List of German monarchs facts for kids

German kingdom (blue) in the Holy Roman Empire around 1000

This article lists the kings and emperors who ruled over parts of what is now Germany. It covers the period from the year 843, when the large Frankish Empire was divided, all the way to 1918, when the German Empire ended. These rulers were important figures in shaping the history of Germany.

Kings of East Francia (843–962)

After the Frankish Empire split in 843, the eastern part became known as East Francia. This area was the beginning of what would later become Germany.

The Carolingian Family (843–911)

Picture	Name	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts	R.
	Louis II the German    (Ludwig der Deutsche)	c.August 10, 843	—	August 28, 876	He was the son of Emperor Louis the Pious and the grandson of Charlemagne.
	Carloman (Karlmann)	August 28, 876	—	March 22, 880	Son of Louis the German. He ruled in Bavaria and also became King of Italy in 876.
	Louis III the Younger (Ludwig der Jüngere)	March 22, 880	—	January 20, 882	Son of Louis the German. He ruled in East Francia and Saxony. From 880, he also ruled Bavaria.
	Charles III the Fat  (Karl der Dicke)	January 20, 882	February 12, 881	c.November 17, 887	Son of Louis the German. He ruled in Alemannia and Raetia. From 882, he ruled the entire Eastern Kingdom. He was also King of Italy from 879.
	Arnulf of Carinthia (Arnulf von Kärnten)	c.November 27, 887	April 25, 896	December 8, 899	He was the son of Carloman.
	Louis IV the Child (Ludwig das Kind)	December 8, 899	—	September 24, 911	He was the son of Arnulf of Carinthia.

The Conradine Family (911–918)

Picture	Name	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts	R.
	Conrad I (Konrad I.)	November 10, 911	—	December 23, 918	He was chosen by the nobles to be king.

The Ottonian Family (919–962)

Picture	Name	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts	R.
	Henry I the Fowler (Heinrich I. der Vogler)	May 14 / 24, 919	—	July 2, 936	He was chosen by the nobles to be king.
	Arnulf the Evil (Arnulf der Böse)	919	—	921	He was a rival king to Henry I. He was a member of the Luitpoldings family.

Rulers of the Holy Roman Empire (962–1806)

The title "King of the Romans" was used in the Holy Roman Empire. From the time of Henry II, this title was like being the King of Germany. A king was chosen by German electors (important princes). Then, he would travel to Rome to be crowned emperor by the Pope.

The Ottonian Family Continues (962–1024)

Picture	Name	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts
	Otto I the Great (Otto I. der Große)	July 2, 936	February 2, 962	May 7, 973	Son of Henry I. He was the first king crowned in Aachen Cathedral since Lothair I. He was crowned as Otto, King by the grace of God. He became Holy Roman Emperor in 962.
	Otto II the Red (Otto II. der Rote)	May 26, 961	December 25, 967	December 7, 983	Son of Otto I. He was King under his father from 961 to 973. He was also crowned emperor while his father was still alive.
	Otto III (Otto III.)	December 25, 983	May 21, 996	January 21, 1002	Son of Otto II. He was King by the grace of God.
	Henry II the Saint (Heinrich II. der Heilige)	June 7, 1002	April 26, 1014	July 13, 1024	He was the great-grandson of Henry I.

The Salian Family (1024–1125)

Picture	Name	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts
	Conrad II (Konrad II.)	September 8, 1024	March 26, 1027	June 4, 1039	He was the great-great-grandson of Otto I.
	Henry III (Heinrich III.)	April 14, 1028	December 25, 1046	October 5, 1056	Son of Conrad II. He was King under his father from 1028 to 1039.
	Henry IV (Heinrich IV.)	July 17, 1054	March 21, 1084	December 31, 1105	Son of Henry III. He was King of Germany under his father from 1054 to 1056.
	Rudolf of Rheinfelden (Rudolf von Rheinfelden)	March 15, 1077	—	October 15, 1080	He was a rival king to Henry IV. He was a member of the Rheinfeld family.
	Hermann of Salm (Hermann von Salm)	August 6, 1081	—	September 28, 1088	He was a rival king to Henry IV. He was a member of the Salm family.
	Conrad (Konrad)	May 30, 1087	—	July 27, 1101	Son of Henry IV. He was King of Germany under his father from 1087 to 1098. He was also King of Italy from 1093 to 1098, and from 1095 to 1101 during a rebellion.
	Henry V (Heinrich V.)	January 6, 1099	April 13, 1111	May 23, 1125	Son of Henry IV. He was King of Germany under his father from 1099 to 1105. He forced his father to give up the throne.

The Supplinburger Family (1125–1137)

Picture	Name	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts
	Lothair III (Lothar III.)	September 13, 1125	June 4, 1133	December 4, 1137	He was known as Lothair II in Germany, but Lothair III in Italy.

The Hohenstaufen Family (1138–1254)

Picture	Name	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts
	Conrad III (Konrad III.)	March 7, 1138	—	February 15, 1152	Grandson of Henry IV (through his mother). He was a rival king to Lothair III from 1127 to 1135.
	Henry Berengar (Heinrich (VI.))	March 30, 1147	—	August? 1150	Son of Conrad III. He was King of Germany under his father from 1147 to 1150.
	Frederick I Barbarossa (Friedrich I. Barbarossa)	March 4, 1152	June 18, 1155	June 10, 1190	Nephew of Conrad III.
	Henry VI (Heinrich VI.)	August 15, 1169	April 15, 1191	September 28, 1197	Son of Frederick I. He was King of Germany under his father from 1169 to 1190.
	Frederick II (Friedrich II.)	1197	—	1197	Son of Henry VI. He was King of Germany under his father in 1196.
	Philip of Swabia (Philipp von Schwaben)	March 8, 1198	—	June 21, 1208	Son of Frederick I. He was a rival king to Otto IV.
	Otto IV (Otto IV.)	June 9, 1198	October 21, 1209	1215	Great-grandson of Lothair III. He was a member of the House of Welf. He was later opposed by Frederick II. He was removed from power in 1215 and died on May 19, 1218.
	Frederick II (Friedrich II.)	December 5, 1212	November 22, 1220	December 26, 1250	Son of Henry VI. He was a rival king to Otto IV until July 5, 1215.
	Henry (Heinrich (VII.))	April 1220	—	July 2, 1235	Son of Frederick II. He was King of Germany under his father from 1220 to 1235.
	Conrad IV (Konrad IV.)	February 1237	—	May 21, 1254	Son of Frederick II. He was King of Germany under his father from 1237 to 1250.

The Time Without an Emperor (1254–1273)

This period was called the "Interregnum," meaning "between reigns." There was no strong emperor ruling the Holy Roman Empire.

Picture	Coat of Arms	Name	Family	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts
		Henry Raspe (Heinrich Raspe)	Thuringia	May 22, 1246	—	February 16, 1247	He was a rival King to Frederick II. He was also the great-great-great grandson of Henry IV.
		William of Holland (Wilhelm von Holland)	Holland	October 3, 1247	—	January 28, 1256	He was a rival King to Frederick II and Conrad IV from 1247 to 1254.
		Richard of Cornwall (Richard von Cornwall)	Plantagenet	January 13, 1257	—	April 2, 1272	He was the brother-in-law of Frederick II. He was a rival king to Alfonso of Castile but had no real power.
		Alfonso of Castile (Alfons von Kastilien)	House of Ivrea	April 1, 1257	—	1275	He was the grandson of Philip. He was a rival king to Richard of Cornwall and had no real power. He gave up his claims in 1275 and died in 1284.

Different Ruling Families (1273–1438)

Picture	Coat of Arms	Name	Family	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts
		Rudolf I (Rudolf I. von Habsburg)	Habsburg	September 29, 1273	—	July 15, 1291	He was the first ruler from the Habsburg family.
		Adolf of Nassau (Adolf von Nassau)	Nassau	May 5, 1292	—	June 23, 1298	Some historians believe that Conrad, Duke of Teck was king for a short time before Adolf.
		Albert I (Albrecht I. von Habsburg)	Habsburg	June 24, 1298	—	May 1, 1308	Son of Rudolf I. He was a rival king to Adolf of Nassau in 1298.
		Henry VII (Heinrich VII.)	Luxembourg	November 27, 1308	June 29, 1312	August 24, 1313	He was a Holy Roman Emperor.
		Louis IV (V) the Bavarian (Ludwig der Bayer)	Wittelsbach	October 20, 1314	January 17, 1328	October 11, 1347	Grandson of Rudolf I. He was a rival king to Frederick the Fair from 1314 to 1322.
		Frederick the Fair (Friedrich der Schöne)	Habsburg	October 19, 1314/ September 5, 1325	—	September 28, 1322/ January 13, 1330	Son of Albert I. He was a rival king to Louis IV from 1314 to 1322. He was an associate king with Louis IV from 1325 to 1330.
		Charles IV (Karl IV.)	Luxembourg	July 11, 1346	April 5, 1355	November 29, 1378	Grandson of Henry VII. He was a rival king to Louis IV from 1346 to 1347. He was also King of Bohemia, King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor.
		Günther von Schwarzburg (Günther von Schwarzburg)	Schwarzburg	January 30, 1349	—	May 24, 1349	He was a rival king to Charles IV.
		Wenceslaus (Wenzel von Böhmen)	Luxembourg	June 10, 1376	—	August 20, 1400	Son of Charles IV. He was King of Germany under his father from 1376 to 1378. He was removed from power in 1400 and died in 1419. He was also King of Bohemia.
		Rupert of the Palatinate (Ruprecht von der Pfalz)	Wittelsbach	August 21, 1400	—	May 18, 1410	He was the great-grandnephew of Louis IV.
		Sigismund (Sigismund)	Luxembourg	September 10, 1410 /July 21, 1411	May 3, 1433	December 9, 1437	Son of Charles IV.
		Jobst of Moravia (Jobst von Mähren)	Luxembourg	October 1, 1410	—	January 8, 1411	Nephew of Charles IV. He was a rival king to Sigismund.

The Habsburg Family (1438–1740)

Picture	Coat of Arms	Name	Became King	Became Emperor	Ended Rule	Important Facts
		Albert II (Albrecht II.)	March 18, 1438	—	October 27, 1439	He was the 4th generation descendant of Albert I. He was also the son-in-law of Sigismund.
		Frederick III (Friedrich III.)	February 2, 1440	March 16, 1452	August 19, 1493	He was the 4th generation descendant of Albert I and the second cousin of Albert II.
		Maximilian I (Maximilian I.)	February 16, 1486	February 4, 1508	January 12, 1519	Son of Frederick III. He was King of Germany under his father from 1486 to 1493. He took the title "Elected Emperor" in 1508 with the Pope's approval.
		Charles V (Karl V.)	June 28, 1519	June 28, 1519	August 3, 1556	Grandson of Maximilian I. He died on September 21, 1558. He was the last Emperor to be crowned by the Pope.
		Ferdinand I (Ferdinand I.)	January 5, 1531	August 27, 1556	July 25, 1564	Grandson of Maximilian I and brother of Charles V. He was King of Germany under his brother Charles V from 1531 to 1556. He was the last king to be crowned in Aachen Cathedral.
		Maximilian II (Maximilian II.)	November 22, 1562	July 25, 1564	October 12, 1576	Son of Ferdinand I. He was King of Germany under his father from 1562 to 1564.
		Rudolf II (Rudolf II.)	October 27, 1575	October 12, 1576	January 20, 1612	Son of Maximilian II. He was King of Germany under his father from 1575 to 1576.
		Matthias (Matthias)	June 13, 1612	June 13, 1612	March 20, 1619	Son of Maximilian II.
		Ferdinand II (Ferdinand II.)	August 28, 1619	August 28, 1619	February 15, 1637	Grandson of Ferdinand I.
		Ferdinand III (Ferdinand III.)	December 22, 1636	February 15, 1637	April 2, 1657	Son of Ferdinand II. He was King of Germany under his father from 1636 to 1637.
		Ferdinand IV (Ferdinand IV.)	May 31, 1653	—	July 9, 1654	Son of Ferdinand III. He was King of Germany under his father.
		Leopold I (Leopold I.)	July 18, 1658	July 18, 1658	May 5, 1705	Son of Ferdinand III.
		Joseph I (Joseph I.)	January 23, 1690	May 5, 1705	April 17, 1711	Son of Leopold I. He was King of Germany under his father from 1690 to 1705.
		Charles VI (Karl VI.)	October 12, 1711	October 12, 1711	October 20, 1740	Son of Leopold I.
		Charles VII (Karl VII.)	January 24, 1742	January 24, 1742	January 20, 1745	He was a member of the House of Wittelsbach. He was the great-great-grandson of Ferdinand II. He was married to Maria Amalia, who was the daughter of Joseph I.
		Francis I (Franz I.)	September 13, 1745	September 13, 1745	August 18, 1765	He was the husband of Maria Theresa I.
		Joseph II (Joseph II.)	March 27, 1764	August 18, 1765	February 20, 1790	Son of Maria Theresa I and Francis I. He was King of Germany under his mother and father from 1764 to 1765.
		Leopold II (Leopold II.)	September 30, 1790	September 30, 1790	March 1, 1792	Son of Maria Theresa I and Francis I.
		Francis II (Franz II.)	July 5, 1792	July 5, 1792	August 6, 1806	Son of Leopold II. He ended the Holy Roman Empire. He was also Emperor of Austria from 1804 to 1835. He was President of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1835 and died in 1835.

Germany in Modern Times (1806–1918)

After the Holy Roman Empire ended, Germany went through several changes in its political structure.

The Confederation of the Rhine (1806–1813)

Name	Picture	Title	Family	Began	Ended
Napoleon I Emperor of the French King of Italy		Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine	Bonaparte	July 12, 1806	October 19, 1813
Eugène de Beauharnais, Grand Duke of Frankfurt		Prince-primate of the Confederation of the Rhine	Beauharnais	October 26, 1813	December 1813
Karl Theodor von Dalberg, Prince-Archbishop of Regensburg Grand Duke of Frankfurt		Prince-primate of the Confederation of the Rhine	Dalberg	July 25, 1806	October 26, 1813

The German Confederation (1815–1866)

Name	Picture	Title	Family	Began	Ended
Francis I, Emperor of Austria (Franz I., Kaiser von Österreich)		Head of the presiding power (Präsidialmacht) Austria	Habsburg-Lorraine	June 20, 1815	March 2, 1835
Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria (Ferdinand I., Kaiser von Österreich)		Head of the presiding power (Präsidialmacht) Austria	Habsburg-Lorraine	March 2, 1835	July 12, 1848
Archduke John of Austria (Erzherzog Johann von Österreich)		Regent (Reichsverweser) of the revolutionary German Empire	Habsburg-Lorraine	July 12, 1848	December 20, 1849
Frederick William IV, King of Prussia (Friedrich Wilhelm IV., König von Preußen)		Emperor of the Germans elect	Hohenzollern	March 28, 1849	April 28, 1849
		Presidium of the Union (Unionsvorstand) of the Erfurt Union		May 26, 1849	November 29, 1850
Francis Joseph I, Emperor of Austria (Franz Joseph I., Kaiser von Österreich)		Head of the presiding power (Präsidialmacht) Austria	Habsburg-Lorraine	May 1, 1850	August 24, 1866

The North German Confederation (1867–1871)

Name	Picture	Title	Family	Began	Ended
Wilhelm I, King of Prussia (Wilhelm I, König von Preußen)		Holder of the Bundespräsidium of the North German Confederation	Hohenzollern	July 1, 1867	January 1, 1871

The German Empire (1871–1918)

Name	Picture	Family	Began	Ended
Wilhelm I Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig		Hohenzollern	January 1, 1871	March 9, 1888
Friedrich III Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl		Hohenzollern	March 9, 1888	June 15, 1888
Wilhelm II Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert		Hohenzollern	June 15, 1888	November 28, 1918

Understanding the Titles of Rulers

• The Kingdom of Germany began as the eastern part of the Frankish kingdom. This kingdom was divided by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. The rulers of this eastern area first called themselves "king of the Franks." Later, they were simply called "king."
• The word "Germans" to describe a nation didn't appear until the 11th century. At that time, the Pope called his enemy Henry IV "king of the Germans." This was meant to make Henry seem like an outsider.
• To show their power over many lands, the kings always used the title "king of the Romans." This title was used even before they became emperor. This title lasted until the Empire ended in 1806. However, after 1508, emperors also added "king in Germany" to their titles.
• The Kingdom of Germany was not always passed down from parent to child. Family ties were just one part of choosing the next king. From the 10th to the 13th centuries, the main nobles in the kingdom formally elected the king. This continued an old Frankish tradition.
• Over time, the election became the special right of a group of princes called electors. The Golden Bull of 1356 officially set out how these elections would happen.
• In the Middle Ages, a king did not become "emperor" until he was crowned by the Pope. The full title from 982 was "Venerable Emperor of the Romans." When a king went to Italy, he was usually first crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy. After that, he would be called "king of Italy." Then, he would travel to Rome to be crowned emperor by the Pope.
• Maximilian I was the first king to use the title "emperor-elect." In 1508, his plan to march to Rome for his coronation failed. So, he had himself declared "emperor-elect" with the Pope's permission.
• His successor, Charles V, also used that title after his coronation in 1520. He was crowned emperor by the Pope in 1530. From Ferdinand I onwards, no emperors were crowned by the Pope anymore.
• At the same time, chosen successors of the emperors were called "king of the Romans." This happened if they were elected by the group of electors while the current emperor was still alive.

Emperors are listed in bold. Rival kings, anti-kings, and junior co-rulers are italicized.

Learn More

In Spanish: Anexo:Reyes y emperadores de Alemania para niños

• German Emperor
• Family tree of German monarchs
• List of German monarchs in 1918
• List of German queens
• Emperor of Austria
  • List of rulers of Austria
• King of Bavaria
  • List of rulers of Bavaria
• List of monarchs of Prussia
• List of rulers of Saxony
• List of monarchs of Württemberg