The Holy Roman Empire

  The Holy Roman Empire, or Sacrum Romanum Imperium in Latin, was a political entity spanning hundreds of years and encompassing varying amounts of territory in Western and Central Europe. Its origins date back to the reign of Charlemagne, founder of the Carolingian Empire, who was crowned emperor in the year 800 AD. His title was “Charles, most serene Augustus, crowned by God, great and pacific emperor, governing the Roman empire.” This was later shortened to the more succinct Holy Roman Emperor. Though having the word holy as part of the title, the empire soon fell under fire from the papacy, most notably in the 11th century with the Investiture Controversy. Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) claimed that only he could appoint and give symbols to bishops and abbots, whereas Emperor Henry IV claimed he could as well. Whilst ostensibly about the investiture of bishoprics and abbacies, the real conflict arose over the relative powers of the papacy and the Holy Roman Emperor. Over the centurie