King of the Romans

The "King of the Romans" was a title used in medieval Europe for the ruler elected by German princes who was expected to become the Holy Roman Emperor. The election was a formal process, and the title signified a person’s status as the designated emperor-in-waiting, often before they officially received the imperial crown. Essentially, it was a step in the path toward holding the highest authority over much of Central Europe, blending regional kingship with the broader idea of an emperor of the Roman Empire.