☰ Contents · World history

The Holy Roman Empire

Lessons 5 · 1 lessons · T. O‘. Salimov, F. E. Sultonov. Jahon tarixi (milodiy V asr oxiridan – XV asr oxirigacha) (World history, late 5th – late 15th century), Grade 7. «O‘zbekiston milliy ensiklopediyasi» State Scientific Publishing House, Tashkent, 2017 (revised and expanded 3rd edition)
5

The Holy Roman Empire

Textbook: pp. 26–28
GoalDescribe the rise of the kingdom of Germany, Otto I’s victory over the Hungarians and the creation of the Holy Roman Empire.
New words
Holy Roman Empire · Muqaddas Rim imperiyasiduke · gersogburg (fortified town) · burgbishop · yepiskop
Explanation

After the Frankish empire was divided in 843, the local nobles of the Eastern Frankish kingdom (the future Germany) in 919 chose Henry, Duke of Saxony, as king instead of the Carolingians. Henry I made a truce with the Hungarians and strengthened defence by moving part of the population into fortified burgs. His son Otto I (936–973) built an army of heavily armed mounted knights and decisively defeated the Hungarians on the river Lech near Augsburg in 955; afterwards they stopped raiding Germany. In 962 Pope John XII crowned Otto I emperor in Rome and the Holy Roman Empire came into being; it lasted until 1806. It included Germany and part of northern Italy, although the Italian cities never fully obeyed the emperor. Because the dukes were powerful, Otto I gave bishops and abbots land and privileges and made them his support.

Worked examples
919 → Henry I is elected; 955 → battle on the Lech; 962 → Otto I becomes emperor.
The word “Holy” was added to the name later, in the 12th–13th centuries: the emperors saw their power as given by God and themselves as protectors of the church.
Class activity

“Timeline”: pupils place the dates 843, 919, 936, 955, 962 and 1806 with captions on a line on the board.

Practice
1
When and how did the kingdom of Germany arise?
2
When and where did Otto I defeat the Hungarians?
3
In which years did the Holy Roman Empire exist?
4
Why did Otto I rely on the church?