List of German monarchs

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This article lists the monarchs of Germany, those who ruled over the German-speaking territories of central Europe from the creation of a separate Eastern Frankish Kingdom in 843 until the end of German Empire in 1918. It also includes the heads of the various German confederations after the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. 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 Kingdom of Germany predates the Empire. 1. The Kingdom of Germany started out as the eastern section of the Frankish kingdom, which was split by the Treaty of Verdun 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 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. 2. The Kingdom of Germany was never entirely hereditary; rather, 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 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 had been Imperator Augustus Romanorum, Venerable Emperor of the Romans) until crowned by the Pope. He first had to be crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy, after which he assumed the title of rex Italiae, King of Italy. After this he would ride on to Romeand be crowned Emperor by the Pope. 4. Maximilian I was the first King to bear the title of Emperor-Elect. After the failure in 1508 of his attempt to march to Rome and to be crowned by the Pope, he had himself proclaimed Emperor-elect with papal consent. His successor Charles V also assumed that title after his coronation in 1520 until he was crowned Emperor by the Pope in 1530. From Ferdinand I 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.
Contents
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1 Eastern Frankish Kingdom, Holy Roman Empire 843-1806

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1.1 Kings 1.2 Imperial vicars

2 German confederations, 1806-1871

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2.1 Confederation of the Rhine, 1806-1813 2.2 German Confederation, 1815-1866 2.3 North German Confederation, 1867-1871

3 German Empire, 18711918 4 Family tree

5 Footnotes 6 External links

Eastern Frankish Kingdom, Holy Roman Empire 843-1806

This section covers the Eastern Frankish Kingdom, the eastern portion of the Frankish Empire after its partition by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Later it became known as the Kingdom of Germany, which was the chief (and then sole) component of the Holy Roman Empire (of the German Nation)[citation needed]. The German Kingdom comprised not only the territory of modern Germany, but also that of Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and the Low Countries, as well as parts of modern France and Poland.

Kings
Emperors are listed in bold. Rival kings, anti-kings, and junior co-regents are italicized.

Name

House

King

Emperor

Ended

Notes

Louis the German

(Ludwig II der Deutsche)

Carolingian

11 August 843

23 August 876

Son of Emperor Louis the Pious and grandson of Charlemagne

Louis the Younger

(Ludwig III der Jngere)

Carolingian

28 August 876

20 January 882

Son of Louis the German; ruled in East Francia, Saxony, from 880 also Bavaria

Carloman
(Karlmann)

Carolingian

28 August 876

22 March 880

Son of Louis the German; ruled in Bavaria; from 877 also King of Italy

Charles the Fat

(Karl III, der Dicke)

Carolingian

11 28 August 12 February November 876 881 887

Son of Louis the German; ruled in Alemannia, Raetia, from 882 in the entire Eastern Kingdom; from 879 also King of Italy

Arnulf of Carinthia
(Arnulf von Krnten)

Carolingian

30 8 December November 25 April 896 899 887

Son of Carloman

Louis the Child

(Ludwig IV das Kind)

Carolingian

21 January 900

20/24 September 911

Son of Arnulf of Carinthia

Conrad I
(Konrad I)

Conradine (Franconian)

10 November 911

23 December 918

Henry I the Fowler

(Heinrich I der

Liudolfing

23 April 919

2 July 936

Vogler)

Arnulf the Bad

(Arnulf der Bse, Herzog von Bayern)

Luitpolding (Bavarian)

919

921

Rival king to Henry I

Otto I the Great

(Otto I der Groe)

Ottonian

7 August 936

2 February 962

Son of Henry I; first king crowned in Aachen Cathedral since Lothair 7 May 973 I;crowned as Otto by the grace of God [1] King ; crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 961.

Otto II the Red

(Otto II)

Ottonian

Son of Otto I; [1] 25 Otto by the grace of God King under 7 December 26 May 961 December his father 961973; 983 967 also crowned Emperor in his father's lifetime

Otto III
(Otto III)

Ottonian

25 21 January December 21 May 996 1002 983

Son of Otto II; Otto by the grace of [1] God King

Henry II
(Heinrich II der Heilige)

Ottonian

7 June 1002

26 April 1014

13 July 1024

Great-grandson of Henry I

Conrad II
(Konrad II)

Salian (Frankish)

8 September 1024

26 March 1027

4 June 1039

Great-great-grandson of Otto I

Henry III
(Heinrich III)

Salian

14 April 1028

25 December 1046

5 October 1056

Son of Conrad II; [1] King (of the Germans?) under his father 10281039

Henry IV
(Heinrich IV)

Salian

17 July 1054

21 March 1084

31 December 1105

Son of Henry III; King of Germany under his father 10541056

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

30 May 1087

27 July 1101

Son of Henry IV; King of Germany under his father 10871098,

King of Italy 10931098, 10951101 in rebellion.

Henry V
(Heinrich V)

Salian

6 January 1099

13 April 1111

23 May 1125

Son of Henry IV; King of Germany under his father 10991105, forced his father to abdicate.

Lothair III
(Lothar III)

Supplinburger

30 August 4 December 4 June 1133 1125 1137

Conrad III
(Conrad III)

Hohenstaufen

7 March 1138

15 February 1152

Grandson of Henry IV (through his mother); Previously Rival King to Lothair III 11271135

Henry Berengar
(Heinrich (VI))

Hohenstaufen

30 March 1147

August? 1150

Son of Conrad III; King of Germany under his father 11471150

Frederick I Barbarossa
(Friedrich I Barbarossa)

Hohenstaufen

4 March 1152

18 June 1155

10 June 1190

Nephew of Conrad III

Henry VI
(Heinrich VI)

Hohenstaufen

15 August 1169

14 April 1191

28 September 1197

Son of Frederick I; King of Germany under his father 11691190

Frederick II
(Friedrich II)

Hohenstaufen

1197

1197

Son of Henry VI; King of Germany under his father 1196

Philip of Swabia
(Philipp von Schwaben)

Hohenstaufen

6 March 1198

21 August 1208

Son of Frederick I; Rival king to Otto IV

Otto IV
(Otto IV von Braunschweig)

Welf

29 March 1198

4 October 1209

5 July 1215

Rival king to Philip of Swabia; later opposed by Frederick II; deposed 1215; died 19 May 1218

Frederick II
(Friedrich II)

22 5 December Hohenstaufen November 1212 1220

26 December 1250

Son of Henry VI; Rival king to Otto IV until 5 July 1215

Henry
(Heinrich (VII))

Hohenstaufen

23 April 1220

15 August 1235

Son of Frederick II; King of Germany under his father 12201235

Conrad IV
(Konrad IV)

Hohenstaufen

May 1237

1 May 1254

Son of Frederick II; King of Germany under his father 12371250

Henry Raspe
(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, 12471254

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
(Alfons von Kastilien)

House of Burgundy

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
(Rudolf I von Habsburg)

Habsburg

29 September 1273

15 July 1291

Adolf of Nassau
(Adolf von Nassau)

Nassau

5 May 1292

23 June 1298

According to some historians, Adolf's election was preceded by the shortlived kingship of Conrad, Duke of Teck. See his article for details.

Albert I
(Albrecht I von Habsburg)

Habsburg

24 June 1298

1 May 1308

Son of Rudolf I; Rival King to Adolf of Nassau, 1298

Henry VII
(Heinrich VII, Luxemburger)

Luxembourg

27 November 1308

13 June 1311

24 August 1313

Louis IV
(Ludwig IV, der Bayer, Wittelsbacher)

Wittelsbach

20 October 17 January 11 October 1314 1328 1347

Grandson of Rudolf I; Rival king to Frederick the Fair 13141322

Frederick the Fair

(Friedrich der Schne, Habsburger)

Habsburg

19 October 1314/ 5 September 1325

28 September 1322/ 13 January 1330

Son of Albert I; Rival king to Louis IV 13141322; associate king with Louis IV 1325 1330

Charles IV
(Karl IV von Luxemburg)

Luxembourg

11 July 1346

29 5 April 1355 November 1378

Grandson of Henry VII; Rival king to Louis IV, 13461347

Gnther von Schwarzburg

(Gnther von Schwarzburg)

Schwarzburg

30 January 1349

24 May 1349

Rival King to Charles IV

Wenceslaus
(Wenzel von Luxemburg)

Luxembourg

10 June 1376

20 August 1400

Son of Charles IV; King of Germany under his father 13761378; deposed 1400; died 1419

Rupert of Palatinate
(Ruprecht von der Pfalz, Wittelsbacher)

Wittelsbach

21 August 1400

18 May 1410

Great-grandnephew of Louis IV

Sigismund
(Sigismund von Luxemburg)

Luxembourg

20 September 9 December 1410/ 3 May 1433 1437 21 July 1411

Son of Charles IV

Jobst of Moravia
(Jobst von Mhren, Luxemburger)

Luxembourg

1 October 1410

8 January 1411

Nephew of Charles IV; Rival King to Sigismund

Albert II
(Albrecht II)

Habsburg

18 March 1438

27 October 1439

4th in descent from Albert I; son-in-law of Sigismund

Frederick III
(Friedrich III)

Habsburg

2 February 1440

16 March 1452

19 August 1493

4th in descent from Albert I; 2nd cousin of Albert II

Maximilian I
(Maximilian I)

Habsburg

16 February 1486

4 February 1508 Emperorelect

Son of Frederick III; King of Germany 12 January under his father 14861493; adopted 1519 the title Emperor-elect in 1508 with the Pope's approval

Charles V
(Karl V)

Habsburg

28 June 1519

24 February 1530

3 August 1556

Grandson of Maximilian I; died 21 September 1558

Ferdinand I
(Ferdinand I)

Habsburg

5 January 1531

14 March 1558 Emperorelect

25 July 1564

Grandson of Maximilian I; brother of Charles V; King of Germany under his brother Charles V 15311556; last king to be crowned in Aachen Cathedral.

Maximilian II
(Maximilian II)

Habsburg

22 November 1562

25 July 1564 Emperorelect

12 October 1576

Son of Ferdinand I; King of Germany under his father 15621564

Rudolf II
(Rudolf II)

Habsburg

2 November 27 October 1576 1575 Emperorelect

20 January 1612

Son of Maximilian II; King of Germany under his father, 15751576

Matthias
(Matthias)

Habsburg

13 June 1612

13 June 1612 Emperorelect

20 March 1619

Son of Maximilian II

Ferdinand II
(Ferdinand II)

Habsburg

28 August 1619

28 August 1619 15 February Emperor1637 elect

Grandson of Ferdinand I

Ferdinand III
(Ferdinand III)

Habsburg

22 December 1636

15 February 1637 2 April 1657 Emperorelect

Son of Ferdinand II; King of Germany under his father 16361637

Ferdinand IV
(Ferdinand IV)

Habsburg

31 May 1653

9 July 1654

Son of Ferdinand III; King of Germany under his father

Leopold I
(Leopold I)

Habsburg

18 July 1658

18 July 1658 Emperorelect

5 May 1705

Son of Ferdinand III

Joseph I
(Joseph I)

Habsburg

23 January 1690

5 May 1705 Emperorelect

17 April 1711

Son of Leopold I; King of Germany under his father 16901705

Charles VI
(Karl VI)

Habsburg

27 October 1711

27 October 1711 20 October Emperor1740 elect

Son of Leopold I

Charles VII
(Karl VII)

Wittelsbach

14 January 1742

14 January 1742 Emperorelect

20 January 1745

Husband of Maria Amalia, daughter of Joseph I

Francis I
(Franz I)

Lorraine

13 13 September September

18 August

Husband of Maria Theresa, daughter

1745

1745 Emperorelect

1765

of Charles VI

Joseph II
(Joseph II)

HabsburgLorraine

27 March 1764

18 August 1765 20 February Emperor1790 elect

Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa; King of Germany under his father 17641765

Leopold II
(Leopold II)

HabsburgLorraine

30 30 September September 1790 1790 Emperorelect

1 March 1792

Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa

Francis II
(Franz II)

HabsburgLorraine

7 July 1792

7 July 1792 Emperorelect

6 August 1806

Son of Leopold II; Dissolved the Holy Roman Empire; also Emperor of Austria 18041835; died 1835

Imperial vicars
Main article: Imperial vicar 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 afterwards 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, 1806-1813
Name Title House Began Ended

Napoleon I, Emperor of the French

(Napolon I, Kaiser der Franzosen)

Protector of the Bonaparte 25 July 1806 19 October 1813 Confederation of the Rhine

German Confederation, 1815-1866

Name Title House Began Ended

Francis I, Emperor of Austria

(Franz I, Kaiser von sterreich)

President of the German Confederation

HabsburgLorraine

20 June 1815

2 March 1835

Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria

(Ferdinand I, Kaiser von sterreich)

President of the German Confederation

HabsburgLorraine

2 March 1835

12 July 1848

Archduke Johann of Austria

Imperial Vicar

[2]

HabsburgLorraine

12 July 1848

20 December 1849

Frederick William IV, King of Prussia

(Friedrich Wilhelm IV, Knig von Preuen)

Emperor of the Germanselect

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, King of Prussia

(Friedrich Wilhelm IV, Knig von Preuen)

President of the German Union

Hohenzollern

26 May 1849

29 November 1850

Francis Joseph I, Emperor of Austria

(Franz Joseph I, Kaiser von sterreich)

President of the German Confederation

HabsburgLorraine

1 May 1850

24 August 1866

North German Confederation, 1867-1871

Name Title House Began Ended

Wilhelm I, King of Prussia

(Wilhelm I, Knig von Preuen)

President of the [3] Hohenzollern 1 July 1867 18 January 1871 North German Confederation

German Empire, 18711918

Image Name Date of birth Monarch From Monarch Until Date of death

William I (Wilhelm I) (Hohenzollern)

22 March 1797

18 January 1871

9 March 1888

Son of Frederick William III

Frederick III (Friedrich III) (Hohenzollern)

18 October 1831

9 March 1888

15 June 1888

Son of Wilhelm I

Wilhelm II (Hohenzollern)

27 January 1859

15 June 1888

9 November 4 June 1941 1918

Son of Frederick III

Family tree
The relationships are shown at Kings of Germany family tree.

The following image is a family tree of every king, monarch, confederation president and emperor of Germany, from Louis the German in 843 through to William II in 1918. It shows how every single ruler of Germany was related to every other by marriages, and hence they can all be put into a single tree. For ease of understanding the royal house names and dates have been put in at the appropriate places. The dynasties covered are the Carolingians, Conradines, Ottonians, Salians,Supplinburger, Hohenstaufen, Welf, Habsburg, Nassau, Luxem burg, Wittelsbach, Lorraine, Habsburg-Lorraine, Bonaparte and Hohenzollern. Only undisputed kings are included here; this excludes rulers whose claims were disputed such as the co-rulers Richard, Earl of Cornwall and Alfonso X of Castile. Please note that 'King of Germany' does not necessarily mean that the king was referred to as such, although in every case he was both de jure and de facto ruler over the territory currently known as Germany and hence the various terms are practically equivalent. Until 911 the kings were known as 'Kings of East Francia'. After that the title fluctuated between 'King of Germany' and 'King of the Germans'. From Henry IV on the kings were "German King (technically King of the Romans)", a reference to the claim on Rome, although this was not often actually ruled by them.