910 Ludwig defeated by the Magyars on the Lech.
911 Death of Ludwig—the last Carlovingian prince in Germany. The feudal system has now become firmly established in Germany and the royal power is but a shadow of that exercised by the early Carlovingians. The crown is refused by Otto the Illustrious of Saxony and Conrad I duke of Franconia is elected king.
911-918 The Danes, Slavs, and Magyars continue their invasion. The duke of Lotharingia or Lorraine transfers his allegiance to the king of France. Conrad sends armies to France but is unable to prevent the loss of Lorraine. He struggles against the rising power of the dukes, especially with that of Henry of Saxony—a quarrel forced by the clergy. Conrad repents of this and on his death-bed advises election of Henry as his successor.
918 On death of Conrad Henry (I) the Fowler is elected king of East Francia. The Saxon line begins and the German monarchy is founded. Henry is a wise and great ruler. In the first year of his reign he obtains acknowledgment of his supremacy from the refractory dukes of Swabia and Bavaria.
924 Henry makes a nine years’ truce with the still troublesome Magyars, and pays them yearly tribute.
925 Lorraine is again added to Germany to which it belongs for the next eight centuries.
929 Victory at Lenzen over Wends and Danes.
933 On expiration of truce, Henry refuses further tribute to the Magyars. They make a fresh inroad but are totally defeated by Henry in Thuringia.
936 Henry prepares to go to Rome to claim the imperial crown won by no German since Arnulf. He dies before he can get started. His son by Matilda, Otto (I) the Great, is elected to succeed him.