Historically significant events in Europe between 1404 and 1438

[davidjackson]

From the late 12th century onwards it was a "first amongst equals" position, the princes of eastern and central Europe would vote in a new Holy Roman Emperor.
The position was the continuation of the Roman Western Empire, you will remember that the Eastern Empire developed into the Byzantine. The position was in abeyance until the 9th century when the Franks resurrected it, at first as a dynastic title and then eventually it became an elected position.
To become HRE you needed a coalition of alliances and marriages.
The position was fluid in the first centuries, but then settled down to several long periods between different families. The Hapsburgs held it for centuries and it became associated with the Spanish Crown in the later centuries.
Napoleon abolished it; for this reason he is known as the person who finally destroyed the Roman Empire.