This is a list of monarchs who ruled over East Francia, later known as the Kingdom of Germany (), from the division of the Frankish Empire in 843 and the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 until the collapse of the German Empire in 1918.
General notes The Frankish kingdom was split by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. The rulers of the eastern area thus called themselves rex Francorum ("king of the Franks"), rex Francorum orientalium ("king of the East 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 late 11th century, when the pope began to refer to his enemy Henry IV as rex teutonicorum (another exonym for Germans) 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, though after 1508 emperors-elect added "king in Germany" to their titles. In this and related entries, the kings and are called kings of Germany for clarity's sake. The Kingdom of Germany was never entirely hereditary; rather, ancestry was only one of the factors that determined the succession of kings. During the 10th to 13th centuries, 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.Germany - Britannica Educational Publishing In the Middle Ages, the king did not assume the title "emperor" (from 982 the full title was Imperator Augustus Romanorum, Venerable Emperor of the Romans) until crowned by the pope. Moving to Italy, he was usually first 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 Rome and be crowned emperor by the pope. Regnal numbers were not formally adopted until the late Middle Ages. Many of the early Frankish monarchs shared names and even nicknames. For example, Emperor Louis IV is enumerated after the three previous emperors named Louis, while King Louis IV is enumerated after the three previous kings named Louis, even though they were all members of the same family. Both German and French monarchs saw themselves as the successors of Charlemagne, hence why he and Louis the Pious, both emperors, are enumerated as "Charles I" and "Louis I" in both lists. Emperors beginning with Emperor Lothair III, who was actually the second emperor of that name, abandoned any distinction in numbering between his rule as king and his rule as emperor. Maximilian I was the first king to bear the title of emperor-elect. After his march to Rome for his Imperial coronation failed in 1508, 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 did not get crowned by the Pope anymore. At the same time, chosen successors of the emperors held the title of king of the Romans, if elected by the college of electors during their predecessor's lifetime. The list is heavely intertwined with lists of Holy Roman Emperors and Austrian rulers until the 19th century. The German state of Prussia formally established Germany as a nation-state in 1871.
Emperors are listed in bold.
East Francia (843–962) Carolingian dynasty
Portrait Name King Emperor Ended Notes Ref.Louis II "the German"Ludwig 10 August 843—28 August 876Son of Louis the Pious and grandson of Charlemagne.De jure subordinate king under emperors Lothair I (r. 840–855), Louis II (r. 855–875) and Charles II (r. 875–877).Non-contemporaryCarloman "the Bavarian"Karlmann28 August 876—November 879Son of Louis the German, ruled as king of Bavaria. Also became king of Italy after the death of Emperor Charles II, who ruled Italy and West Francia, in October 877. Abdicated the throne and died of an illness shortly after, on 20 March 880.Non-contemporaryLouis III "the Saxon"Ludwig—20 January 882Son of Louis the German, initially king of Saxony. Inherited Carloman's territories in Bavaria in November 879.Charles III "the Fat"Karl12 February 881 17 November 887Son of Louis the German, initially king of Alemannia, then crowned King of Italy (March 880) and Roman Emperor (February 881). Became sole king of East Francia in January 882, and also king of West Francia after the death of Carloman II in December 884, briefly reunited the Carolingian Empire before being deposed.ArnulfArnulf 27 November 88725 April 8968 December 899Illegitimate son of Carloman of Bavaria and Duke of Carinthia, took power after a coup against Charles the Fat. Also king of Italy. Non-contemporaryLouis IV "the Child"Ludwig8 December 899—24 September 911Son of Arnulf of Carinthia; sometimes called "Louis III".
Conradine dynasty
Portrait Name King Emperor Ended Notes Ref.Conrad IKonrad10 November 911—23 December 918Elected by the nobility
Ottonian dynasty
Seal/Portrait Name King Emperor Ended Notes Ref.Henry I "the Fowler"Heinrich 12 May 919—2 July 936Elected by the nobilityBöhmer, Johann Friedrich. (1893). Die Regesten des Kaiserreichs unter den Herrschern aus dem Sæchsischen Hause, 919-1024. p. 4. "Der wahltag ist nicht überliefert... er fallt vielmehr zwischen 12. und 24. mai 919". [The day of the election is not recorded... but it falls between 12 and 24 May 919]—Arnulf "the Evil"Arnulf919—921Rival king to Henry I, member of the Luitpoldings
Holy Roman Empire (962–1806) The title "King of the Romans", used in the Holy Roman Empire, denoted a ruler elected by the German princes whose authority was primarily exercised over the Germanic-speaking territories of the empire. While no formal “King of Germany” existed, the king’s election and governance effectively corresponded to that of a monarch over these lands. After election, the king would traditionally proceed to Rome to be crowned emperor by the pope.
Ottonian dynasty (continued) Portrait Name King Emperor Ended Notes Ref.Otto I "the Great"2 July 9362 February 9627 May 973Son of Henry I; first king crowned in Aachen Cathedral since Lothair I; crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 962Otto II "the Red"26 May 961(co-king)25 December 967(co-emperor)7 May 973(senior emperor)7 December 983Son of Otto I; first king and then emperor under his father.Otto III25 December 98321 May 99621 January 1002Son of Otto II"Otto III." Neue Deutsche Biographie.Henry II "the Saint"Heinrich7 June 100214 February 101413 July 1024Great-grandson of Henry I
Salian dynasty
Seal/Portrait Name King Emperor Ended Notes Ref.Conrad II "the Salic"Konrad8 September 102426 March 10274 June 1039Great-great-grandson of Otto I"Konrad II." Neue Deutsche BiographieHenry IIIHeinrich14 April 102825 December 10465 October 1056Son of Conrad II;King (of the Germans?)Medieval Europeans: studies in ethnic identity and national perspectives in medieval Europe By Alfred P. Smyth, Palgrave Macmillan (1998), p. 64 under his father 1028–1039"Heinrich III." Neue Deutsche BiographieHenry IVHeinrich17 July 105421 March 108431 December 1105Son of Henry III;King of Germany under his father, 1054–1056"Heinrich IV." Neue Deutsche BiographieRudolf of Rheinfelden15 March 1077—15 October 1080Rival king to Henry IV; member of the Rheinfeld."Rudolf von Rheinfelden." Neue Deutsche BiographieHermann of Salm6 August 1081—28 September 1088Rival king to Henry IV; member of the Salm family."Hermann von Salm." Neue Deutsche Biographie Conrad of ItalyKonrad30 May 1087—27 July 1101Son of Henry IV;King of Germany under his father, 1087–1098,King of Italy, 1093–1098, 1095–1101 in rebellion."Konrad." Neue Deutsche BiographieHenry VHeinrich6 January 109913 April 111123 May 1125Son of Henry IV;King of Germany under his father, 1099–1105, forced his father to abdicate"Heinrich V." Neue Deutsche Biographie
Supplinburger dynasty Seal/Portrait Name King Emperor Ended Notes Ref.Lothair IIILothar III.13 September 11254 June 11334 December 1137Was Lothair II of Germany, but Lothair III of Italy. Gave rise to the Guelph faction, named after his heir and son-in-law Henry the Proud of the House of Welf"Lothar III. (von Supplinburg)." Neue Deutsche Biographie
Hohenstaufen dynasty
Seal/Portrait Name King Emperor Ended Notes Ref.Conrad IIIKonrad III.7 March 1138—15 February 1152Grandson of Henry IV (through his mother);Previously rival king to Lothair III 1127–1135"Konrad III." Neue Deutsche BiographieHenry BerengarHeinrich (VI.)30 March 1147—1150Son of Conrad III;King of Germany under his father 1147–1150Frederick I "Barbarossa"Friedrich I.4 March 115218 June 115510 June 1190Nephew of Conrad IIIHenry VI(Heinrich VI.)15 August 1169(as co-king)15 April 119128 September 1197Son of Frederick I; crowned co-king at the age of 3."Heinrich VI." Neue Deutsche BiographieFrederick IIFriedrich II.1196—1198Son of Henry VI;King of Germany under his father 1196–1198Philip of SwabiaPhilipp II.8 March 1198—21 June 1208Son of Frederick I; elected rival king to Otto IVCalled himself "Philip II," after the Roman emperor Philip the Arab."Philipp von Schwaben." Neue Deutsche BiographieOtto IV9 June 119821 October 12091215Great-grandson of Lothair III, member of the House of Welf; later opposed by Frederick II; deposed in 1215; died on 19 May 1218"Otho IV." Neue Deutsche BiographieFrederick IIFriedrich II.5 December 121222 November 122026 December 1250Son of Henry VI;Rival king to Otto IV until 5 July 1215Henry (VII)Heinrich (VII.)23 April 1220—4 July 1235Son of Frederick II; crowned co-king at the age of 10Conrad IV(Konrad IV.)February 1237—21 May 1254Son of Frederick II;King of Germany under his father, 1237–1250"Konrad IV." Neue Deutsche Biographie
Interregnum
Image Coat of arms Name House King Emperor Ended Notes Ref.Henry RaspeHeinrich RaspeLudovingians22 May 1246—16 February 1247Rival King to Frederick II and great-great-great-grandson of Henry IVWilliam of HollandWilhelmHolland3 October 1247—28 January 1256Rival King to Frederick II and Conrad IV 1247–1254; unopposed 1254-1256 Married Elisabeth of the House of Welf in January 1252 to gain support of the Guelph factionRichard of CornwallPlantagenet13 January 1257—2 April 1272Brother-in-law of Frederick II and first-cousin of Otto IV, held little real authority Supported by the Guelph faction"Richard von Cornwall". Neue Deutsche Biographie.Alfonso X of CastileIvrea1 April 125721 August 1257(self-proclaimed)1275Grandson of Philip of Swabia; rival king to Richard of Cornwall; he held no authority and never went to Germany
Supported by the Ghibelline faction, but lost their support when he was opposed by Rudolf I in 1273
Relinquished claims in 1275
Changing dynasties