This is a list of heads of state of Germany.
History
Germany was ruled by monarchs from the beginning of division of the Frankish Empire in August 843 to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in August 1806. During most of 19th century, independent German principalities were organized into various confederations, such as the Confederation of the Rhine dominated by Napoleon (1806-1813) and the German Confederation created by the Congress of Vienna (1814-1866). The Prussian-led North German Confederation (1866-1871) subsequently morphed into a modern nation state, the German Reich, which was ruled by emperors from 1871 to the collapse of all German monarchies in 1918.
The President of Germany replaced the monarch in 1919. Chancellor Adolf Hitler assumed the duties of head of state as Führer and Chancellor from 1934 until his suicide in April 1945. In 1949, Germany was divided into two states. The Federal President, head of state of West Germany, became head of state for all of Germany following German reunification in 1990.
East Frankish kingdom, 843–962
Carolingians
Conradine dynasty
Ottonian dynasty
Holy Roman Empire, 962–1806
The title "King of the Romans", used under the Holy Roman Empire, is (from this point onwards) considered equivalent to King of Germany. A king was chosen by the German electors and would then proceed to Rome to be crowned emperor by the pope.
Ottonian dynasty (continued)
Salian dynasty
Supplinburger dynasty
Hohenstaufen and Welf dynasties
Interregnum
Changing dynasties
Habsburg
Wittelsbach
Habsburg-Lorraine
Confederation of the Rhine, 1806–1813
German Confederation, 1815–1866
North German Confederation, 1867–1871
German Reich, 1871–1945
German Emperor, 1871-1918
President, 1919–1945
† denotes people who died in office.
Federal Republic of Germany, from 1949
† denotes people who died in office.
German Democratic Republic (East Germany), 1949–1990
† denotes people who died in office.
Styles of the Heads of State
- Unified state (1871 to 1945)
- East and West Germany (1949 to 1990)
- Unified state (1990 to present)
Notes
References
