Holy Roman Empire: Poll Choice
I voted for the Holy Roman Empire: 962-1806; from its foundation by Otto I 'the Great' to its abjuration through the abdication of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia and King of Hungary. There are two divergent viewpoints: that Charlemagne was the first Holy Roman Emperor, and that Otto I 'the Great' was the first Holy Roman Emperor. I agree with the second choice/viewpoint; the Carolingian Frankish Empire lasted from 481-814 CE. Charlemagne was of the Carolingian Dynasty that had replaced the Merovingian Dynasty. Through a great path of subjugation, Lombardy, Bavaria, Burgundy, Pampalona, Friesland, Saxony and Spoleto were added to the direct territorial acquisitions. The peripheral territories/margraviates consisted of the tributary Slavic lands, Brittany and the Lombard Duchy of Benevento. (The Byzantine Catapanate of Italy held Calabria, and the Duchy of Naples was under the hegemony of the Byzantines.)
Charlemagne upheld the autonomasia of "Rex Francorum" or King of the Franks, "Rex Langobardorum" or King of the Lombards and "Imperator Romanorum" or Emperor of the Romans. His son ascended to the imperial porphyrogene: Louis I 'the Pious'. After the treaty of Verdun: 843 CE the Carolingian Empire became a tripartite entity: Western Francia to Charles, Middle Francia and Italy to Lothair and Eastern Francia to Louis 'the German'.
Western Francia lost the Carolingian Dynasty with the ascension of Hugh Capet, of the Direct Capetian Dynasty. (1300's followed by the Valois, 1500's followed by the Bourbon Dynasty, 1830-1848 the Bourbon-Orleans Dynasty); Middle Francia led to the arising of Friesland, the duchy of Burgundy and a divided Italy; and Eastern Francia with Otto I 'the Great' led to the foundation of the Romano-Germanic political entity: the Holy Roman Empire. Conrad II 'the Salian' of the Salian Dynasty, following the Ottonian/Liudolfing Dynasty would incorporate the duchy of Burgundy to the Holy Roman Empire.
In addition, the Holy Roman Empire was at its peak of centralization during the reigns of Otto I, Otto II and Otto III of the Liudolfing Dynasty; after the loss of the first dynasty, the fragmentation began. The appellation of "Holy Roman Emperor" was decided by the initially seven Prince-Electors (Bavaria and Hannover would later be added as Electorates of the Holy Roman Empire) The Prince-Electors would choose the Emperor; the designated heir before the coronation by the pope would be titled "Rex Romanorum" or King of the Romans and after his coronation be titled "Rex Teutonicorum" or King of the Germans. (NOTE: Charles V was the last Holy Roman Emperor to be coronated by the pope; later Emperors would be titled Emperor-Elects.)
This has been a brief overview of the Holy Roman Empire and an indication of a historical passion.