[trinix912]

That’s the German Holy Roman Empire, not the classical Roman Empire.

[pjio]

After refusing to be conquered, the Germanic tribes took it very serious to pretend otherwise.

[flohofwoe]

What have the Romans ever done for us?!

[pjio]

"We don't need their culture. We have culture at home. Culture at home: ..."

[ecshafer]

In the Legal Fiction they are the descendants of Charlemagne, who was crowned Emperor, and thus were the direct descendants of the Roman Empire.

[pm3003]

Didn't they elect the Kaiser until 1806?

[flohofwoe]

Yeah, but every empire worth its salt needs a good 'garage story' ;) (like the Romans claiming to be descendants of Trojan war refugees)