Germany
Rudolf of Hapsburg
Albert of Habsburg's candidacy was opposed by the Archbishop of Cologne, who was joined by Bohemia and by other princes, all mainly for personal or dynastic reasons. Upon Rudolf's death, the Archbishop instead proposed Count Adolf of Nassau, a very minor noble who was a friend of the Archbishop.
Adolf agreed to do favors all around—for Bohemia, for Mainz, for Bavaria, and of course for Cologne. He was elected in May 1292 and was crowned in July. But Adolf reneged on most of his promises and followed his own course of action. Because his own estates were tiny, much of Adolf's efforts were directed toward adding to his family's holdings and in finding foreign allies who would help him along these lines. These activities managed to alienate just about every one of the Electors.
In 1298, the Electors turned to Albert of Habsburg, the son of Rudolf whom they had earlier rejected. On 23 June, the Archbishop of 
Mainz declared Adolf deposed. This was followed by the election of Albert. Both sides raised armies (actually, they were already mobilized) at met at Göllheim (near Worms) on 2 July. Adolf lost the battle, was wounded, and died soon after. The House of Nassau would leave no imperial legacy.
Albert's reign fared little better. The Habsburgs by this time had extensive holdings, centered on the Tyrol and in the lands won by Rudolf: Austria, Styria, and Carniola. These would form the heartland of Habsburg power for centuries to come.
He made a secret alliance with France, provoking wild fears among the Rhenish electors. He tried to acquire Hainault for his family in 1299, further alienating the Rhenish electors, who feared increasing Habsburg power. By 1300, plots were already being hatched to depose Albert, too. But the Habsburg was cleverer than his predecessor and managed to form alliances that blocked his opponents. He made formal peace with them in 1302.
Much of Albert's reign is a story of missed opportunities. He forged a solid alliance with Pope Boniface VIII, but mere months before that pope was captured by agents of King Philip IV of France. He laid claim to Hungary, Bohemia, and Poland, only to have his son (in whose name he made the claims) die at the age of 26 in 1307. Not long after, on 1 May 1308, Albert was assassinated by one of his own nephews, for a perceived slight over some lands.
Both these reigns were preoccupied with dynastic matters. Those that follow will be as well. The nature of the German monarchy was such that a new king had to see first to his own possessions and then to expanding those sufficiently to provide for his heirs. And he had to do so without provoking the Electors, or at least if he did, to be able to outmaneuver them.