Better times appeared during the reign of the Saxon emperors, who frequently summoned the Bishops of Utrecht to attend the imperial councils and diets. In 1024 the bishops were made Princes of the Holy Roman Empire and the new Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht was formed. The secular territory over which it ruled was known as Sticht Utrecht or Het Sticht (a sticht was any piece of land governed by a bishop or abbot). This territory was divided into the "Nedersticht" (Lower Sticht, roughly corresponding to the present day province of Utrecht) and "Oversticht" (Upper Sticht, encompassing the present-day provinces of Overijssel, Drenthe, and part of Groningen).