Irene Preston's Historical Writing
THE BLACK DOUBLE-HEADED EAGLE
During the 12th century the eagle became the accepted symbol of the
rulers of Germany, a black eagle on a gold surface. This eventually
changed to a double-headed eagle and symbol of the Holy Roman Emperor.
Throughout much of the period in which heraldry was in use the German
speaking nations were loosely united under the Holy Roman Empire.
Although the relationships between the Emperor and the various kings and
other city governments were often turbulent, it was the Emperor who was
ultimately fount of all honours, including arms. For centuries 7 great
princes from noble houses elected the Holy Roman Emperor and they were
called the Electors. They each held a special position in the ceremony.
The Imperial House of Austria was ruled by the Hapsburg family and one
Rudolf I became King of Germany in 1273. The family gained many titles
including that of the Holy Roman Emperor which they held from 1273-1291,
1298-1308, 1438-1740 and 1745-1806. The Hapsburg families reached the
zenith of their power under the Emperor Charles V (1519-1556) who
divided his lands creating an Austrian Hapsburg line which ruled until
1918 and a Spanish line which ruled to 1700.
In 962, 162 years after Charlemagne had received his crown and 148 years
after his death, the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation came into
being. A great king, Otto of Saxony, arose in Germany to find that it
was divided into five great dukedoms. He welded them into one and placed
himself at their head.
By 1780 Prussia was the leading German state of the Empire but it was
only in name having little power in Europe. The Austrian Emperor
abdicated in 1806 and Napoleon no longer recognised its existence.