 The dukes have always preferred political particularism, looking to the interests of their respective duchies above the interests of the Empire as a whole.In an effort to unify the Empire under their leadership, the Ottonians increasingly associated themselves with the Church, claiming "divine right" to rule the Empire and presenting themselves as the protector of Christendom.A key element of this policy was to grant land and bestow the title of "Prince of the Empire" ("Reichsfürst") to appointed bishops and abbots at the expense of the secular nobility.