Imperial Electioneering: The Evolution of the
Election in the Holy Roman Empire from the Collapse of the Carolingians
to the Rise of the Ottonians
Mosiac of Otto I – photo by Axel Mauruszat / Wikimedia Commons
Abstract: The Holy Roman Empire had an electoral process for choosing
the Holy Roman Emperor. The heritage of this unique medieval
institution can be traced through from Charlemagne empire to the
Ottonians. The Empire of Charlemagne had several serious problems that
led to its collapse. In the wake of this collapse, the lords of Germany
asserted their power and chose leaders for themselves. Between the fall
of the Carolingians and the rise of the Ottonians, Germany moved toward
an elected kingship with a ducal power base. Only when Otto I became
emperor was there a marriage between the German electoral system and the
title of Holy Roman Emperor, resulting in the Holy Roman Empire of the
late medieval period.
Introduction: The Holy Roman Empire was a unique institution in the
medieval world. While it claimed a heritage from the Caesars of Rome and
the Carolingian emperors, its institutions reflected a unique and
somewhat confusing heritage. Technically, the Ottonian dynasty, of which
Otto I, 962-973, received the title of emperor from the Pope, was
anointed in the tradition of Charlemagne. By that time, however, the
Empire Charlemagne founded had been splintered apart. Otto I was able to
form a kingdom out of some of the warring factions and amass the power
needed to have the Pope declare him emperor. But his Empire had diverged
greatly from the one of old. Now, though the emperor was the central
authority of the Empire, he was chosen by the princes of the Empire
through an election. This election set the Holy Roman Empire apart from
the Carolingian Empire and the rest of Europe. This strange political
development would define the Holy Roman Empire and central Europe for
centuries to come.
The Holy Roman Empire has been a focal point of historiographical
debate for centuries. The post-Roman emperors of Western Europe have
been the highlights of “great man” history, ranging from the legends of
Charlemagne to the ambitions of Otto III to the tragic death of
Barbarossa. However, the idea of studying the actually government and
institutions of the Holy Roman Empire became highly popular after it had
ended. Following the complete demise of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806
at the hands of Napoleon, the value of the old system came to the fore
of political debate.
