List of heads of state of Germany

This is a list of monarchs who ruled over East Francia, and the Kingdom of Germany (Regnum Teutonicum), from the division of the Frankish Empire in 843 until the collapse of the German Empire in 1918.

Carolingians

Seal/Portrait	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
	Louis the German Ludwig der Deutsche	Carolingian	11 August 843	—	23 August 876	Son of Emperor Louis the Pious and grandson of Charlemagne
	Carloman (Karlmann)	Carolingian	28 August 876	—	22 March 880	Son of Louis the German; ruled in Bavaria; from 877, also King of Italy
	Louis the Younger (Ludwig III. der Jüngere)	Carolingian	28 August 876	—	20 January 882	Son of Louis the German; ruled in East Francia, Saxony; from 880, also Bavaria
	Charles the Fat (Karl III. der Dicke)	Carolingian	28 August 876	12 February 881	11 November 887	Son of Louis the German; ruled in Alemannia, Raetia, from 882 in the entire Eastern Kingdom; from 879, also King of Italy
	Arnulf of Carinthia (Arnulf von Kärnten)	Carolingian	30 November 887	25 April 896	8 December 899	Illegitimate son of Carloman
	Louis the Child (Ludwig IV. das Kind)	Carolingian	21 January 900	—	20/24 September 911	Son of Arnulf of Carinthia

Conradine dynasty

Seal	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
	Conrad I (Konrad I.)	Conradine (Franconian)	10 November 911	—	23 December 918	Elected by the nobility

Ottonian dynasty

Seal	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
	Henry I the Fowler (Heinrich I. der Vogler)	Liudolfing (Saxon)	23 April 919	—	2 July 936	Elected by the nobility
	Arnulf the Bad (Arnulf der Böse, Herzog von Bayern)	Luitpolding (Bavarian)	919	—	921	Rival king to Henry I

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)

Image	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
	Otto I the Great (Otto I. der Große)	Ottonian	7 August 936	2 February 962	7 May 973	Son of Henry I; first king crowned in Aachen Cathedral since Lothair I; crowned as Otto by the grace of God King;[1] crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 961
	Otto II the Red (Otto II.)	Ottonian	26 May 961	25 December 967	7 December 983	Son of Otto I; Otto by the grace of God King[1] under his father 961–973; also crowned Emperor in his father's lifetime
	Otto III (Otto III.)	Ottonian	25 December 983	21 May 996	21 January 1002	Son of Otto II; Otto by the grace of God King[1]
	Henry II (Heinrich II. der Heilige)	Ottonian	7 June 1002	26 April 1014	13 July 1024	Great-grandson of Henry I

Salian dynasty

Image	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
	Conrad II (Konrad II.)	Salian (Frankish)	8 September 1024	26 March 1027	4 June 1039	Great-great-grandson of Otto I
	Henry III (Heinrich III.)	Salian	14 April 1028	25 December 1046	5 October 1056	Son of Conrad II; King (of the Germans?)[1] under his father 1028–1039
	Henry IV (Heinrich IV.)	Salian	17 July 1054	21 March 1084	31 December 1105	Son of Henry III; King of Germany under his father, 1054–1056
	Rudolf of Rheinfelden (Rudolf von Rheinfelden)	Rheinfeld	15 March 1077	—	15 October 1080	Rival king to Henry IV
	Hermann of Salm (Hermann von Luxemburg, Graf von Salm)	Salm	6 August 1081	—	28 September 1088	Rival king to Henry IV
	Conrad (Konrad)	Salian	30 May 1087	—	27 July 1101	Son of Henry IV; King of Germany under his father, 1087–1098, King of Italy, 1093–1098, 1095–1101 in rebellion.
	Henry V (Heinrich V.)	Salian	6 January 1099	13 April 1111	23 May 1125	Son of Henry IV; King of Germany under his father, 1099–1105, forced his father to abdicate

Supplinburger dynasty

Image	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
	Lothair III (Lothar III.)	Supplinburger	30 August 1125	4 June 1133	4 December 1137	He was Lothair II of Germany, but Lothair III of Italy

Hohenstaufen and Welf

Image	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
	Conrad III (Konrad III.)	Hohenstaufen	7 March 1138	—	15 February 1152	Grandson of Henry IV (through his mother); Previously Rival King to Lothair III 1127–1135
	Henry Berengar (Heinrich (VI.))	Hohenstaufen	30 March 1147	—	August? 1150	Son of Conrad III; King of Germany under his father 1147–1150
	Frederick I Barbarossa (Friedrich I. Barbarossa)	Hohenstaufen	4 March 1152	18 June 1155	10 June 1190	Nephew of Conrad III
	Henry VI (Heinrich VI.)	Hohenstaufen	15 August 1169	14 April 1191	28 September 1197	Son of Frederick I; King of Germany under his father 1169–1190
	Frederick II (Friedrich II.)	Hohenstaufen	1197	—	1197	Son of Henry VI; King of Germany under his father, 1196
	Philip of Swabia (Philipp von Schwaben)	Hohenstaufen	6 March 1198	—	21 August 1208	Son of Frederick I; rival king to Otto IV
	Otto IV (Otto IV. von Braunschweig)	Welf	29 March 1198	4 October 1209	5 July 1215	Rival king to Philip of Swabia; later opposed by Frederick II; deposed, 1215; died 19 May 1218
	Frederick II (Friedrich II.)	Hohenstaufen	5 December 1212	22 November 1220	26 December 1250	Son of Henry VI; Rival king to Otto IV until 5 July 1215
	Henry (Heinrich (VII.))	Hohenstaufen	23 April 1220	—	15 August 1235	Son of Frederick II; King of Germany under his father, 1220–1235
	Conrad IV (Konrad IV.)	Hohenstaufen	May 1237	—	1 May 1254	Son of Frederick II; King of Germany under his father, 1237–1250

Interregnum

Image	Coat of arms	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
		Henry Raspe (Heinrich Raspe)	Thuringia	22 May 1246	—	16 February 1247	Rival King to Frederick II and great-great-great grandson of Henry IV
		William of Holland (Wilhelm von Holland)	Holland	3 October 1247	—	28 January 1256	Rival King to Frederick II and Conrad IV, 1247–1254
		Richard of Cornwall (Richard von Cornwall)	Plantagenet	13 January 1257	—	2 April 1272	Brother-in-law of Frederick II; rival king to Alfonso of Castile; held no real authority.
		Alfonso of Castile (Alfons von Kastilien)	House of Ivrea	1 April 1257	—	1275	Grandson of Philip; rival king to Richard of Cornwall; held no authority; later opposed by Rudolf I; relinquished claims 1275, died 1284

Habsburg and Nassau

Image	Coat of arms	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
		Rudolf I (Rudolf I. von Habsburg)	Habsburg	29 September 1273	—	15 July 1291	First of the Habsburgs
		Adolf of Nassau (Adolf von Nassau)	Nassau	5 May 1292	—	23 June 1298	According to some historians, Adolf's election was preceded by the short-lived kingship of Conrad, Duke of Teck. See his article for details.
		Albert I (Albrecht I. von Habsburg)	Habsburg	24 June 1298	—	1 May 1308	Son of Rudolf I; Rival king to Adolf of Nassau, 1298

Luxembourg and Wittelsbach

Image	Coat of arms	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
		Henry VII (Heinrich VII., Luxemburger)	Luxembourg	27 November 1308	13 June 1311	24 August 1313	Holy Roman Emperor
		Louis IV (Ludwig IV. der Bayer, Wittelsbacher)	Wittelsbach	20 October 1314	17 January 1328	11 October 1347	Grandson of Rudolf I; rival king to Frederick the Fair, 1314–1322
		Frederick the Fair (Friedrich der Schöne, Habsburger)	Habsburg	19 October 1314/ 5 September 1325	—	28 September 1322/ 13 January 1330	Son of Albert I; rival king to Louis IV, 1314–1322; associate king with Louis IV, 1325–1330
		Charles IV (Karl IV. von Luxemburg)	Luxembourg	11 July 1346	5 April 1355	29 November 1378	Grandson of Henry VII; rival king to Louis IV, 1346–1347; also King of Bohemia, King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor
		Günther von Schwarzburg (Günther von Schwarzburg)	Schwarzburg	30 January 1349	—	24 May 1349	Rival king to Charles IV
		Wenceslaus (Wenzel von Luxemburg)	Luxembourg	10 June 1376	—	20 August 1400	Son of Charles IV; king of Germany under his father 1376–1378; deposed 1400; also by inheritance King of Bohemia; died 1419
		Rupert of the Palatinate (Ruprecht von der Pfalz, Wittelsbacher)	Wittelsbach	21 August 1400	—	18 May 1410	Great-grandnephew of Louis IV
		Sigismund (Sigismund von Luxemburg)	Luxembourg	20 September 1410 /21 July 1411	3 May 1433	9 December 1437	Son of Charles IV
		Jobst of Moravia (Jobst von Mähren, Luxemburger)	Luxembourg	1 October 1410	—	8 January 1411	Nephew of Charles IV; rival king to Sigismund

Habsburg

Image	Coat of arms	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
		Albert II (Albrecht II.)	Habsburg	18 March 1438	—	27 October 1439	4th in descent from Albert I; son-in-law of Sigismund
		Frederick III (Friedrich III.)	Habsburg	2 February 1440	16 March 1452	19 August 1493	4th in descent from Albert I; 2nd cousin of Albert II
		Maximilian I (Maximilian I.)	Habsburg	16 February 1486	4 February 1508 Emperor	12 January 1519	Son of Frederick III; King of Germany under his father, 1486–1493; assumed the title "Elected Emperor" in 1508 with the pope's approval
		Charles V (Karl V.)	Habsburg	28 June 1519	28 June 1519 Emperor	3 August 1556	Grandson of Maximilian I; died 21 September 1558
		Ferdinand I (Ferdinand I.)	Habsburg	5 January 1531	14 March 1558 Emperor	25 July 1564	Grandson of Maximilian I; brother of Charles V; King of Germany under his brother Charles V 1531–1556; last king to be crowned in Aachen Cathedral. Emperor
		Maximilian II (Maximilian II.)	Habsburg	22 November 1562	25 July 1564 Emperor	12 October 1576	Son of Ferdinand I; King of Germany under his father 1562–1564
		Rudolf II (Rudolf II.)	Habsburg	27 October 1575	2 November 1576 Emperor	20 January 1612	Son of Maximilian II; King of Germany under his father, 1575–1576
		Matthias (Matthias)	Habsburg	13 June 1612	13 June 1612 Emperor	20 March 1619	Son of Maximilian II
		Ferdinand II (Ferdinand II.)	Habsburg	28 August 1619	28 August 1619 Emperor	15 February 1637	Grandson of Ferdinand I
		Ferdinand III (Ferdinand III.)	Habsburg	22 December 1636	15 February 1637 Emperor	2 April 1657	Son of Ferdinand II; King of Germany under his father 1636–1637
		Ferdinand IV (Ferdinand IV.)	Habsburg	31 May 1653	—	9 July 1654	Son of Ferdinand III; King of Germany under his father
		Leopold I (Leopold I.)	Habsburg	18 July 1658	18 July 1658 Emperor	5 May 1705	Son of Ferdinand III
		Joseph I (Joseph I.)	Habsburg	23 January 1690	5 May 1705 Emperor	17 April 1711	Son of Leopold I; King of Germany under his father 1690–1705
		Charles VI (Karl VI.)	Habsburg	27 October 1711	27 October 1711 Emperor	20 October 1740	Son of Leopold I

Wittelsbach

Image	Coat of arms	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
		Charles VII (Karl VII.)	Wittelsbach	14 January 1742	14 January 1742 Emperor	20 January 1745	Great-great-grandson of Ferdinand II; Husband of Maria Amalia, daughter of Joseph I

Habsburg-Lorraine

Image	Coat of arms	Name	House	King	Emperor	Ended	Notes
		Francis I (Franz I.)	Lorraine	13 September 1745	13 September 1745 Emperor	18 August 1765	Great-grandson of Ferdinand III; Husband of Maria Theresa, daughter of Charles VI
		Joseph II (Joseph II.)	Habsburg-Lorraine	27 March 1764	18 August 1765 Emperor	20 February 1790	Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa; King of Germany under his father 1764–1765
		Leopold II (Leopold II.)	Habsburg-Lorraine	30 September 1790	30 September 1790 Emperor	1 March 1792	Son of Francis I and Maria Theresa
		Francis II (Franz II.)	Habsburg-Lorraine	7 July 1792	7 July 1792 Emperor	6 August 1806	Son of Leopold II; Dissolved the Holy Roman Empire; also Emperor of Austria 1804–1835; President of the German Confederation (1815-1835), died 1835

The succession to the throne of Germany was the same as the succession to the throne of the Prussia.

Monarch			Reign			Position	Royal House
#	Portrait	Name	Reign start	Reign end	Duration
1		Wilhelm I (1797–1888)	18 January 1871	9 March 1888	17 years, 51 days	German Emperor Deutscher Kaiser	House of Hohenzollern
2		Friedrich III (1831–1888)[7]	9 March 1888	15 June 1888	98 days	German Emperor Deutscher Kaiser	House of Hohenzollern
3		Wilhelm II (1859–1941)	15 June 1888	9 November or 28 November 1918 (Abdicated)	30 years, 147 days	German Emperor Deutscher Kaiser	House of Hohenzollern

Under the 1919 Constitution, the first republican constitution of Germany, the President replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state with semi-presidential powers. The President was to be elected by universal suffrage for a seven-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Chancellor served as Acting President, but in case of a longer vacancy parliament was to decide on the Acting President by law. However, the first President, Friedrich Ebert, was elected by the National Assembly; he also acted as head of state during the revolutionary period, as Co-Chairman of the Council of the People's Deputies, together with Hugo Haase from 10 November 1918 until 29 December 1918 and thereafter together with Philipp Scheidemann.

Status

President			Term of Office			Position	Political party
#	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Duration
1		Friedrich Ebert (1871–1925)	11 February 1919	28 February 1925 (Died in Office)	6 years, 17 days	President of the Reich Reichspräsident	SPD
		Hans Luther (1879–1962)	28 February 1925	12 March 1925	12 days	Chancellor Reichskanzler	Independent
		Walter Simons (1861–1937)	12 March 1925	12 May 1925	61 days	President of the Supreme Court Präsident des Reichsgerichts	Independent
2		General Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg (1847–1934)	12 May 1925	2 August 1934 (Died in Office)	9 years, 82 days	President of the Reich Reichspräsident	Independent

№	Portrait	Name	Term	Tenure		Election Year/Voter Percentage	Affiliation
3		Adolf Hitler (1889–1945)	1	2 August 1934	30 April 1945	—	NSDAP
			Died in Office
4		Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz (1891–1980)	1	30 April 1945	23 May 1945	—	NSDAP

Under the current Constitution, the second republican constitution of Germany, the President is the ceremonial head of state. The President is elected indirectly for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the President of the Bundesrat serves as Acting President.

Status

№	Portrait	Name	Term	Tenure		Election Year/Voter Percentage	Affiliation
—		Karl Arnold (1901–1958)	—	7 September 1949	12 September 1949	—	CDU
			As President of the Bundesrat he acted as President until after the 1949 presidential election
5		Theodor Heuss (1884–1963)	1	13 September 1949	12 September 1954	1949 — %	FDP
			2	13 September 1954	12 September 1959	1954 — %
6		Heinrich Lübke (1894–1972)	1	13 September 1959	12 September 1964	1959 — %	CDU
			2	13 September 1964	30 June 1969	1964 — %
			Resigned
7		Gustav Heinemann (1899–1976)	1	1 July 1969	30 June 1974	1969 — %	SPD
8		Walter Scheel (1919–2016)	1	1 July 1974	30 June 1979	1974 — %	FDP
9		Karl Carstens (1914–1992)	1	1 July 1979	30 June 1984	1979 — %	CDU
10		Richard von Weizsäcker (1920–2015)	1	1 July 1984	30 June 1989	1984 — %	CDU
			2	1 July 1989	30 June 1994	1989 — %
11		Roman Herzog (1934–2017)	1	1 July 1994	30 June 1999	1994 — %	CDU
12		Johannes Rau (1931–2006)	1	1 July 1999	30 June 2004	1999 — %	SPD
13		Horst Köhler (1943–)	1	1 July 2004	30 June 2009	2004 — %	CDU
			2	1 July 2009	31 May 2010	2009 — %
			Resigned
—		Jens Böhrnsen (1949–)	—	31 May 2010	1 July 2010	—	SPD
			As President of the Bundesrat he acted as President until after the 2010 presidential election
14		Christian Wulff (1959–)	1	2 July 2010	17 February 2012	2010 — %	CDU
			Resigned
—		Horst Seehofer (1949–)	—	17 February 2012	18 March 2012	—	CSU
			As President of the Bundesrat he acted as President until after the 2012 presidential election
15		Joachim Gauck (1940–)	1	18 March 2012	18 March 2017	2012 — %	Independent
16		Frank-Walter Steinmeier (1956–)	1	19 March 2017		2017 — %	SPD

During the East German period the title of the heads of state varies from President to Chairman of the Council.

Status

№	Portrait	Name	Term	Tenure		Election Year/Voter Percentage	Affiliation
—		Johannes Dieckmann (1893–1969)	—	7 October 1949	11 October 1949	—	LDPD
	As President of the People's Chamber he acted as President until after the 1949 presidential election.
1		Wilhelm Pieck (1876–1960)	1	11 October 1949	1953	1949 — %	SED
			2	1953	1957	1953 — %
			3	1957	7 September 1960	1957 — %
			Died in Office.
—		Johannes Dieckmann (1893–1969)	—	7 September 1960	12 September 1960	—	LDPD
	As President of the People's Chamber he acted as President after the death of Wilhelm Pieck.
2		Walter Ulbricht (1893–1973)	1	12 September 1960	1 August 1973	—	SED
	Died in Office.
—		Friedrich Ebert, Jr. (1894–1979)	–	1 August 1973	3 October 1973	—	SED
	As Deputy Chairman of the State Council he acted as Chairman after the death of Walter Ulbricht.
3		Willi Stoph (1914–1999)	1	3 October 1973	29 October 1976	—	SED
4		Erich Honecker (1912–1994)	1	29 October 1976	18 October 1989	—	SED
5		Egon Krenz (1937–)	1	18 October 1989	6 December 1989	—	SED
6		Manfred Gerlach (1928–2011)	1	6 December 1989	5 April 1990	—	LDPD
–		Sabine Bergmann-Pohl (1946–)	–	5 April 1990	2 October 1990	—	CDU
	As President of the People's Chamber she acted as President until the German reunification