Editing Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor (section)

===Royal election===
Emperor Henry II died childless in 1024, bringing an end to the [[Ottonian dynasty]] that had ruled Germany since 919.<ref>"Germany", Martin Volkl, ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology'', Volume 2, ed. Clifford J. Rogers, ([[Oxford University Press]], 2010), p. 171. {{ISBN?}}</ref> Without a clear successor to the German throne, Henry's widow [[Cunigunde of Luxembourg]] ruled as regent while the German dukes gathered to elect a new king. Cunigunde was assisted by her brothers Bishop [[Dietrich I of Metz]] and Duke [[Henry V of Bavaria]]. Archbishop [[Aribo of Mainz]], the [[primate of Germany]], also assisted Cunigunde.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Aribo di Magonza |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmagon.html |date=24 July 2017 |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>

On 4 September 1024, the German princes gathered at Kamba, a historical name for an area on the east banks of the [[Rhine]] opposite the modern German town of [[Oppenheim]]. Now the location of ''Kamba'' is marked with a small equestrian statue of Conrad II. The chronicler and Conrad's [[chaplain]], [[Wipo of Burgundy]], attended the meeting and documented the event. Archbishop Aribo presided over the assembly. Conrad presented himself as a candidate for election, as did his younger cousin [[Conrad II, Duke of Carinthia|Conrad]]. Both were [[Family tree of German monarchs|descendants]] of [[Emperor Otto I]] by their common grandfather [[Otto of Worms]], son of Liutgarde, one of Otto's daughters.{{sfn|Bernhardt|2002|p=311}} Although further members of the Ottonian dynasty existed, none were seriously considered eligible. The [[Duchy of Saxony]] adopted a neutral strategy while the [[Duchy of Lorraine]] favoured the younger Conrad. A majority of the assembled princes favoured the elder Conrad, as the father of a seven-year-old son implied a more stable dynastic future for the kingdom. As president of the assembly, Archbishop Aribo cast the first vote and supported the elder Conrad. He was joined by the other clerics in support of him. The secular dukes then cast their votes for the elder Conrad as well. Archbishop [[Pilgrim of Cologne]], Duke [[Gothelo I of Lower Lorraine]] and Duke [[Frederick II of Upper Lorraine]] did not support him.{{sfn|Schutz|2010|pp=115–}}

[[File:Speyer dom 11.jpg|thumb|[[Speyer Cathedral]], consecrated in 1061]]

Conrad was crowned [[king of Germany]] by Archbishop Aribo in [[Mainz Cathedral]] on 8 September 1024 at the age of 34.{{sfn|Heer|1968|p=51}}{{sfn|Wolfram|2006|p=97}} To mark his election, Conrad commissioned the construction of [[Speyer Cathedral]], near his ancestral home of Worms. Construction began in 1030. Archbishop Aribo, as archbishop of Mainz, was already the chancellor of Germany. Conrad wanted to reward the archbishop for his electoral support, so he made Aribo chancellor of Italy as well, making Aribo the second most powerful man in the [[Holy Roman Empire]] as the imperial chancellor.{{sfn|Weinfurter|1999|p=22–}}<ref name="rege">{{Cite web |title=Heinrich V. in seiner Zeit |url=http://www.regesta-imperii.de/fileadmin/user_upload/downloads/Regesta_Imperii_Beiheft_34.pdf |last=Gerhard Lubich |publisher=Regesta |access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>

Aribo refused to crown Conrad's wife Gisela as queen as their marriage violated canon law. Conrad refused to accept Archbishop Aribo's position. Archbishop Pilgrim of Cologne saw the situation as an opportunity to restore his relationship with the king, after refusing to support Conrad's election, and he crowned Gisela queen on 21 September 1024. The political reorientation of Pilgrim also weakened the opposition towards the new king.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gisela |url=https://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/0001/bsb00016322/images/index.html?seite=427 |last=Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode |publisher=Neue deutsche Biographie |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>