# List of Holy Roman empresses

The Holy Roman Empress or Empress of the Holy Roman Empire (Kaiserin des Heiligen Römischen Reiches) was the wife or widow of the Holy Roman Emperor. The elective dignity of Holy Roman emperor was restricted to males only, but some empresses, such as Theophanu and Maria Theresa, were de facto rulers of the Empire.

## Holy Roman Empresses

Before 924, the title of emperor was not always associated with the German kingdom; rather, it was initially associated with the Carolingian dynasty, and then possessed by several other figures of the 9th and 10th centuries. Their wives were thus empresses, but not necessarily German queens.

## Carolingian

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Ermengarde of Hesbaye Queen of the Franks, Empress | Ingram, Count of Hesbaye (Robertians) | c. 778 | 794/795 | Queen of Aquitaine 794/795 Queen of the Franks 28 January 814 | 813 husband as co-Emperor with his father/ 28 January 814 husband as sole Emperor | 3 October 818 | 3 October 818 | Louis I |
| | Judith of Bavaria Queen of the Franks, Empress | Welf, Count of Altdorf (Welfs) | 797 | 819 | 819 | 819 | 20 June 840 husband's death | 19/23 April 843 | Louis I |
| | Ermengarde of Tours Queen of Italy and the Middle Franks, Empress | Hugh, Count of Tours (Etichonids) | ? | 821 | Queen of Italy 17 April 818 Queen of Middle Francia August 843 | 821 husband as co-Emperor with his father/ 20 June 840 husband as sole Emperor | 851 | 851 | Lothair I |
| | Engelberga of Parma Queen of Italy, Empress | Adelchis I, Count of Parma (Supponids) | ? | 5 October 851 | Queen of Italy 5 October 851 | 5 October 851 husband as co-Emperor with his father/ 23 September 855 husband as sole Emperor | 12 August 875 husband's death | 896-901 | Louis II |
| | Richilde of Provence Queen of the West Franks, Empress | Bivin, Count of the Ardennes (Bosonids) | 845 | 870 | Queen of the West Franks 870 | 29 December 875 | 5/6 October 877 husband's death | 2 June 910 | Charles the Bald |
| | Richardis Queen of the Franks, Empress | Erchanger, count of Nordgau (Ahalolfings) | c. 840 | 862 | Various | 12 February 881 | As Queen: 11 November 887 husband's deposition as King As Empress: 13 January 888 husband's death | 18 September, 894-896 | Charles the Fat |
| | Ageltrude Queen of Italy, Empress | Adelchis, Prince of Benevento | ? | before 880 | Queen of Italy 889 | May 891 | 12 December 894 husband's death | 27 August 923 | Guy III of Spoleto |
| | Ota | Berengar I of Neustria (Conradines) | ? | 888 | 888 | 22 February 896 | 8 December 899 | 30 November 903 | Arnulf |
| | Anna of Constantinople | Leo VI the Wise (Macedonian) | 888 | around 900 | 900 in Provence (Lower Burgundy) 12 October 900 in Italy | 15/22 February 901 | 21 July 905 in the Empire and Italy 912 in Provence | 912 | Louis the Blind |
| | Bertila of Spoleto Queen of Italy, Empress | Suppo II, Count of Parma (Supponids) | 860 | c. 880 | Queen of Italy 26 December 887 husband's restoration | January 915 | before December 915 | before December 915 | Berengar I of Italy |
| | Anna of Provence Queen of Italy, Empress | Louis the Blind, Emperor, King of Provence and Italy (Bosonids) | - | by December 915 | by December 915 | 7 April 924 husband's death | after May 930 | | Berengar I of Italy |
| Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## Holy Roman Empresses/Queens of Germany

With the elevation of Otto I of Germany in 962 to the Imperial title, the title of Roman King or Emperor became inalienably associated with the Kingdom of Germany - although a King of Germany might not bear the title of Emperor, it would be impossible to become a Holy Roman Emperor without being King of Germany first. The women in the following sections were all Queens of Germany as well as Holy Roman Empresses.

## Ottonian dynasty

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Adelaide of Italy | Rudolph II of Burgundy (Welf) | 931 | 951 | 951 | 2 February 962 (Crowned on this date) Served as regent for her grandson Otto III until he came of age. | 7 May 973 | 16 December 999 | Otto I |
| | Theophanu of Byzantium | Konstantinos Skleros | 960 | 14 April 972 | 14 April 972 | 14 April 972 husband as co-Emperor with his father 7 May 973 husband as sole Emperor Crowned 14 April 972 | 7 December 983 husband's death | 15 June 991 | Otto II |
| | Cunigunde of Luxembourg | Siegfried, Count of Luxemburg | c. 975 | 999 | 17 June 1002 | 26 April 1014 | 13 July 1024 | 3 March 1033 | Henry II |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## Salian dynasty

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Gisela of Swabia | Hermann II, Duke of Swabia (Conradines) | 11 November 995 | 1016 | 8 September 1024 | 26 March 1027 | 4 June 1039 husband's death | 14 February 1043 | Conrad II |
| | Agnes of Poitou | William V, Duke of Aquitaine (Ramnulfids) | 1025 | 21 November 1043 | 21 November 1043 | 25 December 1046 | 5 October 1056 | 14 December 1077 | Henry III |
| | Bertha of Savoy | Otto, Count of Savoy (Savoy) | 21 September 1051 | 13 July 1066 | 13 July 1066 | 21 March 1084 | 27 December 1087 | 27 December 1087 | Henry IV |
| | Eupraxia of Kiev | Vsevolod I, Grand Prince of Kiev (Rurikids) | 1071 | 14 August 1089 | 14 August 1089 | 14 August 1089 | 31 December 1105 husband's deposition | 20 July 1109 | Henry IV |
| | Matilda of England | Henry I of England (Normandy) | 7 February 1101 | 7 January 1114 | 7 January 1114 | 7 January 1114 | 23 May 1125 | 10 September 1167 | Henry V |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Supplinburg

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Richenza of Northeim | Henry, Margrave of Frisia | c. 1087/89 | c. 1100 | 30 August 1125 | 4 June 1133 | 4 December 1137 | 10 June 1141 | Lothair III |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Hohenstaufen

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Beatrice of Burgundy | Renaud III, Count of Burgundy | 1143 | 9 June 1156 | 9 June 1156 | 9 June 1156 | 15 November 1184 | 15 November 1184 | Frederick I |
| | Constance of Sicily | Roger II, King of Sicily (Hauteville) | 1154 | 27 January 1186 | 27 January 1186 | 14 April 1191 | 28 September 1197 | 27 November 1198 | Henry VI |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Welf

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Beatrice of Swabia | Philip, King of Germany (Hohenstaufen) | 1198 | 1209 or 1212 | 1209 or 1212 | 1209 or 1212 | 1212 | 1212 | Otto IV |
| | Marie of Brabant | Henry I, Duke of Brabant | c. 1190 | after 19 May 1214 | after 19 May 1214 | after 19 May 1214 | 5 July 1215 husband's deposition | May 1260 | Otto IV |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Hohenstaufen

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Constance of Aragon | Alfonso II, King of Aragon | 1179 | 5 August 1209 | 1211-1212 husband as King in opposition/ 5 July 1215 husband unopposed | 22 November 1220 | 23 April 1220 Ceased to be Queen: son elected as King | 23 June 1222 Ceased to be Empress upon death | Frederick II |
| | Yolande of Brienne | John of Brienne, King of Jerusalem | 1212 | 9 November 1225 | 9 November 1225 | 9 November 1225 | 25 April 1228 | 25 April 1228 | | Frederick II |
| | Isabella of England | John, King of England | 1214 | 15/20 July 1235 | 15/20 July 1235 | 15/20 July 1235 | 1 December 1241 | 1 December 1241 | | Frederick II |
| Picture | Name | House | Father | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Wittelsbach

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Margaret II, Countess of Hainault | William of Avesnes, Count of Hainaut | 1311 | 26 February 1324 | 26 February 1324 | January 1328 | 11 October 1347 | 23 June 1356 | Louis IV |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Luxembourg

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Anna of Świdnica | Henry II, Duke of Świdnica | c. 1339 | 27 May 1353 | 27 May 1353 | 5 April 1355 coronation with husband | 11 July 1362 | 11 July 1362 | Charles IV |
| | Elizabeth of Pomerania | Bogislaw V, Duke of Pomerania | 1347 | 21 May 1363 | 21 May 1363 | 1 November 1368 coronation | 29 November 1378 husband's death | 14 February 1393 | Charles IV |
| | Barbara of Cilli | Hermann II, Count of Celje | 1390 to 1395 | 1408 | 21 July 1411 husband's election | 31 May 1433 husband's coronation | 9 December 1437 husband's death | 11 July 1451 | Sigismund |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Habsburg

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Leonor of Portugal | Edward of Portugal (Aviz) | 18 September 1434 | 16 March 1452 | 16 March 1452 | 19 March 1452 husband's coronation | 3 September 1467 | 3 September 1467 | Frederick III |
| | Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan | Galeazzo Maria, Duke of Milan (Sforza) | 5 April 1472 | 16 March 1494 | 16 March 1494 | 4 February 1508 husband declared "emperor-elect" | 31 December 1510 | 31 December 1510 | Maximilian I |
| | Isabella of Portugal | Manuel I of Portugal (Aviz) | 23 October 1503 | 10 March 1526 | 10 March 1526 | 24 February 1530 husband's coronation | 1 May 1539 | 1 May 1539 | Charles V |
| | Maria of Austria | Emperor Charles V (Habsburg) | 21 June 1528 | 13 September 1548 | November 1562 husband's election | 25 July 1564 husband's ascension | 12 October 1576 husband's death | 26 February 1603 | Maximilian II |
| | Anna of Austria | Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria (Habsburg) | 4 October 1585 | 4 December 1611 | 13 June 1612 husband's election | 13 June 1612 husband's election | 14 December 1618 | 14 December 1618 | Matthias |
| | Eleonora Gonzaga | Vincenzo I, Duke of Mantua (Gonzaga) | 23 September 1598 | 4 February 1622 | 4 February 1622 | 4 February 1622 | 15 February 1637 husband's death | 27 June 1655 | Ferdinand II |
| | Maria Anna of Austria | Philip III of Spain (Habsburg) | 18 August 1606 | 20 February 1631 | 22 December 1636 husband's election | 15 February 1637 husband's ascension | 13 May 1646 | 13 May 1646 | Ferdinand III |
| | Maria Leopoldine of Austria | Leopold V, Archduke of Austria (Habsburg) | 6 April 1632 | 2 July 1648 | 2 July 1648 | 2 July 1648 | 7 August 1649 | 7 August 1649 | | Ferdinand III |
| | Eleanora Gonzaga | Charles II Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers (Gonzaga) | 18 November 1630 | 30 April 1651 | 30 April 1651 | 30 April 1651 | 2 April 1657 husband's death | 6 December 1686 | Ferdinand III |
| | Margarita Teresa of Austria | Philip IV of Spain (Habsburg) | 12 July 1651 | 12 December 1666 | 12 December 1666 | 12 December 1666 | 12 March 1673 | 12 March 1673 | Leopold I |
| | Claudia Felicitas of Austria | Archduke Ferdinand Charles of Austria (Habsburg) | 30 May 1653 | 15 October 1673 | 15 October 1673 | 15 October 1673 | 8 April 1676 | 8 April 1676 | | Leopold I |
| | Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg | Philip William, Elector Palatine (Wittelsbach) | 6 January 1655 | 14 December 1676 | 14 December 1676 | 14 December 1676 | 5 May 1705 husband's death | 19 January 1720 | Leopold I |
| | Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick | John Frederick, Duke of Calenburg (Welf) | 21 April 1673 | 24 February 1699 | 24 February 1699 | 5 May 1705 husband's ascension | 17 April 1711 husband's death | 10 April 1742 | Joseph I |
| | Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | Louis Rudolph, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (Welf) | 28 August 1691 | 1 August 1708 | December 1711 husband's election | December 1711 husband's election | 20 October 1740 husband's death | 21 December 1750 | Charles VI |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Wittelsbach

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Maria Amalia of Austria | Emperor Joseph I (Habsburg) | 22 October 1701 | 5 October 1722 | 24 January 1742 husband's election | 24 January 1742 husband's election | 20 January 1745 husband's death | 11 December 1756 | Charles VII |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Lorraine

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Maria Theresa of Austria | Emperor Charles VI (Habsburg) | 13 May 1717 | 12 February 1736 | 13 September 1745 husband's election | 13 September 1745 husband's election | 18 August 1765 husband's death | 29 November 1780 | Francis I |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |

## House of Habsburg-Lorraine

| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
| | Maria Josepha of Bavaria | Emperor Charles VII (Wittelsbach) | 30 March 1739 | 23 January 1765 | 23 January 1765 | 18 August 1765 husband's ascension | 28 May 1767 | 28 May 1767 | Joseph II |
| | Maria Louisa of Spain | Charles III of Spain (Bourbon) | 24 November 1745 | 5 August 1765 | 30 September 1790 husband's election | 30 September 1790 husband's election | 1 March 1792 husband's death | 15 May 1792 | Leopold II |
| | Maria Theresa of the Two Sicilies | Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies (Bourbon) | 6 June 1772 | 15 August 1790 | 5 July 1792 husband's election | 5 July 1792 husband's election | 6 August 1806 husband's abdication | 13 April 1807 | Francis II |
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Queen | Became Empress | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |