List of German monarchs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
This article has been tagged since October 2006.

This article lists the monarchs of Germany, a state created out of the eastern half of the Carolingian Empire by the Treaty of Verdun of 843 and which continued uninterrupted until 1806. Thereafter, the individual German states formed several confederations and were united in the German Empire of 1871. The monarchy finally ended with the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918. Over its long history, its geographic extent varied considerably, including not only most of the modern Germany, but much also of Austria, Slovenia, the Low Countries, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, eastern France, northern Italy and western Poland.

Contents

[edit] Eastern Frankish Kingdom, later called the Kingdom of Germany

This section covers the Eastern Frankish Kingdom, the eastern portion of the Frankish Empire after its partition at Verdun in 843. Mostly inhabited by German people, it became known as the Kingdom of Germany. It was the chief (and then sole) component of the Holy Roman Empire. The kingdom comprised the territory of modern Germany, but also Austria, Switzerland, parts of the Low Countries, parts of Eastern France, northern Italy and western Poland.

[edit] Kings

Name House King Emperor Ended Notes
Louis the German Carolingian 11 August 843 — 23 August 876 Son of Emperor Louis the Pious
Louis the Younger Carolingian 28 August 876 — 20 January 882 Son of Louis the German; ruled in East Francia, Saxony, from 880 also Bavaria
Carloman Carolingian 28 August 876 — 22 March 880 Son of Louis the German; ruled in Bavaria; from 877 also King of Italy
Charles the Fat Carolingian 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 Carolingian 30 November 887 25 April 896 8 December 899 Son of Carloman
Louis the Child Carolingian 21 January 900 — 20 August 911 Son of Arnulf of Carinthia
Conrad I Conradine (Franconian) 10 November 911 — 23 December 918  
Henry I the Fowler Liudolfing (Saxon) 23 April 919 — 2 July 936  
Arnulf the Bad Luitpolding (Bavarian) 919 — 921 Rival king to Henry I
Otto I the Great Liudolfing 7 August 936 2 February 962 7 May 973 Son of Henry I; first king crowned in Aachen Cathedral since Lothair I; crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 961.
Otto II the Red Liudolfing 26 May 961 25 December 967 7 December 983 Son of Otto I; King of Germany under his father 961–973, also crowned Emperor in his father's lifetime
Otto III Liudolfing 25 December 983 21 May 996 21 January 1002 Son of Otto II
Henry II Liudolfing 7 June 1002 26 April 1014 13 July 1024 Great-grandson of Henry I
Conrad II Salian (Frankish) 8 September 1024 26 March 1027 4 June 1039 Great-great-grandson of Otto I
Henry III Salian 14 April 1028 25 December 1046 5 October 1056 Son of Conrad II; King of Germany under his father 1028–1039
Henry IV Salian 17 July 1054 21 March 1084 31 December 1105 Son of Henry III; King of Germany under his father 1054–1056
Rudolf von Rheinfeld Rheinfeld 15 March 1077 — 15 October 1080 Rival King to Henry IV
Hermann von Salm Salm 6 August 1081 — 28 September 1088 Rival King to Henry IV
Conrad Salian 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 Salian 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 Supplinburger 30 August 1125 4 June 1133 4 December 1137  
Conrad III Hohenstaufen 7 March 1138 — 15 February 1152 Grandson of Henry IV; Previously Rival King to Lothair III 1127–1135
Henry Berengar Hohenstaufen 30 March 1147 — August? 1150 Son of Conrad III; King of Germany under his father 1147–1150
Frederick I Barbarossa Hohenstaufen 4 March 1152 18 June 1155 10 June 1190 Nephew of Conrad III
Henry VI Hohenstaufen 15 August 1169 14 April 1191 28 September 1197 Son of Frederick I; King of Germany under his father 1169–1190
Frederick II Hohenstaufen 1197 — 1197 Son of Henry VI; King of Germany under his father 1196
Philip of Swabia Hohenstaufen 6 March 1198 — 21 August 1208 Son of Frederick I; Rival king to Otto IV
Otto IV Welf 29 March 1198 4 October 1209 5 July 1215 Grandson of Lothair II; Rival king to Philip of Swabia; later opposed by Frederick II; deposed 1215; died 19 May 1218
Frederick II Hohenstaufen 5 December 1212 22 November 1220 26 December 1250 Son of Henry VI; Rival king to Otto IV until 5 July 1215
Henry Hohenstaufen 23 April 1220 — 15 August 1235 Son of Frederick II; King of Germany under his father 1220–1235
Conrad IV Hohenstaufen May 1237 — 1 May 1254 Son of Frederick II; King of Germany under his father, 1237–1250
Henry Raspe Thuringia 22 May 1246 — 16 February 1247 Rival King to Frederick II
William of Holland Holland 3 October 1247 — 28 January 1256 Rival King to Frederick II and Conrad IV, 1247–1254
Richard of Cornwall Plantagenet 13 January 1257 — 2 April 1272 Brother-in-law of Frederick II; Rival king to Alfonso of Castile; visited Germany only twice and held no real authority.
Alfonso of Castile House of Burgundy 1 April 1257 — 1275 Grandson of Philip; Rival king to Richard of Cornwall; never visited Germany and held no authority; later opposed by Rudolf I; relinquished claims 1275, died 1284
Rudolf I Habsburg 29 September 1273 — 15 July 1291  
Adolf of Nassau Nassau 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. See his article for details.
Albert I Habsburg 24 June 1298 — 1 May 1308 Son of Rudolf I; Rival King to Adolf of Nassau, 1298
Henry VII Luxemburg 27 November 1308 13 June 1311 24 August 1313  
Louis IV Wittelsbach 20 October 1314 17 January 1328 11 October 1347 Grandson of Rudolf I; Rival king to Frederick the Fair 1314–1322
Frederick the Fair Habsburg 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 Luxemburg 11 July 1346 5 April 1355 29 November 1378 Grandson of Henry VII; Rival king to Louis IV, 1346–1347
Günther von Schwarzburg Schwarzburg 30 January 1349 — 24 May 1349 Rival King to Charles IV
Wenceslaus Luxemburg 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 Brunswick-Lüneburg 1400 — 1400 Rival King to Wenceslaus[citation needed]
Rupert of Palatinate Wittelsbach 21 August 1400 — 18 May 1410 Great-grandnephew of Louis IV
Sigismund Luxemburg 20 September 1410 3 May 1433 9 December 1437 Son of Charles IV
Jobst of Moravia Luxemburg 1 October 1410 — 8 January 1411 Nephew of Charles IV; Rival King to Sigismund
Albert II Habsburg 18 March 1438 — 27 October 1439 4th in descent from Albert I; Husband of Elizabeth, the daughter of Sigismund
Frederick III Habsburg 2 February 1440 16 March 1452 19 August 1493 4th in descent from Albert I; 2nd cousin of Albert II
Maximilian I Habsburg 16 February 1486 4 February 1508 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 Habsburg 28 June 1519 24 February 1530 21 September 1556 Grandson of Maximilian I; Crowned as Emperor by the Pope (the last to be crowned by the Pope - all futures Emperors were merely Emperors-elect); abdicated 1556; died 21 September 1558;
Ferdinand I Habsburg 5 January 1531 21 September 1556
Emperor-elect		 25 July 1564 Grand-son 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.
Maximilian II Habsburg 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 Habsburg 27 October 1575 2 November 1576
Emperor-elect		 20 January 1612 Son of Maximilian II; King of Germany under his father, 1575–1576
Matthias Habsburg 13 June 1612 13 June 1612
Emperor-elect		 20 March 1617 Son of Maximilian II
Ferdinand II Habsburg 28 August 1618 28 August 1618
Emperor-elect		 15 February 1637 Grandson of Ferdinand I;
Ferdinand III Habsburg 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 Habsburg 31 May 1653 — 9 July 1654 Son of Ferdinand III; King of Germany under his father
Leopold I Habsburg 18 July 1658 18 July 1658
Emperor-elect		 5 May 1705 Son of Ferdinand III
Joseph I Habsburg 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 Habsburg 27 October 1711 27 October 1711
Emperor-elect		 20 October 1740 Son of Leopold I
Charles VII Wittelsbach 14 January 1742 14 January 1742
Emperor-elect		 20 January 1745 Husband of Maria Amalia, daughter of Joseph I
Francis I Stephan Lorraine 13 September 1745 13 September 1745
Emperor-elect		 18 August 1765 Husband of Maria Theresa, daughter of Charles VI
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 Habsburg-Lorraine 30 September 1790 30 September 1790
Emperor-elect		 1 March 1792 Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa
Francis 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 1804–1835; died 1835

[edit] Imperial Vicars, 1437-1792

During interregna, imperial authority was exercised by two imperial vicars - 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.

Began Ended Count Palatine of Saxony Count Palatine of the Rhine
9 December 1437 18 March 1438 Frederick II, Elector of Saxony Louis IV, Elector Palatine
27 October 1439 2 February 1440 Frederick II, Elector of Saxony Louis IV, Elector Palatine
12 January 1519 17 June 1519 Frederick III, Elector of Saxony Louis V, Elector Palatine
20 January 1612 13 June 1612 John George I, Elector of Saxony Frederick V, Elector Palatine
20 March 1619 28 August 1619 John George I, Elector of Saxony Frederick V, Elector Palatine
2 April 1657 18 July 1658 John George II, Elector of Saxony Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria
17 April 1711 12 October 1711 Frederick Augustus I, Elector of Saxony John William, Elector Palatine
20 October 1740 14 January 1742 Frederick Augustus II, Elector of Saxony Charles Albert, Elector of Bavaria
20 January 1745 13 September 1745 Frederick Augustus II, Elector of Saxony Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria
20 February 1790 30 September 1790 Frederick Augustus III, Elector of Saxony Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
1 March 1792 7 July 1792 Frederick Augustus III, Elector of Saxony Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria

[edit] Notes

The relationship between the title of "king" and "emperor" in the area that is today called Germany is just as complicated as the history and the structure of the Holy Roman Empire itself. The following remarks may or may not clarify things a little (for details, refer to the Holy Roman Empire article):

  1. The Holy Roman Empire (although only titled as such much later) started when Charlemagne, 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, which was split by the Treaty of Verdun in 843 (while the western section eventually became France). 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 as rex teutonicorum, King of the Teutons, in order to brand him as a foreigner. The kings reacted by consistently using the title rex Romanorum, King of the Romans, 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.)
  2. The kingdom 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 nobilty in the realm, continuing the Frankish tradition. Gradually the election became the privilege of a group of princes called Electors and the Golden Bull of 1356 formally defined election proceedings.
  3. In the Middle Ages, the King did not assume the title "Emperor" (since 982 the full title was Imperator Augustus Romanorum, August Emperor of the Romans) until crowned by the Pope. He also had to be crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy, after which he assumed the title of rex Italicum, King of Italy. After this he would ride on to Rome and be crowned Emperor by the Pope.
  4. In 1508 Maximilian I was the first king who announced that henceforth he would use the title of "Emperor-Elect", after his attempt to march to Rome and be crowned by the Pope had failed. His successor, Charles V, was the last emperor to be crowned by the Pope. From Ferdinand I onwards, all Emperors were merely "Emperors-Elect", although they were normally referred to as "the Emperor." At the same time, chosen successors of the Habsburg emperors were called "King of the Romans", if elected during their father's lifetime.

[edit] Confederation of the Rhine 1806-1813

Name Title House Began Ended
Napoleon I Emperor of the French, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine Bonaparte 25 July 1806 19 October 1813

[edit] German Confederation 1815-1866

Name Title House Began Ended
Francis I Emperor of Austria, President of the German Confederation Habsburg-Lorraine 20 June 1815 2 March 1835
Ferdinand I Emperor of Austria, President of the German Confederation Habsburg-Lorraine 2 March 1835 12 July 1848
Archduke Johann of Austria Imperial Vicar[1] Habsburg-Lorraine 12 July 1848 20 December 1849
Frederick William IV King of Prussia Hohenzollern offered title of Emperor of the Germans by the Frankfurt Assembly in 1849, but refused it.
Francis Joseph I Emperor of Austria, President of the German Confederation Habsburg-Lorraine 1 May 1850 24 August 1866

[edit] North German Confederation 1867-1871

Name Title House Began Ended
Wilhelm I King of Prussia, President of the North German Confederation Hohenzollern 1 July 1867 18 January 1871

He became German Emperor in 1871.

[edit] German Empire (1871-1918)

Name Title House Began Ended
Wilhelm I German Emperor, King of Prussia Hohenzollern 18 January 1871 9 March 1888
Friedrich III German Emperor, King of Prussia Hohenzollern 9 March 1888 15 June 1888
Wilhelm II German Emperor, King of Prussia Hohenzollern 15 June 1888 9 November 1918

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ elected by the Frankfurt National Assembly as Imperial Vicar of a new German Reich. The German Confederation was considered to have been dissolved.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../l/i/s/List_of_German_monarchs_8b0c.html"