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History
Origins
The Kingdom of Germany has its roots in 843 with the Kingdom of East Francia and its first king, Louis the German. Remaining loyal to his father, Louis the Pious, Louis the German was not disinherited and instead received a portion of the Carolingian regalia and and liturgical books. This proper transfer of Carolingian royal authority strengthened royal tradition and authority in his newborn kingdom.
When Louis the German's eldest son, Carloman, died young, Bavaria was inherited by Louis the Younger, keeping East Francia whole. East Francia passed to Charles the Fat, Louis's third son, when Louis the Younger died in 882.
Charles the Fat was a weak ruler, unable to sire a legitimate heir or legitimize his bastard son, Bernard. He was deposed in East Francia by Arnulf of Carinthia, illegitimate son of Carloman, in 887. Arnulf was considered a strong, capable ruler who defeated the Slavs in Pannonia, repelled the Vikings attacking the north, and returned parts of Northwestern Germany to East Francian control. Arnulf survived long enough to pass the throne to an adult son, Louis. Together, they managed to minimize the damages caused by the Magyars that would've otherwise weakened Louis's reign.
Nonetheless, Louis died young and the thrones of East Francia and Lotharingia passed to Henry the Fowler. Henry strengthened the Kingdom's defenses against the Magyars, and put down rebellions by dukes that sought to undermine royal authority. He left his son, who'd become the first proper Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I the Great, a much stronger, stable kingdom.
Investiture Controversy
A stronger Germany managed to weather the Investiture contest of the mid 11th century much better. Though there were still revolts in the northeastern empire, the controversy ended earlier, minimizing the decline of imperial power. While the Papacy kept the right to appoint priests, secular rulers nonetheless maintained significant, albeit unofficial, influence. Many subjects of the empire resented the Italian Popes sowing chaos in the empire, which would result in a stronger Protestant movement in the 16th century.
Recent
A union of the Luxembourg and Wittelsbach families into the Luxembourg-Wittelsbach dynasty in the mid 13th century kept the core lands of the Kingdom of Germany (Bavaria, Franconia, the Lorraine) together, allowing them to better compete with the Austrians for the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. The Duchy of Pomerania fell into their grasp during the late 17th century.
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