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When did the Holy Roman Empire begin and end?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Map of Europe about 800 CE showing the extent of the Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne in light purple, covering much of present-day France, Germany, northern Italy, and neighboring regions. Areas inhabited by Slavic peoples who were tributary to Charlemagne are shaded in a darker purple to the east of the Frankish kingdom, including groups such as the Bohemians, Moravians, and Croats. Major cities, rivers, and neighboring kingdoms are labeled for context.
Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire existed for over a millennium, spanning from 800 to 1806.1

Its origins are traced to the year 800, when Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne as "emperor of the Romans" on December 25. While the empire traces its beginnings to this event, the specific title "Holy Roman Empire" did not formally appear until the 13th century during the conflict between the Hohenstaufen dynasty and the papacy.231

The empire officially came to an end on August 6, 1806, when the last Holy Roman emperor, Francis II, formally dissolved the institution and laid down the imperial crown amidst the Napoleonic Wars.456