Imperial Election questions

[Yorel]

I was just wondering what were the requirements for being elected as Holy Roman Emperor/King of the Romans/King of Germany*. Apart from being chosen by the Electors of course.

I always thought you needed a blood link to one of the previous Emperors but that doesn't seem to have always been the case. For example, Conrad I of Germany doesn't seem related to the Carolingians.

So? What were the special requirements for becoming Holy Roman Emperor?

*Mention the King of the Romans and King of Germany because they apparently work the same way as Holy Roman Emperor. Besides, the Holy Roman Emperor were generally of German origin.

 

[DrakeRlugia]

The Emperor needed to be a 'worthy man.' He needed to be at least eighteen (upon election, I assume) and apparently also had to reside in the Empire (but it's obvious this is a 'loose' requirement as there were several foreign Emperor's elected who didn't reside in the Empire). He needed to be of noble birth, with all four grandparents being noble according to the Schwabenspiegel. He also needed to be of lay status, although it's not explicitely stated. No Law requires he be Catholic, although a number of laws assume he is Catholic, nor does he have to be German, as showed by the variety of foreign rulers, such as Alfonso of Castile and Charles of Castile.

 

[archaeogeek]

I was just wondering what were the requirements for being elected as Holy Roman Emperor/King of the Romans/King of Germany*. Apart from being chosen by the Electors of course.

I always thought you needed a blood link to one of the previous Emperors but that doesn't seem to have always been the case. For example, Conrad I of Germany doesn't seem related to the Carolingians.

So? What were the special requirements for becoming Holy Roman Emperor?

*Mention the King of the Romans and King of Germany because they apparently work the same way as Holy Roman Emperor. Besides, the Holy Roman Emperor were generally of German origin.

You had to be a preferrably roman catholic male and an aristocrat. That's it.

 

[Grey Wolf]

King of the Romans was IIRC the title often given to the heir, or to a disputed electee if Riichard of Cornwall is anything to go by

IIRC again some heirs succeeded to the office but were never confirmed in the title of emperor

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

 

[HJ Tulp]

King of the Romans was IIRC the title often given to the heir, or to a disputed electee if Riichard of Cornwall is anything to go by

IIRC again some heirs succeeded to the office but were never confirmed in the title of emperor

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

Ofcourse it depends on the time period but AFAIK the King of Romans/Germans was the title of the Emperor-elect. After the coronation he would become the Emperor. This makes it pretty hard for a non-catholic to become Emperor.