The Franconian Emperors

Saint Henry II (reigned 1002-24) was the last Saxon (or Ottonian) monarch. He was succeeded as king and emperor by Conrad II of Franconia, founder of the Franconian (or Salian, after the tribal name) line. Conrad strengthened the monarchy in Germany, and annexed the kingdom of Burgundy. In the reign of his son, Henry III (1039-56), papal power in Italy again became low. Henry established his authority over Rome and appointed a succession of German popes. With cooperation between emperor and pope, needed church reforms were made. The papacy gained such strength, in fact, that the next emperor, Henry IV (reigned 1056-1106), found himself in conflict with Pope Gregory VII over their spheres of authority.

The struggle between emperor and pope continued in the reign of Henry V. In 1122 an agreement, the Concordat of Worms, was reached between Henry and Pope Calixtus II. For a brief time the argument was settled. With the death of Henry V, the Franconian dynasty ended.