Richard was elected in 1256 as King of Germany by four of the seven German Electoral Princes (Konrad von Hochstaden, the Archbishop of Cologne; Gerhard I von Daun-Kirberg, Archbishop of Mainz; Louis II, the Count Palatine; and Ottakar II, King of Bohemia).
His candidacy was opposed by Alfonso X of Castile, who was elected by Albert I, Duke of Saxony; John I, Margrave of Brandenburg; and Arnold II von Eisenberg, Archbishop of Trier.
The pope and King Louis IX of France favored Alfonso, but both were ultimately convinced by the powerful relatives of Richard's sister-in-law, Eleanor of Provence, to support Richard.
Ottokar II of Bohemia, who at first voted for Richard but later elected Alfonso, eventually agreed to support the earl of Cornwall, thus establishing the required simple majority.
So Richard had to bribe only four of them, but this came at a huge cost of 28,000 marks.
On 27 May 1257 Konrad von Hochstaden, archbishop of Cologne himself crowned Richard "King of the Romans" in Aachen; however, like his lordships in Gascony and Poitou, his title never held much significance, and he made only four brief visits to Germany between 1257 and 1269.
Richard was elected in 1256 as King of Germany by four of the seven German Electoral Princes (Konrad von Hochstaden, the Archbishop of Cologne; Gerhard I von Daun-Kirberg, Archbishop of Mainz; Louis II, the Count Palatine; and Ottakar II, King of Bohemia). His candidacy was opposed by Alfonso X of Castile, who was elected by Albert I, Duke of Saxony; John I, Margrave of Brandenburg; and Arnold II von Eisenberg, Archbishop of Trier. The pope and King Louis IX of France favored Alfonso, but both were ultimately convinced by the powerful relatives of Richard's sister-in-law, Eleanor of Provence, to support Richard. Ottokar II of Bohemia, who at first voted for Richard but later elected Alfonso, eventually agreed to support the earl of Cornwall, thus establishing the required simple majority. So Richard had to bribe only four of them, but this came at a huge cost of 28,000 marks. On 27 May 1257 Konrad von Hochstaden, archbishop of Cologne himself crowned Richard "King of the Romans" in Aachen; however, like his lordships in Gascony and Poitou, his title never held much significance, and he made only four brief visits to Germany between 1257 and 1269.
Richard of Cornwall