Henry V, King of Germany, is crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

Henry V, King of Germany and later Holy Roman Emperor, was one of the most significant rulers of the early twelfth century. Born around 1081 or 1086, he was the son of Henry IV and belonged to the Salian dynasty. He was crowned King of Germany in 1099 while his father was still alive, initially serving as co-ruler. However, Henry V eventually turned against his father during the intense political and religious struggles of the period, joining the princes and church reformers who opposed Henry IV. In 1105, he forced his father to abdicate, taking full control of the German kingdom.

His reign is best remembered for his central role in the Investiture Controversy, the long conflict between the Holy Roman Emperors and the papacy over who had the authority to appoint bishops and church officials. In 1111, Henry V marched into Rome, where he pressured Pope Paschal II into crowning him Holy Roman Emperor. This act temporarily strengthened his authority, but it also deepened tensions with the Church and many German princes. Over time, resistance within the empire grew, especially among the nobles who feared imperial overreach.

A major turning point came in 1122 with the Concordat of Worms, an agreement between Henry V and Pope Callixtus II that effectively ended the Investiture Controversy. The settlement represented a compromise: the Church gained greater control over spiritual appointments, while the emperor retained certain political rights in the selection of bishops. Although this agreement restored some stability, Henry V died only three years later in 1125 without leaving an heir, bringing the Salian dynasty to an end. His reign marked the transition from strong centralized imperial rule toward a more negotiated balance between emperor, princes, and the Church in medieval Germany.