16.
Saxon Emperors: *
Henry the Fowler (876-936 AD) although never Emperor, was the founder of this dynasty. Duke of Saxony from 912, he was chosen primus inter pares by the German dukes in 919 & became the first non-Frank on the Carolingian throne. While he abandoned claims to rule the whole of the Carolingian Empire, he succeeded in gaining support from the Franconian, Bavarian, Swabian & Lotharingian dukes. In 933 he led a German army to victory over the Hungarian forces at Riade and campaigned in Polabian Slavs lands & Bohemia. Owing to success on the battlefield he was able to transfer power to his son Otto I (912-973 AD) who became the first emperor of the Ottonian dynasty. Known as Otto the Great, he was king of Germany from 936 and Holy Roman Emperor from 962. He was followed by his son Otto II (955- 983), Holy Roman Emperor from 967 & German King from 973. Otto III (980-1002) succeeded him as King of the Romans (from 983) & Holy Roman Emperor from 996. The final Saxon Emperor was Henry II (973-1024), Holy Roman Emperor from 1014. His marriage produced no children & after his death the German nobles elected Conrad II (related to Otto I) to succeed him, the first of the Salian dynasty of Emperors.