Deutsches Reich, Altes

Deutsches Reich, Altes, the German Empire, reunited in ad 919 under Heinrich I after years of division since ad 843 (see Karolinger). It was ruled by an elected emperor, and consisted of duchies, counties, episcopal principalities, etc. owing feudal allegiance to the emperor. In practice the empire was frequently in a state of internal disturbance, in which the central ruler and the great nobles and prelates clashed. A considerable factor in the difficulties of the empire was the emperor's claim to sovereignty over Italy, which involved his frequent absence from Germany, during which the great nobles usurped his power, or quarrelled among themselves. The Emperor Friedrich II, a strong ruler, spent most of his life in Italy, visiting Germany only twice to restore order. After his death in 1250 German imperial power both in Italy and at home waned.

Despite its electoral statutes, the empire became from time to time virtually hereditary. Thus Saxon emperors were elected from 919 to 1024, Franconians (Salier) from 1024 to 1125, Stauffer from 1138 to 1250, and Luxemburgs from 1347 to 1437. The first Habsburg was Rudolf I (1273). From 1438 to 1806 the emperors were all Habsburgs.

Of the various names borne by the German Empire, Romanum Imperium dates from 1034, Sacrum Imperium from 1157, and Sacrum Romanum Imperium from 1254. From the 16th c. (unofficially already in the 15th c.) the official title of the German Empire was Das Heilige Römische Reich Deutscher Nation (in Latin documents Sacrum Romanum Imperium Nationis Germanicae, abbreviated S.R.I.N.G.). ‘Roman’ implied that the empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire, ‘Holy’ alluded to its character as a Christian empire, and the combination of the two suggested the connection with Italy and the Papacy.