[[Charlemagne]] became the first German ''Emperor of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] of the German Nation'' in 800 AD when he was crowned by the [[Pope]]. This first "Reich" lasted for over a thousand years (800 - 1806) but near its end was nothing more than a loose federation of states. The last Emperor of this first German Reich, [[Franz II]], Archduke of Austria, abdicated from this title under pressure from [[Napoleon]] in 1806, but had crowned himself Emperor of Austria in 1804. | [[Charlemagne]] became the first German ''Emperor of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] of the German Nation'' in 800 AD when he was crowned by the [[Pope]]. This first "Reich" lasted for over a thousand years (800 - 1806) but near its end was nothing more than a loose federation of states. The last Emperor of this first German Reich, [[Franz II]], Archduke of Austria, abdicated from this title under pressure from [[Napoleon]] in 1806, but had crowned himself Emperor of Austria in 1804. |