Home Region:  Central Europe (Europe)

Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period

1255 CE 1453 CE
D G R CC
OTHER  de_empire_3
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  General Description  
The Holy Roman Empire from 1255 to 1453 was characterized by internal restructuring, the assertion of princely and municipal autonomy, and the ongoing negotiation of power between secular and ecclesiastical authorities. This period is marked by significant transitions and the interplay of imperial ambition, regional princely power, and the persistent influence of the Papacy. [1]
Following the Interregnum, a time characterized by a lack of clear imperial leadership after the fall of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, the Empire sought to re-establish its coherence under new leadership. This era is defined by the gradual emergence of territorial principalities and the increasing importance of cities and towns, reflecting a shift towards more localized forms of governance within the imperial framework and a reduction of central Imperial power and cohesion. The election of Rudolf I of Habsburg in 1273 brought some stability after years of internal strife and fragmentation. The Habsburg ascendancy marked the beginning of a dynasty that would later come to play a pivotal role in European politics. The immediate impact was a consolidation of power and establishing dynastic territories in Austria and surrounding regions, marking the beginning of the rise of Austria. [2]
The period also witnessed the continuation of the struggle between the Empire and the Papacy, a remnant of the Investiture Conflict. While the overt conflict over investitures had diminished, the broader contest for influence between secular and ecclesiastical authorities persisted, influencing the political landscape of the Empire and beyond. [1]
The 14th and 15th centuries saw the rise of the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive alliance of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe. This development underscored the growing economic power of cities within the Empire and their increasing role in shaping regional politics and trade routes. [3]
The Golden Bull of 1356 was a landmark event, establishing a constitutional structure for the Empire and formalizing the electoral process for the selection of the Emperor.It formalized the creation of an Electoral College, consisting of seven prince-electors who were granted the exclusive right to elect the Emperor. These electors included the Archbishops of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne, the King of Bohemia, the Count Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxony, and the Margrave of Brandenburg. It also underscored the autonomy of the Emperor from the Papacy, stipulating that the election of the Emperor by the prince-electors was final and did not require papal approval. [4] This decree aimed to balance the power among the leading princes and the Emperor, laying the groundwork for the political system that would define the Empire’s later stages.The late medieval period was also marked by external pressures, notably the Ottoman Empire’s expansion into Europe. The fall of Constantinople in 1453, while not directly involving the Holy Roman Empire, signaled a significant shift in the balance of power and posed a looming threat to Christendom, including the territories of the Empire. [5]

[1]: Stollberg-Rilinger, Das Heilige Römische Reich Deutscher Nation. Zotero link: FA7D8TKC

[2]: Kaufhold, Deutsches Interregnum Und Europäische Politik. Zotero link: 3VKQVTUM

[3]: Dollinger, Henn, and Dollinger, Die Hanse. Zotero link: I7DL372B

[4]: Hergemöller, Fürsten, Herren Und Städte Zu Nürnberg, 1355/56. Zotero link: IZGE7CTD

[5]: “Fall of Constantinople | Facts, Summary, & Significance | Britannica.” Zotero link: CEWT25UW

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases
Power Transitions
Instability Events
General Variables
Identity and Location Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 32 U 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Original Name Holy Roman Empire 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Capital 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Alternative Name German Kingdom 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Alternative Name Sacrum Imperium Romanum 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Alternative Name Heiliges Römisches Reich 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Temporal Bounds Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [1255 CE ➜ 1453 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 1415 CE 1453 CE
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Suprapolity Relations 1310 CE  1526 CE
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Suprapolity Relations 1300 CE  1400 CE
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Suprapolity Relations 1315 CE  1515 CE
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Preceding Entity
1126 CE 1254 CE
Holy Roman Empire - Hohenstaufen and Welf Dynasties (de_empire_2)   [None] 
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Degree of Centralization loose 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Language Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Language German 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Religion Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Christianity 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Religion Family Catholicism 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Hierarchical Complexity Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professions Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Bureaucracy Characteristics Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Law Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Transport Infrastructure Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Special-purpose Sites Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Money Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Postal System Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Measurement System Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Military use of Metals Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Projectiles Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Handheld weapons Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Animals used in warfare Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Armor Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Naval technology Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Present 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Present 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 1255 CE  1453 CE
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Human Sacrifice Holy Roman Empire - Fragmented Period (de_empire_3)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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