Transcriber's Note:
Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have
been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
THE
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
BY
JAMES BRYCE, D.C.L.
_FELLOW OF ORIEL COLLEGE
and
PROFESSOR OF CIVIL LAW IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD_
THIRD EDITION REVISED
London
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1871
OXFORD:
By T. Combe, M.A., E. B. Gardner, and E. Pickard Hall,
PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
The object of this treatise is not so much to give a narrative history
of the countries included in the Romano-Germanic Empire--Italy during
the middle ages, Germany from the ninth century to the nineteenth--as
to describe the Holy Empire itself as an institution or system, the
wonderful offspring of a body of beliefs and traditions which have
almost wholly passed away from the world. Such a description, however,
would not be intelligible without some account of the great events
which accompanied the growth and decay of imperial power; and it has
therefore appeared best to give the book the form rather of a
narrative than of a dissertation; and to combine with an exposition of
what may be called the theory of the Empire an outline of the
political history of Germany, as well as some notices of the affairs
of mediæval Italy. To make the succession of events clearer, a
Chronological List of Emperors and Popes has been prefixed[1].
The present edition has been carefully revised and corrected
throughout; and a good many additions have been made to both text and
notes.
LINCOLN'S INN,
August 11, 1870.
FOOTNOTE:
[1] The author has in preparation, and hopes before long to complete
and publish, a set of chronological tables which may be made to serve
as a sort of skeleton history of mediæval Germany and Italy.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Introductory.
CHAPTER II.
The Roman Empire before the Invasion of the Barbarians.
The Empire in the Second Century 5
Obliteration of National distinctions 6
Rise of Christianity 10
Its Alliance with the State 10
Its Influence on the Idea of an Imperial Nationality 13
CHAPTER III.
The Barbarian Invasions.
Relations between the Primitive Germans and the Romans 15
Their Feelings towards Rome and her Empire 16
Belief in its Eternity 20
Extinction by Odoacer of the Western branch of the Empire 26
Theodoric the Ostrogothic King 27
Gradual Dissolution of the Empire 30
Permanence of the Roman Religion and the Roman Law 31
CHAPTER IV.
Restoration of the Empire in the West.
The Franks 34
Italy under Greeks and Lombards 37
The Iconoclastic Schism 38
Alliance of the Popes with the Frankish Kings 39
The Frankish Conquest of Italy 41
Adventures and Plans of Pope Leo III 43
Coronation of Charles the Great 48
CHAPTER V.
Empire and Policy of Charles.
Import of the Coronation at Rome 52
Accounts given in the Annals of the time 53
Question as to the Intentions of Charles 58
Legal Effect of the Coronation 62
Position of Charles towards the Church 64
Towards his German Subjects 67
Towards the other Races of Europe 70
General View of his Character and Policy 72
CHAPTER VI.
Carolingian and Italian Emperors.
Reign of Lewis I 76
Dissolution of the Carolingian Empire 78
Beginnings of the German Kingdom 79
Italian Emperors 80
Otto the Saxon King 84
Coronation of Otto at Rome 87
CHAPTER VII.
Theory of the Mediæval Empire.
The World Monarchy and the World Religion 91
Unity of the Christian Church 94
Influence of the Doctrine of Realism 97
The Popes as heirs to the Roman Monarchy 99
Character of the revived Roman Empire 102
Respective Functions of the Pope and the Emperor 104
Proofs and Illustrations 109
Interpretations of Prophecy 112
Two remarkable Pictures 116
CHAPTER VIII.
The Roman Empire and the German Kingdom.
The German or East Frankish Monarchy 122
Feudality in Germany 123
Reciprocal Influence of the Roman and Teutonic Elements on
the Character of the Empire 127
CHAPTER IX.
Saxon and Franconian Emperors.
Adventures of Otto the Great in Rome 134
Trial and Deposition of Pope John XII 135
Position of Otto in Italy 139
His European Policy 140
Comparison of his Empire with the Carolingian 144
Character and Projects of the Emperor Otto III 146
The Emperors Henry II and Conrad II 150
The Emperor Henry III 151
CHAPTER X.
Struggle of the Empire and the Papacy.
Origin and Progress of Papal Power 153
Relations of the Popes with the early Emperors 155
Quarrel of Henry IV and Gregory VII 159
Gregory's Ideas 160
Concordat of Worms 163
General Results of the Contest 164
CHAPTER XI.
The Emperors in Italy: Frederick Barbarossa.
Frederick and the Papacy 167
Revival of the Study of the Roman Law 172
Arnold of Brescia and the Roman Republicans 174
Frederick's Struggle with the Lombard Cities 175
His Policy as German King 178
CHAPTER XII.
Imperial Titles and Pretensions.
Territorial Limits of the Empire--Its Claims of Jurisdiction
over other Countries 182
Hungary 183
Poland 184
Denmark 184
France 185
Sweden 185
Spain 185
England 186
Scotland 187
Naples and Sicily 188
Venice 188
The East 189
Rivalry of the Teutonic and Byzantine Emperors 191
The Four Crowns 193
Origin and Meaning of the title 'Holy Empire' 199
CHAPTER XIII.
Fall of the Hohenstaufen.
Reign of Henry VI 205
Contest of Philip and Otto IV 206
Character and Career of the Emperor Frederick II 207
Destruction of Imperial Authority in Italy 211
The Great Interregnum 212
Rudolf of Hapsburg 213
Change in the Character of the Empire 214
Haughty Demeanour of the Popes 217
CHAPTER XIV.
The Germanic Constitution--the Seven Electors.
Germany in the Fourteenth Century 222
Reign of the Emperor Charles IV 225
Origin and History of the System of Election, and of the
Electoral Body 225
The Golden Bull 230
Remarks on the Elective Monarchy of Germany 233
Results of Charles IV's Policy 236
CHAPTER XV.
The Empire as an International Power.
Revival of Learning 240
Beginnings of Political Thought 241
Desire for an International Power 242
Theory of the Emperor's Functions as Monarch of Europe 244
Illustrations 249
Relations of the Empire and the New Learning 251
The Men of Letters--Petrarch, Dante 254
The Jurists 256
Passion for Antiquity in the Middle Ages: its Causes 258
The Emperor Henry VII in Italy 262
The _De Monarchia_ of Dante 264
CHAPTER XVI.
The City of Rome in the Middle Ages.
Rapid Decline of the City after the Gothic Wars 273
Her Condition in the Dark Ages 274
Republican Revival of the Twelfth Century 276
Character and Ideas of Nicholas Rienzi 278
Social State of Mediæval Rome 280
Visits of the Teutonic Emperors 282
Revolts against them 284
Existing Traces of their Presence in Rome 286
Want of Mediæval, and especially of Gothic Buildings, in
Modern Rome 289
Causes of this; Ravages of Enemies and Citizens 291
Modern Restorations 292
Surviving Features of truly Mediæval Architecture--the
Bell-towers 294
The Roman Church and the Roman City 296
Rome since the Revolution 299
CHAPTER XVII.
The Renaissance: Change in the Character of the Empire.
Weakness of Germany 302
Loss of Imperial Territories 303
Gradual Change in the Germanic Constitution 307
Beginning of the Predominance of the Hapsburgs 310
The Discovery of America 311
The Renaissance and its Effects on the Empire 311
Projects of Constitutional Reform 313
Changes of Title 316
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Reformation and its Effects upon the Empire.
Accession of Charles V 319
His Attitude towards the Reformation 321
Issue of his Attempts at Coercion 322
Spirit and Essence of the Religious Movement 325
Its Influence on the Doctrine of the Visible Church 327
How far it promoted Civil and Religious Liberty 329
Its Effect upon the Mediæval Theory of the Empire 332
Upon the Position of the Emperor in Europe 333
Dissensions in Germany 334
The Thirty Years' War 335
CHAPTER XIX.
The Peace of Westphalia: Last Stage in the Decline
of the Empire.
Political Import of the Peace of Westphalia 337
Hippolytus a Lapide and his Book 339
Changes in the Germanic Constitution 340
Narrowed Bounds of the Empire 341
Condition of Germany after the Peace 342
The Balance of Power 345
The Hapsburg Emperors and their Policy 348
The Emperor Charles VII 351
The Empire in its last Phase 352
Feelings of the German People 354
CHAPTER XX.
Fall of the Empire.
The Emperor Francis II 356
Napoleon as the Representative of the Carolingians 357
The French Empire 360
Napoleon's German Policy 361
The Confederation of the Rhine 362
End of the Empire 363
The German Confederation 364
CHAPTER XXI.
Conclusion: General Summary.
Causes of the Perpetuation of the Name of Rome 366
Parallel instances: Claims now made to represent the Roman
Empire 367
Parallel afforded by the History of the Papacy 369
In how far was the Empire really Roman 374
Imperialism: Ancient and Modern 375
Essential Principles of the Mediæval Empire 377
Influence of the Imperial System in Germany 378
The Claim of Modern Austria to represent the Mediæval Empire 381
Results of the Influence of the Empire upon Europe 383
Upon Modern Jurisprudence 383
Upon the Development of the Ecclesiastical Power 384
Struggle of the Empire with three Hostile Principles 388
Its Relations, Past and Present, to the Nationalities
of Europe 390
Conclusion: Difficulties caused by the Nature of the
Subject 392
APPENDIX.
NOTE A.
On the Burgundies 395
NOTE B.
On the Relations to the Empire of the Kingdom of Denmark
and the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein 398
NOTE C.
On certain Imperial Titles and Ceremonies 400
NOTE D.
Hildebert's Lines contrasting the Past and Present of Rome 406
INDEX 407
DATES OF
SEVERAL IMPORTANT EVENTS
IN THE HISTORY OF THE EMPIRE.
B.C.
Battle of Pharsalia 48
A.D.
Council of Nicæa 325
End of the separate Western Empire 476
Revolt of the Italians from the Iconoclastic Emperors 728
Coronation of Charles the Great 800
End of the Carolingian Empire 888
Coronation of Otto the Great 962
Final Union of Italy to the Empire 1014
Quarrel between Henry IV and Gregory VII 1076
The First Crusade 1096
Battle of Legnano 1176
Death of Frederick II 1250
League of the three Forest Cantons of Switzerland 1308
Career of Rienzi 1347-1354
The Golden Bull 1356
Council of Constance 1415
Extinction of the Eastern Empire 1453
Discovery of America 1492
Luther at the Diet of Worms 1521
Beginning of the Thirty Years' War 1618
Peace of Westphalia 1648
Prussia recognized as a Kingdom 1701
End of the House of Hapsburg 1742
Seven Years' War 1756-1763
Peace of Luneville 1801
Formation of the German Confederation 1815
Establishment of the North German Confederation 1866
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
OF
EMPERORS AND POPES.
A. D. B. C.
Augustus. 27
A. D.
Tiberius. 14
Caligula. 37
Claudius. 41
42 St. Peter, (according
to Jerome).
Nero. 54
67 Linus, (according to
Jerome, Irenæus,
Eusebius).
68 Clement, (according Galba, Otho, Vitellius,
to Tertullian and Vespasian. 68
Rufinus).
78 Anacletus (?).
Titus. 79
Domitian. 81
91 Clement, (according
to later writers).
Nerva. 96
Trajan. 98
100 Evaristus (?).
109 Alexander (?).
Hadrian. 117
119 Sixtus I.
129 Telesphorus.
Antoninus Pius. 138
139 Hyginus.
143 Pius I.
157 Anicetus.
Marcus Aurelius. 161
168 Soter.
177 Eleutherius.
Commodus. 180
Pertinax. 190
Didius Julianus. 191
Niger. 192
193 Victor (?). Septimius Severus. 193
202 Zephyrinus (?).
Caracalla, Geta,
Diadumenian. 211
Opilius Macrinus. 217
Elagabalus. 218
219 Calixtus I.
Alexander Severus. 222
223 Urban I.
230 Pontianus.
235 Anterius or Anteros. Maximin. 235
236 Fabianus.
The two Gordians, Maximus
Pupienus, Balbinus. 237
Gordian the Younger. 238
Philip. 244
Decius. 249
251 Cornelius. Gallus. 251
252 Lucius I. Volusian. 252
253 Stephen I. Æmilian, Valerian,
Gallienus. 253
257 Sixtus II.
259 Dionysius.
Claudius II. 268
269 Felix.
Aurelian. 270
275 Eutychianus. Tacitus. 275
Probus. 276
Carus. 282
283 Caius.
Carinus, Numerian,
Diocletian. 284
Maximian, joint Emperor
with Diocletian. 286
296 Marcellinus. [305(?)
304 Vacancy. Constantius, Galerius. 304(?)
Licinius. or 307]
308 Marcellus I. Maximin. 308
Constantine, Galerius,
Licinius, Maximin,
Maxentius, and Maximian
reigning jointly. 309
310 Eusebius.
311 Melchiades.
314 Sylvester I.
Constantine (the Great)
alone. 323
336 Marcus I.
337 Julius I. Constantine II,
Constantius II,
Constans. 337
Magnentius. 350
352 Liberius.
Constantius alone. 353
356 Felix (Anti-pope).
Julian. 361
Jovian. 363
Valens and Valentinian I. 364
366 Damasus I.
Gratian and Valentinian I. 367
Valentinian II and
Gratian. 375
Theodosius. 379
384 Siricius.
Arcadius (in the East),
Honorius (in the West). 395
398 Anastasius I.
402 Innocent I.
Theodosius II. (E) 408
417 Zosimus.
418 Boniface I.
418 Eulalius (Anti-pope).
422 Celestine I.
Valentinian III. (W) 424
432 Sixtus III.
440 Leo I (the Great).
Marcian. (E) 450
Maximus, Avitus. (W) 455
Majorian. (W) 455
Leo I. (E) 457
461 Hilarius. Severus. (W) 461
Vacancy. (W) 465
Anthemius. (W) 467
468 Simplicius.
Olybrius. (W) 472
Glycerius. (W) 473
Julius Nepos. (W) 474
Leo II, Zeno, Basiliscus
(all E.) 474
Romulus Augustulus. (W) 475
(End of the Western Line
in Romulus Augustus. 476)
(Henceforth, till A.D. 800,
Emperors reigning at
483 Felix III[2]. Constantinople).
Anastasius I. 491
492 Gelasius I.
496 Anastasius II.
498 Symmachus.
498 Laurentius (Anti-pope).
514 Hormisdas.
Justin I. 518
523 John I.
526 Felix IV.
Justinian. 527
530 Boniface II.
530 Dioscorus (Anti-pope).
532 John II.
535 Agapetus I.
536 Silverius.
537 Vigilius.
555 Pelagius I.
560 John III.
Justin II. 565
574 Benedict I.
578 Pelagius II. Tiberius II. 578
Maurice. 582
590 Gregory I (the Great).
Phocas. 602
604 Sabinianus.
607 Boniface III.
607 Boniface IV.
Heraclius. 610
615 Deus dedit.
618 Boniface V.
625 Honorius I.
638 Severinus.
640 John IV.
Constantine III,
Heracleonas,
Constans II. 641
642 Theodorus I.
649 Martin I.
654 Eugenius I.
657 Vitalianus.
Constantine IV (Pogonatus). 668
672 Adeodatus.
676 Domnus or Donus I.
678 Agatho.
682 Leo II.
683(?) Benedict II.
685 John V. Justinian II. 685
685(?) Conon.
687 Sergius I.
687 Paschal (Anti-pope).
687 Theodorus (Anti-pope).
Leontius. 694
Tiberius. 697
701 John VI.
705 John VII. Justinian II restored. 705
708 Sisinnius.
708 Constantine.
Philippicus Bardanes. 711
Anastasius II. 713
715 Gregory II.
Theodosius III. 716
Leo III (the Isaurian). 718
731 Gregory III.
741 Zacharias. Constantine V
(Copronymus). 741
752 Stephen (II).
752 Stephen II (or III).
757 Paul I.
767 Constantine (Anti-pope).
768 Stephen III (IV).
772 Hadrian I.
Leo IV. 775
Constantine VI. 780
795 Leo III.
Deposition of Constantine
VI by Irene. 797
Charles I (the Great). 800
(Following henceforth the
new Western line).
Lewis I (the Pious). 814
816 Stephen IV.
817 Paschal I.
824 Eugenius II.
827 Valentinus.
827 Gregory IV.
Lothar I. 840
844 Sergius II.
847 Leo IV.
855 Benedict III. Lewis II. 855
855 Anastasius (Anti-pope).
858 Nicholas I.
867 Hadrian II.
872 John VIII.
Charles II (the Bald). 875
Charles III (the Fat). 881
882 Martin II.
884 Hadrian III.
885 Stephen V.
891 Formosus. Guido. 891
Lambert. 894
896 Boniface VI. Arnulf. 896
896 Stephen VI.
897 Romanus.
897 Theodore II.
898 John IX.
Lewis (the Child).[+] 899
900 Benedict IV.
Lewis III (of Provence). 901
903 Leo V.
903 Christopher.
904 Sergius III.
911 Anastasius III.
Conrad I.[+] 912(?)
913 Lando.
914 John X.
Berengar. 915
Henry I (the Fowler).[+] 918
928 Leo VI.
929 Stephen VII.
931 John XI.
936 Leo VII. Otto I (the Great).[+] 936
939 Stephen VIII.
941 Martin III.
946 Agapetus II.
955 John XII.
Otto I, crowned at Rome. 962
963 Leo VIII.
964 Benedict V (Anti-Pope?).
965 John XIII.
972 Benedict VI.
Otto II. 973
974 Boniface VII (Anti-pope?).
974 Domnus II (?).
974 Benedict VII.
983 John XIV. Otto III 983
985 John XV.
996 Gregory V.
996 John XVI (Anti-pope).
999 Sylvester II.
Henry II (the Saint). 1002
1003 John XVII.
1003 John XVIII.
1009 Sergius IV.
1012 Benedict VIII.
1024 John XIX. Conrad II (the Salic). 1024
1033 Benedict IX.
Henry III. 1039
1044 Sylvester (Anti-pope).
1045( Gregory VI.
1046 Clement II.
1048 Damasus II.
1048 Leo IX.
1054 Victor II.
Henry IV. 1056
1057 Stephen IX.
1058 Benedict X.
1059 Nicholas II.
1061 Alexander II.
1073 Gregory VII (Hildebrand).
1080 (Clement, Anti-pope).
1086 Victor III.
1087 Urban II.
1099 Paschal II.
Henry V. 1106
1118 Gelasius II.
1118 Gregory, (Anti-pope).
1119 Calixtus II.
1121 (Celestine, Anti-pope).
1124 Honorius II.
Lothar II (the Saxon). 1125
1130 Innocent II.
(Anacletus, Anti-pope).
1138 Victor (Anti-pope). [*]Conrad III. 1138
1143 Celestine II.
1144 Lucius II.
1145 Eugenius III.
Frederick I (Barbarossa). 1152
1153 Anastasius IV.
1154 Hadrian IV.
1159 Alexander III.
1159 (Victor, Anti-pope).
1164 (Paschal, Anti-pope).
1168 (Calixtus, Anti-pope).
1181 Lucius III.
1185 Urban III.
1187 Gregory VIII.
1187 Clement III.
Henry VI. 1190
1191 Celestine III.
1198 Innocent III. [*]Philip, Otto IV
(rivals). 1198
Otto IV. 1208
Frederick II. 1212
1216 Honorius III.
1227 Gregory IX.
1241 Celestine IV.
1241 Vacancy.
1243 Innocent IV.
[*]Conrad IV, [*]William,
(rivals). 1250
1254 Alexander IV. Interregnum. 1254
[*]Richard (earl of
Cornwall).
[*]Alfonso (king of
Castile), (rivals). 1257
1261 Urban IV.
1265 Clement IV.
1269 Vacancy.
1271 Gregory X.
[*]Rudolf I (of Hapsburg). 1272
1276 Innocent V.
1276 Hadrian V.
1277 John XX or XXI.
1277 Nicholas I
1281 Martin IV.
1285 Honorius IV.
1289 Nicholas IV.
1292 Vacancy. [*]Adolf (of Nassau). 1292
1294 Celestine V.
1294 Boniface VIII.
[*]Albert I. 1298
1303 Benedict XI.
1305 Clement V.
Henry VII. 1308
1314 Vacancy. Lewis IV. 1315
(Frederick of Austria,
rival).
1316 John XXI or XXII.
1334 Benedict XII.
1342 Clement VI.
Charles IV. 1347
1352 Innocent VI. (Günther of Schwartzburg,
rival).
1362 Urban V.
1370 Gregory XI.
1378 Urban VI,
Clement VII [*]Wenzel. 1378
(Anti-pope).
1389 Boniface IX.
1394 Benedict (Anti-pope).
[*]Rupert. 1400
1404 Innocent VII.
1406 Gregory XII.
1409 Alexander V.
1410 John XXII or Sigismund. 1410
XXIII. (Jobst of Moravia, rival).
1417 Martin V.
1431 Eugene IV.
[*]Albert II. 1438
1439 Felix V (Anti-pope).
Frederick III. 1440
1447 Nicholas V.
1455 Calixtus IV.
1458 Pius II.
1464 Paul II.
1471 Sixtus IV.
1484 Innocent VIII.
1493 Alexander VI. [*]Maximilian I. 1493
1503 Pius III.
1503 Julius II.
1513 Leo X.
Charles V.[3] 1519
1522 Hadrian VI.
1523 Clement VII.
1534 Paul III.
1550 Julius III.
1555 Marcellus II.
1555 Paul IV.
[*]Ferdinand I. 1558
1559 Pius IV.
[*]Maximilian II. 1564
1566 Pius V.
1572 Gregory XIII.
[*]Rudolf II. 1576
1585 Sixtus V.
1590 Urban VII.
1590 Gregory XIV.
1591 Innocent IX.
1592 Clement VIII.
1604 Leo XI.
1604 Paul V.
[*]Matthias. 1612
[*]Ferdinand II. 1619
1621 Gregory XV.
1623 Urban VIII.
[*]Ferdinand III. 1637
1644 Innocent X.
1655 Alexander VII.
[*]Leopold I. 1658
1667 Clement IX.
1670 Clement X.
1676 Innocent XI.
1689 Alexander VIII.
1691 Innocent XII.
1700 Clement XI.
[*]Joseph I. 1705
[*]Charles VI. 1711
1720 Innocent XIII.
1724 Benedict XIII.
1740 Benedict XIV.
[*]Charles VII. 1742
[*]Francis I. 1745
1758 Clement XII.
[*]Joseph II. 1765
1769 Clement XIII.
1775 Pius VI.
[*]Leopold II. 1790
[*]Francis II. 1792
1800 Pius VII.
Abdication of Francis II. 1806
1823 Leo XII.
1829 Pius VIII.
1831 Gregory XVI.
1846 Pius IX.
[*] Those marked with an asterisk were never actually crowned at Rome.
[+] The names marked with a + are those of German kings who never made any
claim to the imperial title.
FOOTNOTES:
[2] Reckoning the Anti-pope Felix (A.D. 356) as Felix II.
[3] Crowned Emperor, but at Bologna, not at Rome.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
Of those who in August, 1806, read in the English newspapers that the
Emperor Francis II had announced to the Diet his resignation of the
imperial crown, there were probably few who reflected that the oldest
political institution in the world had come to an end. Yet it was so.
The Empire which a note issued by a diplomatist on the banks of the
Danube extinguished, was the same which the crafty nephew of Julius
had won for himself, against the powers of the East, beneath the
cliffs of Actium; and which had preserved almost unaltered, through
eighteen centuries of time, and through the greatest changes in
extent, in power, in character, a title and pretensions from which all
meaning had long since departed. Nothing else so directly linked the
old world to the new--nothing else displayed so many strange contrasts
of the present and the past, and summed up in those contrasts so much
of European history. From the days of Constantine till far down into
the middle ages it was, conjointly with the Papacy, the recognised
centre and head of Christendom, exercising over the minds of men an
influence such as its material strength could never have commanded. It
is of this influence and of the causes that gave it power rather than
of the external history of the Empire, that the following pages are
designed to treat. That history is indeed full of interest and
brilliance, of grand characters and striking situations. But it is a
subject too vast for any single canvas. Without a minuteness of detail
sufficient to make its scenes dramatic and give us a lively sympathy
with the actors, a narrative history can have little value and still
less charm. But to trace with any minuteness the career of the Empire,
would be to write the history of Christendom from the fifth century to
the twelfth, of Germany and Italy from the twelfth to the nineteenth;
while even a narrative of more restricted scope, which should attempt
to disengage from a general account of the affairs of those countries
the events that properly belong to imperial history, could hardly be
compressed within reasonable limits. It is therefore better, declining
so great a task, to attempt one simpler and more practicable though
not necessarily inferior in interest; to speak less of events than of
principles, and endeavour to describe the Empire not as a State but as
an Institution, an institution created by and embodying a wonderful
system of ideas. In pursuance of such a plan, the forms which the
Empire took in the several stages of its growth and decline must be
briefly sketched. The characters and acts of the great men who
founded, guided, and overthrew it must from time to time be touched
upon. But the chief aim of the treatise will be to dwell more fully on
the inner nature of the Empire, as the most signal instance of the
fusion of Roman and Teutonic elements in modern civilization: to shew
how such a combination was possible; how Charles and Otto were led to
revive the imperial title in the West; how far during the reigns of
their successors it preserved the memory of its origin, and influenced
the European commonwealth of nations.
Strictly speaking, it is from the year 800 A.D., when a King of the
Franks was crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III, that the
beginning of the Holy Roman Empire must be dated. But in history there
is nothing isolated, and just as to explain a modern Act of Parliament
or a modern conveyance of lands we must go back to the feudal customs
of the thirteenth century, so among the institutions of the Middle
Ages there is scarcely one which can be understood until it is traced
up either to classical or to primitive Teutonic antiquity. Such a mode
of inquiry is most of all needful in the case of the Holy Empire,
itself no more than a tradition, a fancied revival of departed
glories. And thus, in order to make it clear out of what elements the
imperial system was formed, we might be required to scrutinize the
antiquities of the Christian Church; to survey the constitution of
Rome in the days when Rome was no more than the first of the Latin
cities; nay, to travel back yet further to that Jewish theocratic
polity whose influence on the minds of the mediæval priesthood was
necessarily so profound. Practically, however, it may suffice to begin
by glancing at the condition of the Roman world in the third and
fourth centuries of the Christian era. We shall then see the old
Empire with its scheme of absolutism fully matured; we shall mark how
the new religion, rising in the midst of a hostile power, ends by
embracing and transforming it; and we shall be in a position to
understand what impression the whole huge fabric of secular and
ecclesiastical government which Roman and Christian had piled up made
upon the barbarian tribes who pressed into the charmed circle of the
ancient civilization.