tree

Remarkably (or possibly not given the amount of intermarriage at the time), every ruler of Germany was related by marriage to every other. The relationships are shown at Kings of Germany family tree.

List of German monarchs

Eastern Frankish Kingdom, later the German Kingdom, 843-1806

Kings

Imperial vicars

German confederations, 1806-1871

German Confederation
German Confederation

The German Confederation was the association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to serve as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806....
, 1815-1866

North German Confederation
North German Confederation

The North German Confederation , came into existence in August 1866 as a military alliance of 22 states of northern Germany with the Kingdom of Prussia as the leading state....
, 1867-1871

Pretenders to the German throne

Family tree

Footnotes

External links

List of German monarchs

Eastern Frankish Kingdom, later the German Kingdom, 843-1806

Kings

Imperial vicars

German confederations, 1806-1871

German ConfederationGerman ConfederationThe German Confederation was the association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to serve as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806...., 1815-1866

North German ConfederationNorth German ConfederationThe North German Confederation , came into existence in August 1866 as a military alliance of 22 states of northern Germany with the Kingdom of Prussia as the leading state...., 1867-1871

Pretenders to the German throne

Family tree

Footnotes

External links

German Confederation
German Confederation

The German Confederation was the association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to serve as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806....
, 1815-1866

North German Confederation
North German Confederation

The North German Confederation , came into existence in August 1866 as a military alliance of 22 states of northern Germany with the Kingdom of Prussia as the leading state....
, 1867-1871