The Holy Roman Empire was established in AD 800 when Pope Leo III established Charlemagne, a great leader of the Middle Ages, as the ruler of the Romans and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.  The Holy Roman Empire consisted mainly of the lands of Central Europe and also included lands in France and Italy.  the Kingdom of Germany was one of the largest states in the Holy Roman Empire.  The position of Emperor was an elected position but was usually handed down from father to son.  This Emperor was usually elected from the great families of the Germanic Kingdom.  Over the time of the Holy Roman Empire, the Emperor began to loose power and conflicts often resulted in wars between rival states.