The Era of Saxon Rule

The rulers of the new German kingdom could not control their country. The borders were harassed by Norsemen and Magyars (Hungarians). Tribal chieftains fought the invaders and acted as actual rulers of their feudal states. Germany came to consist of five tribal duchies—Franconia, Saxony, Lorraine, Swabia, and Bavaria.

When the German branch of Charlemagne's line died out in 911 the five dukes elected Conrad, duke of Franconia, as German king. At Conrad's death the crown in 919 went to Henry I, duke of Saxony, founder of the Saxon dynasty. Henry curbed the power of the feudal lords and added Bohemia to the kingdom.

Henry's son, Otto I (reigned 936-73), became known as Otto the Great. He put down uprisings inside the country, and in 955 defeated the Magyars, returning the East March (Austria) to Germany. He married the heiress of Lombardy. At Rome, where the nobles had assumed power, he restored papal authority and was crowned Roman emperor in 962. This was the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire. The German emperor was in theory ruler of northern Italy as well as of Germany. However, only the strongest monarchs could enforce their rule over the Lombards.