Kthulhu wrote:
The Holy Roman Empire was not Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire. Discuss.
Meh, the ruler was crowned by a roman pope, thus the name.
It was a German empire, but it is generally agreed that it was a political move by the church to gain access the the military power of the German empire.
It was done by the church, so it's holy.
& through Translatio imperii there's a tie to the empire of Charlemange.
The church had the right, because it crowned Charlemange the Emporer of the Romans
So when Otto (the german king) married the widowed Italian queen (Adelaide) he qualified for the title.
Though I will admit it's not much of a discussion, and fairly cut and dried.