From King Henry I to Emperor Maximilian I, all German rulers of the Middle Ages are presented here in impressive and vividly written short biographies. Ottonians, Salian, Staufer, or Habsburgs - in the life stories of the rulers, the authors simultaneously depict the most important milestones and turning points of imperial history in the Middle Ages. Kings and emperors - and sometimes also the legends that surround them - have shaped our image of the Middle Ages. The traces of their rule, which they left everywhere in the empire, are still omnipresent today. Beyond the imperial crown, scepter, and holy lance, the rulers appear to be strongly embedded in the power network of spiritual and secular princely rule, but are not infrequently threatened by the intrigues of their closest relatives.