Primary Sources
Early Empire
802 Capitulary of Charlemagne
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/capitula.asp
817 Ordinance of Division of the Empire by Louis the Pious
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/verdun.asp
950s Liutprand of Cremona, Mission to Constantinople
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/liudprand1.asp
Investiture Contest/Struggle/Controversy
Jan 1076 Henry IV condemns Gregory VII
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/henry4-to-g7a.asp
Feb 1076 Gregory VII deposes and bans Henry IV
http://legacy.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/g7-ban1.asp
Nov 1078 Gregory VII ban slay investitures
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/g7-invest1.asp
March 1080 Gregory VII deposes and bans Henry IV a 2nd time
http://legacy.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/g7-ban2.asp
1095 Peace of God of Henry IV
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/dechenry.asp
Februarly 1111 Privilege by Paschal II
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/paschal2-priv1.asp
April 1111 Revised Privilege by Paschal II
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/paschal2-priv2.asp
The Staufen
1152 and 1157 Peace of the Land by Frederick Barbarossa http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/peace.asp
1158, 1183 Frederick Barbarossa and the Lombards
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/barbarossa-lombards.asp
1160, 1177 Frederick Barbarossa and Alexander III
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/barbarossa1.asp
1198 Sicut Universitatis by Innocent III
http://clc-library-org.tripod.com/sicut.html
1202 Venerabilem fratrem nostrum by Innocent III
http://legalhistorysources.com/ChurchHistory220/Lecture%20Four/ InnocentIIIChurchState.html
13th Cent., Salimbene on Frederick II
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/salimbene1.asp
1229 Letter of Frederick II to Henry of England about the Crusade
http://history.hanover.edu/texts/fifthcru.html
1231 Frederick II Statute in Favor of the Princes
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/fred2-princes.asp
1241 Frederick II’s Imperial Precaria
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/1241Precaria.asp
1245-1246 about Frederick II’s deposition
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/1245FrederickII.asp
Later Medieval Empire
1291 Confederation of the Swiss
http://www.lexilogos.com/declaration/suisse_federal_charter.htm
1296 Clericis Laicos by Boniface VIII
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/b8-clericos.asp
1302 Unam Sanctam by Boniface VIII
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Bon08/B8unam.htm
http://legalhistorysources.com/ChurchHistory220/LectureEight/UnamSanctam.htm
1310? Dante, De Monarchia
http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/alighieri-de-monarchia
1324 Marsilius of Padua Defensor Pacis, conclusions
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/marsiglio3.asp
1327 Pope John XII’s condemnation of Marsilius of Padua
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/marsiglio2.asp
1338 Licet Juris of Frankfurt Diet
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/licetjuris.asp
1356 Golden Bull
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/golden.asp
1417 Decrees of the Council of Constance
http://www.legionofmarytidewater.com/faith/ECUM16.HTM
http://legalhistorysources.com/ChurchHistory220/LectureEight/HaecSancta.htm
1422 Levy of Troops for War in Bohemia
http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/imptrooplevy1422.asp
A good collection of translated sources is Oliver J. Thatcher and Edgar Holmes McNeal. A Source Book for Mediaeval History: Selected Documents Illustrating the History of Europe in the Middle Age. New York; Chicago; Boston: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905. This book is electronically accessible here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and in an updated format, here.
The following documents are of interest for Holy Roman Empire history:
8. The imperial coronation of Karl the Great, 800 p. 48
11. Letter of Karl the Great to Baugulf, Abbot of Fulda 787 p. 55
13. Recognition of Karl by the emperors at Constantinople, 812 p. 57
14. Letter of Karl to emperor Michael I, 813 p. 58
16. The Strassburg oaths [Nithard], 842 p. 60
17. The treaty of Verdun [Annales Bertiniani], 843 p. 62
18. The treaty of Verdun [Regino], 843 p. 63
19. The treaty of Meersen, 870 p. 64
20. Invasions of the Northmen, end of the ninth century [Annals of Fulda], 883-885, p. 65 [armies led by Archbishop Liutbert of Mainz]
21. Invasion of the Hungarians [Thietmar of Merseburg], ca, 950 65 [Bishop Michael of Regensburg lost]
22. Dissolution of the empire. [Regino], 879-888 p. 66
23. The coronation of Amulf [Regino], 896 p. 69
24. Rise of the tribal duchies in Germany, Saxony [Widukind], ca, 900 p. 69
25. Rise of the tribal duchies, Swabia [Annales Alemanici], 911-195 p. 70
26. Henry I and the Saxon cities [Widukind], 919-36 p. 71
27. The election of Otto I [Widukind], 936 p. 72
28. Otto I and the Hungarians [Widukind], 955 p. 75
29. The imperial coronation of Otto I [Cont. Regino], 962 p. 78
30. The acquisition of Burgundy [Thietmar of Merseburg], 1018-1032 p. 79
31. The acquisition of Burgundy [Wipo, Life of Conrad II], 1018-1032 p. 79
32. Henry III and the eastern frontier [Lambert], 1040-1043, p. 80
SECTION II. The Papacy to the Accession of Gregory VII
46. Promise of Charlemagne to Hadrian I about the Donation of Pepin, 774 p. 105
47. Letter of Karl to Leo III, declares the pope has only spiritual duties, 796 p. 107
48. Karl exercises authority in Rome [Einhard], 800 p. 108
49. Oath of Leo III before Charlemagne, 800 p. 108
50. Oath of the Romans to Ludwig the Pious and Lothar, 824 p. 109
51. Letter of Ludwig II defending imperial title to Basil, emperor at Constantinople, 871 p. 110
52. Papal elections to be held in the presence of the emperor's representatives, 898 p. 113
53. Oath of Otto I to John XII, 961 p. 114
54. Otto I confirms the pope in the possession of his lands, 962 p. 115
55. Leo VIII grants the emperor the right to choose popes, 963 p.118
56. Letter of Sylvester II to Stephen of Hungary conferring crown, 1000 p. 119
57. Henry III deposes and creates popes [Annales Romani], 1048 p. 121
58. Oath of Robert Guiscard to Nicholas II [Baronius, Annals], 1059 p. 124
59. Papal election decree of Nicholas II, 1059 126
Section III. The Struggle between the Empire and the Papacy, 1073-1250
60-64. Prohibition of simony and marriage of the clergy, 1074 p. 132
65. Dictatus papae, ca. 1090 p. 136
66. Letter of Gregory VII commending his legates, 1074 p. 139
67. Oath of the patriarch of Aquileia to Gregoiy VII, 1079 . . 140
68. Oath of Richard of Capua to Gregory VII, 1073 p. 140
69. Letter of Gregory VII to the princes wishing to reconquer Spain, 1073 p. 142
70. Letter of Gregory VII to Wratislav, duke of Bohemia, 1073 p. 143
71. Letter of Gregory VII to Sancho, king of Aragon, 1074 p. 143
72. Letter of Gregory VII to Solomon, king of Hungary, 1074 p. 144
73. Letter of Gregory VII to Demetrius, king of Russia, 1075 p. 145
74. Letter of Gregory VII to Henry IV, December 1075 p. 146
75. Deposition of Gregory VII by Heniy IV, January 1076 p. 151
76. Letter of the bishops of Germany to Gregory VII, January 1076 153
77. First deposition and excommunication of Henry IV by Gregory VII, February 1076 p. 156
78. Agreement at Oppenheim, October 1076 p. 156
79. Edict annulling the decrees against Gregory VII, 1076 p. 157
80. Letter of Gregory VII concerning the penance of Henry IV at Canossa, 1077 p. 157
81. Oath of Henry IV p. 160
82. Countess Matilda gives her lands to the church, 1102 . . 160
83. First privilege of Paschal II to Henry V, February 1111 p. 161
84. Second privilege of Paschal II to Henry V, April 1111 p. 163
85-86. Concordat of Worms, 1122 p. 164
87. Election notice for a new king, 1125 p. 166
89. Coronation oath of Lothar II, 1133 p. 169
90. Innocent II grants the lands of Countess Matilda to Lothar II, 1133 p. 170
91. letter of Bernard of Clairvaux to Lothar II, 1134 p. 171
92. letter of Bernard of Clairvaux to Conrad III, 1140 p. 172
93. letter of Conrad III to John Comnenus, 1142 p. 173
94. letter of Wibald, abbot of Stablo, to Eugene III, 1150 p. 174
95. Letter of Frederick I to Eugene III, 1152 176
96. Answer of Eugene III, 1152 p. 178
97. Treaty of Constance, 1153 p. 178
98. The Stirrup Episode [Lives of the Popes], p. 1155
99. Treaty of Hadrian IV and William of Sicily, 1156 p. 181
100-102. The Besancon Episode 1157 p. 183
103. Definition of regalia, Diet at Roncalia, 1158 p. 188
104. Letter of Eberhard, bishop of Bamberg, about imperial-papal quarrel, 1159 p. 190
105. Letter of Alexander III in regard to disputed papal election of 1159 p. 192
106. Letter of Victor IV, 1159 p. 194
107. An Account given by Gerhoh of Reichersberg, ca, 1160 p. 196
108. Preliminary treaty of Anagni, 1176 p. 196
109. Peace of Constance, 1183 p. 199
110. Formation of the duchy of Austria, 1156 p. 202
111. The bishop of Wuerzburg becomes a duke, 1168 p. 203
112. Decree of Gelnhausen, 1180, p. 205
113. Papal election decree of Alexander III, 1179 p. 207
114. Innocent III to Acerbius on supremacy of papal power, 1198 p. 208
123. Oath of the prefect of Rome to Innocent III, 1198 p. 214
128. Innocent III grants the title of king to the duke of Bohemia, 1204 p. 218
130. Innocent III decides the disputed election, 1201 p. 220
131. Treaty between Philip of Swabia and Philip II of France, 1108 p. 227
132. Alliance between Otto IV and John of England, 1202 p. 228
133. Concessions of Philip of Swabia to Innocent III, 1203p. 228
134. Promise of Frederick II to Innocent III, 1213 p. 230
135. Promise of Frederick II to resign Sicily, 1216 p. 232
136. Concessions of Frederick II to the ecclesiastical princes, 1220 p. 233
137. Decision of the diet concerning new tolls and mints, 1220 p. 236
138. Frederick II gives a charter to the patriarch of Aquileia, 1220 p. 237
139. Statute of Frederick II in favor of the princes, 1231-1232 p. 238
140-143. Treaty of San Germano, 1230 p. 240
143-144. Struggle between Gregory IX and Frederick II, 1238 p. 245
145. Current stories about Frederick II [Matthew of Paris], 1238 p. 256
Section IV. The Empire, 1250-1500
146. Diet of Nuremburg, 1274 p. 260
147. The German princes confirm Rudolf’s surrender of Italy, 1278-1279 p. 263
148. Revocation of grants of imperial lands, 1281 p. 265
149. Electoral ''letter of consent," 1282 p. 265
150. Letter of Rudolf to Edward I of England, 1283 p. 266
151. Decree against counterfeiters, 1285 p. 267
152. The beginning of the Swiss confederation, 1290 p. 267
153. Concessions of Adolf of Nassau to the archbishop of Cologne, 1292 p. 270
154. The archbishop of Mainz confirmed as archchancellor of Germany, 1298 p. 276
155. Declaration of the election of Henry VII, 1308 p. 277
156. Supplying of the office of archchancellor of Italy, 1310 . 278
157. The law "Licet juris," 1338 p. 279
158. The diet of Coblenz, 1338. p. 281
159. The diet of Coblenz. Chronicle of Henxy Knyghton p. 282
160. The Golden Bull of Charles IV, 1356 p. 283
160a-b. Brandenburg goes to the Hohenzollern, 1411 p. 800
V. The Church, 1260-1500
171. Council of Constance claims supreme authority, 1415 p. 328
172. Reforms demanded by the council of Constance, 1417 p. 329
173. Concerning general councils, council of Constance, 1417 p. 331
174. Bull “Execrabilis” of Pius II, 1459 p. 332
178. Complaints [Gravamina] of the Germans against the pope, 1510p. 336
179. Abuses in the sale of indulgences, 1512 338
230. Feudal law of Frederick I for Italy [Deeds of Frederick], 1158 p. 385
Section VII. Courts, Judicial Processes, and the Peace
231. Sachsenspiegel, 1215-1276 p. 391
232. Frederick II appoints a justiciar and a court secretary, 1235 p. 398
233. Peace of Eger, 1389 p. 399
245. Peace of the land, Henry IV, 1103 p. 419
246. Peace of the land for Elsass, 1085-1103 p. 419
247. Decree of Frederick I concerning the peace, 1156 p. 422
248. Peace of the land for Italy, Frederick I, 1158 p. 425
249. Perpetual peace of the land, Maximilian I, 1495 p. 427
250. Establishment of a supreme court, 1495 p. 430
Section X. Social Classes and Cities in Germany
289. Otto III forbids the unfree classes to attempt to free themselves, ca, 1000 p. 545
290. Henry I frees a serf, 926 p. 546
291. Henry III frees a female serf, 1050 p. 547
292. Recovery of fugitive serfs, 1224 p. 548
293. Rank of children born of mixed marriages, 1282 p. 549
294. Frederick II confers nobility, ca. 1240 p. 549
295. Charles IV confers nobility on a ''doctor of both laws," 1360 p. 550
296. law of the family of the bishop of Worms, 1023 p. 551
297. Charter of the ministerials of the archbishop of Cologne, 1154 p. 563
298. The bishop of Hamburg; grants a charter to colonists, 1106 p. 572
299. Privilege of Frederick I for the Jews, 1157 p. 573
300. The bishop of Speyer grants a charter to the Jews, 1084 p. 577
301. Lothar II grants a market to the monastery of Priim, 861 p. 579
302. Otto I grants a market to the archbishop of Hamburg, 965 p. 580
303. Otto III grants a market to count Berthold, 999 p. 581
304. Merchants cannot be compelled to come to a market, 1236 p. 581
305. Market courts to be independent of local courts, 1218 p. 582
306. Otto I grants jurisdiction over a town to the abbots of New Corvey, 940 p. 682
307. The ban-mile, 1237 p. 583
308. Citizens of Cologne expel their archbishop, 1074 p. 584
309. People of Cologne rebel against their archbishop, 1074 p. 585
310. Confirmation of the "immediateness" of the citizens of Speyer, 1267 p. 580
311. Summons to an imperial city to attend a diet, 1338 p. 587
312. Grant of municipal freedom to a town by the Bishop of Münster. 1201 p. 587
313. Extension of the corporate limits of the city of Brunswick, 1269 p. 588
314. Decision of the diet about city councils in cathedral towns, 1218 p. 689
315. Frederick II forbids municipal freedom, 1231-1232 p. 590
318-319. Establishment of the Rhine League, 1254 p. 604
320-321. Agreements between Hamburg and Lubeck, ca. 1230, 609
322. Lubeck, Rostock, and Wismar proscribe pirates, 1399 p. 610
323-324. Decrees of the Hanseatic league, 1260-1264 p. 611
Last updated 2019 March 6