Polikarpova, E.V. Formation of the empire idea in the German history

Abstract: The article includes analysis of attempts to renew the Western Roman Empire «with the force of German arms», which were taken by the kings of Roman-German states and later by the Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. It is shown how the ambitious project of «Sacrum Imperium Romanorum» became the «Reich of German Nation». The lasting conflict between the power of Emperors and Popes has shown that both parties were not ready to control their personal motives in order to fulfill a historic mission. The Popes and the Emperors failed to fulfill the testament of Charlemagne on the returning to the unity of the Christian world, or at least the Western Europe, and their policies led to the opposing results. This conflict has became one of the reasons for the failure of the Crusades of 1096 to 1270, which were aimed at retrieving the Middle Eastern provinces of the former Roman Empire from the Islam. However, most of the leaders of the Crusaders were not able to interact constructively. The loss of control over Italy by the Hohenstaufens lead to the changes in the character of the Empire. The Roman-German «Sacrum Imperium Romanorum» lost its universal character, becoming «Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutcher Nation», and de facto the First Reich of the German Nation. The formula «The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation» appeared in the 2nd half of the XV century at the time of the Emperor Friedrich the III, however, de facto the situation was formed earlier. However, the idea of «translatio imperii» was not exhausted, and its novel modification and new figures have appeared.

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