History of Germany

This article gives an overview of the History of Germany. The Holy Roman Empire, dating from the 8th century AD until 1806, was the first German Reich, or empire, a term sometimes used to describe the German historical epochs. At its largest extent, the territory of the empire included what is now Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, eastern France, the Low Countries, and parts of northern and central Italy. After the mid 15th century, it was known as the "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation". The German Empire of 1871–1918 was often known as the second Reich to indicate its descent from the medieval empire. By the same reasoning, Adolf Hitler referred to Nazi Germany (1933–1945) as the Third Reich.

The Germans and the Romans

See also: Germanic tribes, Confederations of Germanic Tribes, Germania, Germania Inferior, Germania Superior

Related Topics:
Germanic tribes - Confederations of Germanic Tribes - Germania - Germania Inferior - Germania Superior

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Between 800 and 70 BC the Germanic tribes in the north migrated into Celtic territory, advancing to the Oder and the Rhine and into southern Germany.

Related Topics:
800 - 70 BC - Celtic - Oder - Rhine

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Around 58 BC, in a succession of military campaigns the Romans made the Rhine the north-eastern frontier of the Roman Empire, leading to the Romanisation of the left bank of the Rhine and the incorporation of the central European Celtic societies into their Empire. Roman forts were built at Cologne, Trier, Koblenz, Mainz and elsewhere to secure the Rhine frontier, where Romans and Germanic people now faced each other directly. In AD 9 a Roman army led by Publius Quinctilius Varus was defeated by the Cheruscan leader Arminius (Hermann) in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Germany as far as the Rhine and the Danube remained outside the Roman Empire.

Related Topics:
58 BC - Rhine - Roman Empire - Cologne - Trier - Koblenz - Mainz - AD 9 - Publius Quinctilius Varus - Arminius - Battle of the Teutoburg Forest - Danube

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From 90 AD onwards, the Romans built the Limes, a 550-km (340-mile) defensive line from the Rhine to the Danube designed to check Germanic advances over the frontier, as well as numerous forts (e.g. at Wiesbaden, Augsburg, Regensburg, Passau). The 3rd century saw the emergence of a number of large West Germanic tribes — Alamanni, Franks, Chatti, Saxons, Frisians, Thuringians. Around 260, the Germans finally broke through the Limes and the Danube frontier.

Related Topics:
90 AD - Limes - Wiesbaden - Augsburg - Regensburg - Passau - 3rd century - Alamanni - Franks - Chatti - Saxons - Frisians - Thuringians

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In the 4th century, the advance of the Huns into Europe gave the start to the period of the Great Migrations, which changed the whole map of Europe. By unifying the Franks and conquering Gaul, the Merovingian king Chlodwig became the founder of the Frankish kingdom. In 496 the Franks defeated the Alemanni, accepted the Catholic faith and so gained the support of the Church.

Related Topics:
4th century - Huns - Great Migrations - Gaul - Merovingian - King Chlodwig - Frankish kingdom

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The Roman provinces north of the Alps had been Christianised since the 4th century and Christian centres such as at Augsburg were maintained after the end of the Roman empire. However, from around 600 there was a renewed Christian mission of the barbarian tribes. Irish-Scottish monks founded monasteries at Würzburg, Regensburg, Reichenau, and other places. The missionary activity in the Merovingian kingdom was continued by the Anglo-Saxon monk Boniface, who established the first monastery east of the Rhine at Fritzlar. Bishoprics under Papal authority were established to spread the Christian faith in the German lands.

Related Topics:
Augsburg - Würzburg - Regensburg - Reichenau - Boniface - Fritzlar

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In 751 Pippin III, mayor (controller) of the palace under the Merovingian king, himself assumed the title of king and was anointed by the Church. The Frankish kings now set up as protectors of the Pope, and the Carolingian successors of Pippin launched a decades-long military camapign against their Heathen rivals, the Saxons. The Saxons were eventually overwhelmed and forcibly converted, and their lands were annexed by the Frankish empire.

Related Topics:
Pippin III - Pope - Carolingian - Successors - Heathen - Saxons

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