2. The high medieval empire

‘The high medieval empire: from the Salians to the Hohenstaufen’ describes the Salian and Hohenstaufen dynasties who ruled until the mid-13th century; the increasingly problematic relationship between empire and papacy; and the development of a German identity. It begins with the early Salian kings, Conrad II (r. 1024–39) and Henry III (r. 1039–56), who achieved consolidation of the empire and church reform. Conflict with the papacy increased during the reigns of Henry IV (r. 1056–1106) and Henry V (r. 1106–25). The Hohenstaufen dynasty inherited the imperial aspirations of the Ottonians and Salians, but after increasing problems in Italy, the dynasty ended in failure with the death of Frederick II in 1250.