Kingdom of Germany

The Kingdom of Germany was an important part of the Holy Roman Empire, located north of the Alps. It was not the same as the later German Empire or the modern movement called Königreich Deutschland. This kingdom began in 843 after the Treaty of Verdun, when the area became known as the East Frankish kingdom.

The king of this kingdom was chosen by leaders called the rulers of the stem duchies. Later, when Otto I became emperor in 962, East Francia grew into the Holy Roman Empire, which also included the Kingdom of Italy and, after 1032, the Kingdom of Burgundy.

Like other places such as medieval England and medieval France, Germany grew from many smaller groups into one area during the High Middle Ages. Important church leaders, such as the Archbishop of Mainz, Archbishop of Cologne, and Archbishop of Trier, held special roles in the kingdom. The kings were often called the "king of the Germans" and later the "king of the Romans" until they were crowned emperor in Rome.

Background

Carolingian East Francia, 843–911

Main article: East Francia

The division of the Carolingian Empire into three parts in 843 caused some early problems. When Emperor Lothair I died in 855, he had split his part of the land among his sons, leading to disputes over a region called Lotharingia. These disputes lasted until 925. After several treaties, Lotharingia became part of East Francia and was known as the Duchy of Lorraine.

Louis the German was called “King of Germany” to set him apart from his brother, who was “King of Gaul.” East Francia was split into three areas—Saxony, Bavaria, and Swabia—after Louis the German’s death in 875. These areas were ruled by his sons but were brought back together under Charles the Fat in 882. Even though these areas had their own traditions, they stayed united because of their common Germanic language and shared history.

Stem duchies

Main article: Stem duchy

East Francia included large areas known as duchies. Important ones were Saxony and Bavaria, which were won by Charlemagne. Later, the five main “younger stem duchies” were Saxony, Bavaria, Franconia, Swabia, and Lotharingia. Thuringia was an older duchy but was absorbed into Saxony before the Holy Roman Empire began.

After the last Carolingian ruler, Louis the Child, died in 911, the leaders of the duchies chose Conrad I as their king. Even when there were disputes, such as after Conrad’s death in 918, the dukes did not try to create separate kingdoms. Later, under the Ottonian rulers like Otto the Great, the duchies were kept as parts of the kingdom, though by the time of Henry IV, they became more like family holdings.

Emergence of "German" terminology

Ottonians

The eastern part of the Treaty of Verdun was called East Francia, meaning the Kingdom of the Eastern Franks. This area included people from many groups, such as Saxons, Frisians, and Thuringians, who were sometimes called "Teutons" or Germans.

By around the year 919, one leader, Arnulf, Duke of the Bavarians, was chosen to rule what was called the Kingdom of the Germans. Over time, the idea of a "German" kingdom became more common. By the end of the eleventh century, it was firmly established. In the tenth century, German writers often used terms like "Francia and Saxony" or "land of the Teutons" to describe their lands.

Salians and Staufer

In the late eleventh century, the term "Kingdom of the Germans" became more popular in Germany as people began to feel a stronger sense of shared identity. By the twelfth century, it was commonly used.

In 1028, Conrad II had his son Henry III elected as king before Conrad became emperor. Later, Henry III introduced the title "King of the Romans" before becoming emperor. His grandson Henry IV used both "king of the Franks and Lombards" and "King of the Romans" before his coronation as emperor.

During a time of conflict known as the Investiture Controversy, some leaders began using the term "Teutonic kingdom" to refer to the lands ruled by Henry IV. This helped distinguish his rule from other kings in Europe. The term "Kingdom of Germany" started appearing more often in the fourteenth century.

Post-Staufer period

After the Staufer leaders, German writers often used the term "Kingdom of Alemannia" to describe their lands. This change may have been due to influence from France or the Pope, or because the Staufer leaders came from Swabia, also known as Alamannia.

In the years that followed, there were discussions about creating a separate German kingdom independent from the Holy Roman Empire, but this idea was not popular. German leaders and people still strongly valued the title of emperor and the connection to Rome. As time went on, the idea of a German identity tied to the empire grew stronger, especially as German became more commonly used in official documents.