Roman Emperor...

[Arjenvs]

Can some people explain me what he was.....feel stupid to ask....

And was HRE > Austria?? Or something there?

*feels really dumb....*:yawn:

:cheers:

[Jerome]

i'm not sure i understand the question; Rome had numerous emperors...

and what does HRE mean?

:confused:

[Arjenvs]

Originally posted by Jerome
i'm not sure i understand the question; Rome had numerous emperors...

and what does HRE mean?

:confused:

In te medieval time there could be a king of a country that was elected as Emperor..thought it called Roman Emperor...not sure....but it was after the Roman Empire......

Does anyone know something about this?????

and HRE....yes I also don't know what it is....a country????

[Gorgoroth]

Arjenvs - no offense, but you should try to search on the web for answers, dont you think? Google is a good place to start. :)

Anyways maybe this will answer to your question:




"The Holy Roman Empire was the medieval state that embraced most of central Europe and Italy under the rule of the German kings from 962 to 1806. It was considered to be a restoration and continuation of the ancient Roman Empire, although in fact it had little in common with its predecessor. Earlier, the Frankish king Charlemagne had revived the same name. His Roman Empire lasted from 800 to 925. In 962, Otto I of Germany and Pope John XII cooperated in a second revival. Threatened in his possession of the Papal States by Berengar II, king of Italy, John begged Otto to come to his aid. Otto did so, and the pope solemnly crowned him Emperor of the Romans as a reward. From this time, the German kings claimed the right to rule the empire.

The Theory of the Empire

In theory, the Holy Roman Empire (the word "Holy" was added during the 12th century) reflected two important medieval values: the unity of all Christians, or at least all Western Christians, in a single state as the civil counterpart to the One Holy Catholic Church; and a concept of hierarchical political organization that called for one ultimate head over all existing states. In practice, the empire never fully conformed to either ideal. France and England, for example, never acknowledged any real subordination to the emperor, although they recognized a vague supremacy in him. The empire's aims varied according to the program and philosophy of the many emperors and popes who controlled its destiny. The German kings - who called themselves kings of the Romans, not kings of Germany, as soon as they were elected by the German princes - considered themselves entitled to become Roman emperor as soon as they could arrange the imperial coronation, which was supposed to take place in Rome at the hands of the Pope. (By later convention, they are called kings of Germany, however, and many of them never secured imperial coronation.) From the ruler's point of view, the imperial title established his right to control Italy and Burgundy as well as Germany and was thus a potential source of power, wealth, and prestige. The Empire's vast size and the disparity of its peoples, however, were serious obstacles to effective rule and good government.
The churchmen who crowned the emperors, and thus actually sustained the Empire, considered it to be the church's secular arm, sharing responsibility for the welfare and spread of the Christian faith and duty-bound to protect the Papacy. This view of the relationship between church and state, which dated from the reign of Roman emperor Constantine I, was generally accepted by both emperors and Popes. In practice, however, this partnership seldom worked smoothly, as one of the partners inevitably tried to dominate the other. Frequent fluctuations in the actual power and vitality of each individual as well as changes in the prevailing political and theological theories gave a fluid, dynamic quality to the empire's history.


History

The history of the Holy Roman Empire can be divided into four periods: the age of emperors, the age of princes, the early Habsburg period, and the final phase.
(i) Age of the Emperors

The first age, from 962 to 1250, was dominated by the strong emperors of the Saxon, Salian (or Franconian), and Hohenstaufen dynasties. These emperors made serious efforts to control Italy, which in practical political terms was the most important part of the empire. Their power, however, depended on their German resources, which were never great. Italy consisted of the Lombard area, with its wealthy towns; the Papal States; scattered regions still claimed by the Byzantine Empire; and the Norman kingdom of Naples and Sicily. The emperors generally tried to govern through existing officials such as counts and bishops rather than by creating a direct administrative system. The papacy, weak and disturbed by the Roman aristocracy, needed the emperors, who, during the Saxon and early Salian generations, thought of the Bishop of Rome as subject to the same kind of control that they exercised over their own German bishops. Henry III, for example, deposed unsatisfactory Popes and nominated new ones as he deemed fit.

During the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, the papacy was influenced by a powerful reform movement that demanded an end to lay domination. Popes Gregory VII and Urban II insisted on independence for the papacy and for the church in general during the Investiture Controversy. Later Popes continued jealously to guard their freedom, and this produced conflict with the Hohenstaufen emperors Frederick I and Frederick II, both of whom wanted to exercise control over all of Italy. The later Hohenstaufen emperors gained control of the Norman kingdom in southern Italy and declared it a fief of the popes, who nevertheless worried about their independence and often supported the emperors' Lombard foes. In the 13th century, Popes Innocent III, Gregory IX, and Innocent IV restricted the authority of Otto IV and Frederick II in many bitter disputes.

(ii) Age of the Princes

During the age of the princes, from 1250 to 1438, the emperors were much weaker. They exercised minimal authority in Italy, and many of them were never crowned emperor by the pope. Even in Germany their power was reduced, for Frederick II had dissipated royal prerogatives and resources in his northern lands while struggling to dominate Italy. The emperors were unable to restrain the German nobles or to resist French encroachments on the western frontiers of the empire, and the Slavic rulers in the east rejected all imperial overlordship. The Guelphs, or anti-imperialists in Italy (see Guelfs and Ghibellines), spoke of ending the empire or transferring it to the French kings. Political theorists such as Engelbert of Admont (1250-1331), Alexander of Roes (fl. late 13th century), and even Dante, however, insisted that the German emperors were needed. Marsilius of Padua, in his Defensor pacis, argued for the end of all papal influence on the empire.

At this time the practice of electing the German king, or emperor, was given formal definition by the Golden Bull (1356) of Emperor Charles IV. This document, which defined the status of the seven German princely electors, made it clear that the emperor held office by election rather than hereditary right. The electors usually chose insignificant rulers who could not interfere with the electors' privileges, but such rulers could neither govern effectively nor maintain imperial rights. Their power was largely limited to strengthening their own families. The empire consequently began to disintegrate into nearly independent territories or self-governing groups such as the Hanseatic League.

(iii) Early Habsburg Period

After 1438 the electors almost always chose a member of the Habsburg dynasty of Austria as king; the one exception was the election (1742) of the Bavarian Charles VII. The Habsburg FrederickIII was the last emperor to be crowned in Rome; his great-grandson Charles V was the last to be crowned by a pope.

By this time a few of the more farsighted princes saw the need to strengthen the empire's central government. From 1485 to 1555 these reformers strove to create a federal system. The diet, originally a loose assembly of princes, had been organized into three strata--electors, princes, and representatives of the imperial cities--by the Golden Bull and came to resemble a legislature. In 1500 it was proposed that an executive committee (Reichsregiment) appointed by the diet be given administrative authority. A system of imperial courts was created, and permanent institutions to provide for defense and taxation were also discussed. The various states were organized into ten districts or circles.

These reform efforts seldom worked, however, because the princes would not relinquish their jurisdiction. The situation was further complicated by the advent of the Reformation, which fostered religious conflicts that divided the principalities against one another. In addition, the princes became alarmed at the sudden growth of power of the Habsburgs when that dynasty acquired Spain. Under the guise of the Counter-Reformation, Ferdinand II and Ferdinand III tried to concentrate power in their hands, but defeat in the Thirty Years' War undid their efforts and proved that the empire could not reform itself.

(iv) Final Phase

After the Treaty of Westphalia (1648 ) the Holy Roman Empire was little more than a loose confederation of about 300 independent principalities and 1,500 or more semi-sovereign bodies or individuals. Threats from the Ottoman Empire or from Louis XIV of France occasionally stimulated imperial cooperation, but usually each state considered only its own welfare. The Austrian-Prussian wars, Hanover's acquisition of the English throne, and Saxony's holding of the Polish crown exemplify the particularism that prevailed.

Napoleon I finally destroyed the empire. After defeating Austria and its imperial allies in 1797 and 1801, he annexed some German land and suggested that the larger territories compensate themselves by confiscating the free cities and ecclesiastical states. By the Diet's Recess (1803), 112 small states were thus seized by their neighbors. Three years later Napoleon compelled 16 German states to form the Confederation of the Rhine and to secede from the empire. On March 6, 1806, Francis II, who had previously assumed the title of Emperor of Austria, abdicated as Holy Roman Emperor and declared the old empire dissolved. "

[Arjenvs]

Thanx anyways...thought if someone knows a simple explanation....there are so many historical smart asses here...;) ...

And why read a whole story when some knows it exactely....in a few words...

this works also though....but still don't quite understand it....but I will look in to it when I have the time....not now....Study study study....:rolleyes:

:cheers:

[Gorgoroth]

I don't think that you can answer this in a few words. :)
Just read what I've posted, and you will understand the HRE role in the history..well if you will have time. :wacko:

[Jorghan]

HRE = Holy Roman Empire = Germany

Simple Enough? :P

[Gorgoroth]

Originally posted by Jorghan
HRE = Holy Roman Empire = Germany

Simple Enough? :P


Errrr....this is not really accurate. :p

[Henrik]

Almost to much to read but quite interesting through.

[Bora]

well myself did not know what you always talking of "HRE"
but there was a roman empire in the medieval and that was
"Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation" nothing to laugh,...
and the kaiser was crowned by the pope of rome.
As you know the old german tribes had defeated the roman empire and later "germany" was the protector of roman empire,...
everything little confusing, but gorgoroth explained it correctly as it seems

[Elewyn]

Good job, Gorgoroth. But true is that it's too long to read. I think, for us as those who are interested is enough the history till 1438.

Some more information about the HRE (which is Holy RomanEmpire, but not Germany-there was also Low lands-NL,B,LUX, Switzerland,northern Italy and Bohemia inside the HRE)
In theory emperors wanted to be universal head of christians, but after long fight against popes they were becoming weaker and imperial power was more and more divided - first to the Electors (king of Bohemia, arcibishops of Cologne, Mainz and Trier, duke of -upper-Saxony, marchgrave of Brandenburg and "palatine" of Pfalz).
Power of Emeperors in the period of princes depended on their own property, so their main ambitions were to overrule as much as possible. Also the electors didn't wanted strong king, so they were electing not so powerful ones. Then unknown Rudolph of Habsburg became king, defeated king of Bohemia, took from him Austrian duchy and it was beggining of the power of Habsburgs.
Similar it was with the rise of house of Luxembourg, elected as a french candidate in 1307(Henry VIII.,1307-1314)*, which took bohemian(1310) and german(1346) crown until 1438when Sigismund of Lux., roman emperor, king of Bohemia and Hungary etc., last ruler from house of Luxembourg.

*in 1307 Philipe IV.of France was on the zenit of the power. His first candidate, his brother was not wanted in Germany, so then was elected Henry of Luxembourg, as a vassal of the king of France-funny. isn't it? Emperor of the HRE was vassal of France:)

[Arjenvs]

Originally posted by Elewyn
*in 1307 Philipe IV.of France was on the zenit of the power. His first candidate, his brother was not wanted in Germany, so then was elected Henry of Luxembourg, as a vassal of the king of France-funny. isn't it? Emperor of the HRE was vassal of France:)

Yes that´s why I not fully understood the concept Holy Roman Empire(HRE duuuuhhh..*feels stupid....*)...because the countries that formed the HRE were just seperate countries and fought there own wars.......



BTW still thanx Gorgoroth...was a nice piece....still didn´t read it entirely...but will do that soon!!! for sure!!!

:cheers:

[Emhyr var Emreis]

I think thwey werent separate countries. Only some wanted to be. Italians cities wanted to be independent on german rulers, that's why they fought against them. But roman emperor couldn't be roman emperor if he only ruled in Germany (better in some part of Germany, in some duchy,)
The emperor was official ruler of the HRE, but as he wanted to rule over Italy, he was becomig waeker and waeker untill the house of Habsburg became kings of Spain and then most powerful kings of Europe in 16th century. And then they coul be stronger, but they were defeted in 30years war and then Holy Roman empire became the space of independent german states and Switzerland and the Netherlands and lands of Habsburgs in the eastern border of empire.