The Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was the collection of territories north of and including Rome, beginning in 962 and declining from 1648 to (arguably) 1801. Led by Emperors chosen by the Pope in Rome, The HRE was a form or stability in a time of war and chaos. The region that stretched from the north side of the Alps to the Northern-most edge of Europe was almost completely Christian before the formation of such an Empire, so it was natural that it considered itself "G-d's country" and let religion take control. This even led to an attack on another people, instigated by the declaration that the Holy Land had fallen to heathens and it was up to the good Christian folk to recapture it. Interestingly enough, a region that was known for its stability faced many struggles politically. The term Interregnum refers to a period during which the election of an emperor is disputed, which took place fairly often in the days of the HRE. Some procedures remained unchanged throughout the duration of the Empire, such as the election process. The Golden Bull of 1356, a royal edict that standardized the procedures for electing a king and other minor traditions, set an example for maintaining routines throughout the empire. The major significance of this empire was that it held together societies that would have otherwise crumbled, leaving us with nothing today. For centuries, this rag-tag group of peoples maintained a stable society in a world of complete chaos.