Rupert of the Palatinate

The four Rhenish electors deposed Wenceslaus IV and elected Rupert of the Palatinate as King of the Romans. Rupert's election was contested by Wenceslaus and his supporters, leading to a divided empire. Rupert was never crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope.

Rupert led an expedition to Italy to secure his coronation as Holy Roman Emperor and to support Pope Boniface IX against his rivals. The campaign was a failure; Rupert's army was defeated by the forces of Gian Galeazzo Visconti of Milan near Brescia. Rupert retreated to Germany without achieving his goals.

Rupert became embroiled in a conflict with Archbishop Johann II of Mainz over the election of a new bishop in the diocese of Paderborn. The dispute escalated into a military confrontation, with Rupert besieging the archbishop's castle. The conflict was eventually resolved through mediation, but it weakened Rupert's authority.