Alexander of Roes

Abstract

The following article pursues the birth and development of national consciousness in medieval Germany. In the course of and after the dissolution of the Carolingian Empire, an idea of common identity was first born among the ruling class in the Eastern Frankish Realm. This idea of identity evolved during the period between the late eleventh and the early thirteenth century into a consciousness of common German identity. As the elect nation, the German people were believed to be destined to protect and lead the Christianity to the end of the world. This article pays special attention to the theory of empire by Alexander of Roes (c.1225-before 1300), a Franciscan monk who arduously defended the cause of the Holy Roman Empire lead by the Germans at the very time it was undergoing a series of serious crises, cross-fired by the Papacy and the French monarchy. By analyzing his theory of empire and the underlying view of the world this study will demonstrate how German national consciousness was ripening.