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The Holy Roman Empire

Holy Roman Empire
Sacrum Imperium Romanum
Heiliges Römisches Reich
800/962–1806
Imperial Banner Coat of arms
The Holy Roman Empire around 1600, superimposed over current state borders
Capital No official capital, various imperial seats
Languages Various
Religion Catholic Church (until 1806)
Lutheranism (1555–1806)
Calvinism (1648–1806)


see details
Government Elective monarchy
Emperor
 •  800–814 Charlemagne
 •  962–973 Otto I (first)
 •  1792–1806 Francis II (last)
Legislature Imperial Diet
Historical era Middle Ages
Early modern period
 •  Charlemagne is crowned Emperor of the Romans 25 December 800
 •  Otto I is crowned Emperor of the Romans 2 February 962
 •  Conrad II assumes crown of Burgundy 2 February 1033
 •  Peace of Augsburg 25 September 1555
 •  Peace of Westphalia 24 October 1648
 •  Battle of Austerlitz 2 December 1805
 •  Francis II abdicated 6 August 1806
Population
 •  1200 est. 5,000,000 
 •  1500 est. 16,000,000 
 •  1618 est. 21,000,000 
 •  1648 est. 16,000,000 
 •  1786 est. 26,265,000 
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Kingdom of Germany
Kingdom of Italy
Dutch Republic
Old Swiss Confederacy
Kingdom of Prussia
Austrian Empire
Confederation of the Rhine
Today part of

The Holy Roman Empire (Latin: Sacrum Imperium Romanum, German: Heiliges Römisches Reich) was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806. The largest territory of the empire after 962 was the Kingdom of Germany, though it also came to include the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Burgundy, the Kingdom of Italy, and numerous other territories.

On 25 December 800, Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne as Emperor, reviving the title in Western Europe, more than three centuries after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The title continued in the Carolingian family until 888 and from 896 to 899, after which it was contested by the rulers of Italy in a series of civil wars until the death of the last Italian claimant, Berengar, in 924. The title was revived in 962 when Otto I was crowned emperor, fashioning himself as the successor of Charlemagne and beginning a continuous existence of the empire for over eight centuries. Some historians refer to the coronation of Charlemagne as the origin of the empire, while others prefer the coronation of Otto I as its beginning. Scholars generally concur, however, in relating an evolution of the institutions and principles constituting the empire, describing a gradual assumption of the imperial title and role.


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