Deutscher König

Deutscher König, title in use since the 10th c. for the monarchical head of the German nation. From 962 the German King claimed the right to be crowned Emperor of the Roman Empire by the Pope (see Deutsches Reich, Altes and Deutscher Kaiser). When this ambition was achieved, the German King became Deutscher Kaiser. The Deutscher König was elected in Frankfurt and crowned in Aachen. The title was also borne by the son of an emperor elected as successor during his father's lifetime. In Latin documents the German King is referred to as rex or rex Francorum up to the late 11th c.; from the time of Heinrich IV he is rex Romanorum, and is occasionally styled Römischer König.