Reign of Henry VI 205 Contest of Philip and Otto IV 206 Character and Career of the Emperor Frederick II 207 Destruction of Imperial Authority in Italy 211 The Great Interregnum 212 Rudolf of Hapsburg 213 Change in the Character of the Empire 214 Haughty Demeanour of the Popes 217 CHAPTER XIV. The Germanic Constitution--the Seven Electors. Germany in the Fourteenth Century 222 Reign of the Emperor Charles IV 225 Origin and History of the System of Election, and of the Electoral Body 225 The Golden Bull 230 Remarks on the Elective Monarchy of Germany 233 Results of Charles IV's Policy 236 CHAPTER XV. The Empire as an International Power. Revival of Learning 240 Beginnings of Political Thought 241 Desire for an International Power 242 Theory of the Emperor's Functions as Monarch of Europe 244 Illustrations 249 Relations of the Empire and the New Learning 251 The Men of Letters--Petrarch, Dante 254 The Jurists 256 Passion for Antiquity in the Middle Ages: its Causes 258 The Emperor Henry VII in Italy 262 The _De Monarchia_ of Dante 264 CHAPTER XVI. The City of Rome in the Middle Ages.