20 Facts About Holy Roman

Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.

Exact term "Holy Roman Empire" was not used until the 13th century, but the Emperor's legitimacy always rested on the concept of translatio imperii, that he held supreme power inherited from the ancient emperors of Rome.

The term sacrum in connection with the medieval Roman Empire was used beginning in 1157 under Frederick I Barbarossa : the term was added to reflect Frederick's ambition to dominate Italy and the Papacy.

Exact term "Holy Roman Empire" was not used until the 13th century, before which the empire was referred to variously as universum regnum, imperium christianum, or Romanum imperium, but the Emperor's legitimacy always rested on the concept of translatio imperii, that he held supreme power inherited from the ancient emperors of Rome.

Holy Roman eventually incorporated the territories of present-day France, Germany, northern Italy, the Low Countries and beyond, linking the Frankish kingdom with Papal lands.

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Holy Roman overcame a series of revolts from a younger brother and from several dukes.

Holy Roman replaced leaders of most of the major East Frankish duchies with his own relatives.

Holy Roman emphasized the "Romanness" of the empire, partly in an attempt to justify the power of the emperor independent of the pope.

Holy Roman embroiled himself in another conflict with the Papacy by supporting a candidate elected by a minority against Pope Alexander III .

Holy Roman was the first of the Habsburgs to hold a royal title, but he was never crowned emperor.

Holy Roman lavishly spread French money in the hope of bribing the German electors.

Holy Roman avoided direct confrontations, which might lead to humiliation if the princes refused to give way.

The Holy Roman Law was made binding in German courts, except in the case it was contrary to local statutes.

Holy Roman became afraid to act when the Catholic Church was forcibly reasserting control in Austria and Hungary, and the Protestant princes became upset over this.

At the Battle of Vienna, the Army of the Holy Roman Empire, led by the Polish King John III Sobieski, decisively defeated a large Turkish army, stopping the western Ottoman advance and leading to the eventual dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.

All other historic member states of the Holy Roman Empire were either dissolved or have adopted republican systems of government.

Holy Roman Empire was neither a centralized state nor a nation-state.

Army of the Holy Roman Empire was created in 1422 and as a result of the Napoleonic Wars came to an end even before the Empire.

The Holy Roman Empire did not have its own dedicated ministry of foreign affairs and therefore the Imperial Diet had no control over these diplomats; occasionally the Diet criticised them.

German demographic historians have traditionally worked on estimates of the population of the Holy Roman Empire based on assumed population within the frontiers of Germany in 1871 or 1914.