The HOly Roman Empire |
Above: A drawing on parchment from 1341 of the seven electorates of the Holy Roman Empire. Google Images
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This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire. |
The Formation of The Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was form on December 25, 800 CE when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, the king of the Frankish tribe that controlled the regions of modern day France, Germany, and Italy. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne in the hopes of him defending the territories of the Papal States from the last remaining Romans and the powerful Orthodox Christian empire of the Byzantines. The crowning Charlemagne marked the beginning of the strong ties between the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope along with the Catholic Church. After Charlemagne's death his empire fragmented into separate kingdoms. The kingdoms specifically the ones West of the Rhine river made up the Holy Roman Empire.
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