There never was a kingdom of Germany. There was the Eastern Frankish Kingdom, and the only thing that really sets it apart from the HRE is its name.Supose that somehow the Kingdom of Germany does not evolve into the Holy Roman Empire, and thus not developing into small states. How would it be like? What would the capital be? Could it survive both France and Poland?
Point taken. I'll retreat into my windmill and read some more books on the matter.Thats not true. At all. The East Frankish Empire did not evolve straight to the HRE. In fact, the first German King to receive the Impeiral Dignity was Otto I the Great, a century after Charlemagne. And even then not all German Kings were croned HRE, and even those who were retained the title of German King (Holy Roman Emperor, Forever August, King of Germany and Italy, etc.). And indeed, the structure of the HRE was thus that it was based on a personal union between the Kingdoms of Germany and Italy, later on of Germany, Italy and Arelat (Burgundy). That structure quickly became neglected, but that was the theoretical buildup. And it was only starting with the 15th century that the two titles fully fused, and that all German rulers would be HREmperors.
And of course, to rub it in and for that matter, whats now the Netherlands was part of the German Kingdom![]()
Supose that somehow the Kingdom of Germany does not evolve into the Holy Roman Empire, and thus not developing into small states. How would it be like? What would the capital be? Could it survive both France and Poland?
Thats not true. At all. The East Frankish Empire did not evolve straight to the HRE. In fact, the first German King to receive the Impeiral Dignity was Otto I the Great, a century after Charlemagne.
I don't remember the details, but didn't the Imperial title pass around in various Italian and Burgundian duchies and kingdoms before lapsing a few decades prior to Otto?
It'd likely be much like France was- and retain a more national quality. If the King doesn't reach for the Imperial dignity, and doesn't claim the universality of his rule and empire, the Ottonian kingdom would retain the particular Germanic nature and style. In such a world, German national consciousness is likely to develop earlier than it did.Supose that somehow the Kingdom of Germany does not evolve into the Holy Roman Empire, and thus not developing into small states. How would it be like? What would the capital be? Could it survive both France and Poland?
East Frankish Kingdom ceased being called that when the Saxon dynasty became its Kings. Henry the Fowler called himself King of the Germans, and disdained the idea of his kingdom being completely Frankish or Franconian.There never was a kingdom of Germany. There was the Eastern Frankish Kingdom, and the only thing that really sets it apart from the HRE is its name.
It'd likely be much like France was- and retain a more national quality. If the King doesn't reach for the Imperial dignity, and doesn't claim the universality of his rule and empire, the Ottonian kingdom would retain the particular Germanic nature and style. In such a world, German national consciousness is likely to develop earlier than it did.
But, being a Germanic state, the Kingdom would probably maintain a tradition of federalism and the equality of its citizens, with the King considering himself more of a first among equals rather than a supreme Imperial ruler.
Or, Germanics being Germanics, the stem duchies will revolt against attempts to centralize, and in this case you could see the duchies becoming completely independent...