Imperial election
Encyclopedia
The election of a Holy Roman Emperor
or King of Germany was, from at least the 13th century, accomplished by a small body of the greatest princes of the Empire, the Prince-elector
s. Appointment as Emperor was normally for life. In 1356, the Emperor Charles IV
, promulgated the Golden Bull
, which became the fundamental law by which all future Kings and Emperors were elected.
s who chose the Emperor, or, in some cases, the King of the Romans
— the Emperor's designated heir — were:
Listed below are all the elections that took place under the conditions of the Golden Bull, as are expulsions, readmittances, and additions to the electoral council.
The 1376 election took place on June 10 in Frankfurt
.
Electors
Elected
Wenceslaus
of Bohemia, King of the Romans.
This was the first election to be carried out following the enactment of the Golden Bull
, which laid out in exact terms the qualifications of the electors, the manner of holding elections and was the basis of every election thenceforward. Wenceslaus, son of Emperor Charles IV
, and then holding the dignity of Elector of Brandenburg, was elected as Charles's heir, King of the Romans
. He succeeded as king when Charles died two years later on November 29, 1378, at which point he also became King of Bohemia.
.
Electors
Elected
Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
Dissatisfied with Wenceslaus's performance of his duties as King of Germany, the electors met to consider alternatives. Frederick of Brunswick-Lüneburg was elected in opposition to Wenceslaus
. However, the three spiritual electors of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne, (and of course Wenceslaus himself) did not concur with the election, which was therefore legally invalid, as supported by only a minority of the electors. Frederick was assassinated two weeks later, on June 5, 1400.
The second election in 1400 took place on August 21 in Rhens-am-Rhein
.
Electors
Elected
Rupert, Elector Palatine (as Rupert III) and King of Germany (as Rupert I).
The three spiritual electors and Rupert met again to formally depose King Wenceslaus
on August 20, 1400. The next day Rupert was chosen unanimously as the new King of Germany. However, the Elector of Saxony (Rudolph III, 1388–1419), the Elector of Brandenburg (Jobst
, 1388–1411) and the King of Bohemia (Wenceslaus, 1378–1419) were not present, and Wenceslaus never admitted the validity of his deposition and the election of Rupert.
The two elections in 1410 took place on September 20 and October 1.
Electors
Elected
Sigismund
and Jobst of Moravia
.
These elections followed the death of Rupert, King of Germany, on May 18, 1410. On September 20, three of the electors irregularly proclaimed Sigismund, King of Hungary, the son of the late Emperor Charles IV
as King. They included Frederick
, Burggrave of Nuremberg, acting on behalf of Sigismund and claiming to represent the Electorate of Brandenburg, but not authorized by the then-current Margrave, Jobst of Moravia
, the late Emperor's nephew.
The doubtful election of Sigismund in September was not accepted by the remaining electors. On October 1, 1410, they elected Jobst of Moravia in opposition to his cousin Sigismund, but Jobst died only three months later. The elections of 1410 were the last to result in a competing king and antiking
.
The 1411 election took place on July 21.
Electors
Elected
Sigismund
, King of Germany.
Following the death of Jobst
on January 18, 1411, there was no further obstacle to Sigismund (now undisputed Elector of Brandenburg) being accepted as King by all the electors. An election was duly held after six months. By accepting this election, Sigismund tacitly admitted to the invalidity of his election in 1410.
The 1438 election took place on March 18 in Frankfurt
.
Electors
Elected
Albert
, King of Germany.
This election followed the death of Emperor Sigismund
on December 9, 1437.
Albert, the elected King, though nominally King of Bohemia by virtue of his marriage to Elizabeth of Luxembourg, was not crowned until after the election. As he was fighting the Bohemians at the time, Albert was not present at his own election.
The Electorate of Brandenburg was conferred in 1415 upon the House of Hohenzollern
, where it remained until the end of the Empire.
.
Electors
The place of the King of Bohemia at this election was vacant, because the previous king Albert
had died (October 27, 1439) leaving his wife Elisabeth pregnant. Their child, Ladislaus the Posthumous, was not born until February 22, 1440, twenty days after the election.
Elected
Frederick III, King of Germany
.
Frederick was the last German king to be crowned Emperor in Rome by the Pope, on March 19, 1452. He was the lineal ancestor of all subsequent Habsburg Emperors.
The 1486 election took place on February 16 in Frankfurt
.
Electors
Elected
Maximilian I, King of the Romans
.
Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, was elected King of the Romans
, and succeeded his father, Frederick III
, on the latter's death on August 19, 1493. As wars in Italy
made it impossible for Maximilian to undertake the journey to Rome for the Imperial coronation, on February 4, 1508 at Trent
, he claimed for himself the title of Electus Romanorum Imperator, "Elected Roman Emperor" or "Roman Emperor by election" (rather than by coronation), which was subsequently accepted (February 12, 1508) by Pope Julius II
. Subsequent electees retained the right to call themselves Emperor, rather than merely King, without Papal coronation.
.
Electors
Elected
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
.
This election followed the death of Emperor Maximilian
on January 12, 1519. It was one of the most hotly contested elections of the later Empire. There was no German contender; the two main candidates were Charles
, a Duke of Burgundy
who had recently become King of Spain
, and Francis I
, the King of France
. Running as a dark-horse candidate was Henry VIII
, King of England
. Although Charles was a Habsburg by paternal ancestry, and the grandson of the late Emperor Maximilian I
, he spoke French
, not German
, and was felt to be as much of a foreigner as Francis; while the experiment of giving the Empire to the monarch of a foreign power (in this case Spain) had never been tried. On the other hand, France and the Empire had not been joined since the days of the Carolingian dynasty.
Charles and Francis tried to outdo each other in voluminous bribes
; Charles in the end had deeper pockets. Charles could count on the vote of the King of Bohemia, his brother-in-law; Francis had bought the Elector of Trier; up for grabs were the Electors of Mainz, Brandenburg and the Palatinate. Although full details of the election were never revealed, it is possible that the Electors sought a way out of their dilemma by electing as Emperor the Elector of Saxony, but that he turned them down. In the end, Charles was elected unanimously, though with some misgivings by the Elector of Brandenburg.
The 1531 election took place on January 5, 1531 in Cologne
.
Electors
Elected
Ferdinand I, King of the Romans
.
Charles V, who had realized that the entirety of the Habsburg dominions could not be ruled by one man, had settled the rule of the original Habsburg lands in Austria upon his brother Ferdinand (who, in 1526, also became King of Bohemia
and Hungary
). While Charles would have liked the Imperial crown to pass to his own son Philip
, the German princes, having had experience of an Emperor who was rarely in the Empire (at a time of both internal religious strife, and external threats from the Ottoman Turks
), lobbied instead for Ferdinand. As a compromise, Charles acquiesced in the election of Ferdinand as his heir (King of the Romans
), with the stipulation that Philip should succeed Ferdinand (though this did not in fact happen). Despite being elected in 1531, Ferdinand had to wait over a quarter-century before succeeding as Emperor with Charles's abdication
in 1558.
The election took place in the middle of the Protestant Reformation
, with the first splits appearing between Catholic and Protestant electors. The electors of Mainz and Brandenburg were strongly pro-Catholic, while the elector of Saxony was a Lutheran
since 1527; the elector of Cologne, though a bishop, showed Reforming tendencies, and would eventually be deposed from his episcopate in 1546. At this point, however, it was still far from certain that a compromise between Catholics and Lutherans could not be reached.
The 1562 election took place on November 28 in Regensburg
.
Electors
Elected
Maximilian II, King of the Romans
.
This election took place during the lifetime of Emperor Ferdinand I
. Maximilian, elected as King of the Romans
succeeded as Emperor on Ferdinand's death less than two years later on July 25, 1564.
This was the first election in which a member of the Albertine line of Saxon electors participated; they had displaced the elder, Ernestine line in 1547.
By 1562, the divisions between Catholic and Protestant had become entrenched in the Empire. The spiritual electors remained Catholic, as did the King of Bohemia. The Elector Palatine, however, had become a Calvinist
Protestant in 1561; the Saxon elector was Lutheran, as was the elector of Brandenburg, who had converted to Lutheranism
in 1555.
.
Electors
Elected
Rudolf II, King of the Romans
.
Rudolph, then titular King of Hungary, was elected during the lifetime of his father Maximilian II as King of the Romans
. When Maximilian died on October 12, 1576, Rudolph became Emperor.
Religious divisions among the electors remained as they had been at the previous election.
The 1612 election took place on June 13 in Frankfurt
.
Electors
Elected
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
.
The election followed the death of Emperor Rudolf II
on January 20, 1612. Ferdinand of Bavaria promoted the election of his brother Maximilian
, Duke of Bavaria as Emperor; however, Maximilian refused to accept the throne. Instead, Rudolph's next surviving brother, Matthias, who had already taken power in Bohemia and Hungary, was elected.
Religious divisions among the electors remained as they had been at the previous election.
The 1619 election took place on August 28 in Frankfurt
.
Electors
Elected
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
.
This election, following the death of Emperor Matthias on March 20, 1619, occurred coincident with the beginning of the Thirty Years' War
. Two days before the election, the Estates of Bohemia had deposed Ferdinand and elected Frederick, the Palatine Elector, as king of their nation. Nonetheless, the other Electors refused to hear a deputation from the Bohemian Estates and confirmed Ferdinand as Bohemian Elector, with only the Palatine delegation objecting. The Elector Palatine, after casting a vote for Maximilian I
, Duke of Bavaria, retracted his vote and also voted for Ferdinand.
Coming just seven years after the previous election, the lineup of electors, save for the King of Bohemia, was identical to that of 1612, as were the religious affiliations of the electors.
The 1636 election took place on December 22 in Regensburg
.
Electors
Elected
Ferdinand III, King of the Romans
.
This election took place during the course of the Thirty Years' War
(1618–48), during the reign of Emperor Ferdinand II
. His son, Ferdinand III, who had already been named King of Bohemia in 1627, was elected King of the Romans
, and duly became Emperor on the death of his father less than three months later on February 15, 1637.
In 1621, early in the war, Frederick V, Elector Palatine
was deprived of his electorate and territories; his son would not regain them until 1648. In February 1623, the electoral vote and office of the Palatinate were formally transferred to the Duke of Bavaria, a distant cousin. As the Bavarian elector was Catholic, the council of electors now consisted of five Catholics and two Lutherans.
.
Electors
Elected
Ferdinand IV, King of the Romans.
The election of Ferdinand as King of the Romans
was intended to provide an heir to automatically succeed to the throne of Emperor Ferdinand III
. However, Ferdinand died of smallpox
on July 9, 1654, a year after his election.
This was the first election following the end of the Thirty Years' War
. By the treaties
ending that war, the Count Palatine of the Rhine was given a new Palatine electorate; however, the Duke of Bavaria retained the old Palatine electorate that had been given him in 1623, under the title of "Elector of Bavaria". There were now eight electors. To avoid the possibility of ties, the King of Bohemia (by now the presumptive favorite to win any election) agreed to abstain from participation in the electoral process, while retaining the Electoral title (marked here by placing the Bohemian elector in parentheses).
The electoral council now contained five Catholics (or four, without Bohemia), two Lutherans (Brandenburg and Saxony), and a Calvinist (the Palatinate). However, after the Thirty Years' War, religious differences played a smaller role in Imperial politics.
The 1658 election took place on July 18 in Frankfurt
.
Electors
Elected
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
.
This election followed on the death of Emperor Ferdinand III
, on April 2, 1657, which was followed by the longest interregnum
since the 13th century. This was largely a result of the youth of Ferdinand III's surviving son Leopold — he was only 17 at the time of his father's death, and it was generally considered that the Emperor had to be 18 years old. Cardinal Mazarin, the French prime minister, hoped to prevent Leopold's election, and to secure either the election of Louis XIV of France
or, at least, to find an alternate candidate to the Habsburgs — perhaps Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria. These efforts were unsuccessful and Leopold was elected with little difficulty.
.
Electors
Elected
Joseph I, King of the Romans
.
This election took place while the Emperor Leopold I
was still alive and during the War of the Grand Alliance
. Leopold's son and successor, Joseph I, was crowned King of the Romans
, but had to be content with this lesser title until the death of his father fifteen years later, on May 5, 1705. Joseph then became Emperor without opposition.
The inheritance of the Palatinate in 1685 by Philip William
, head of a Catholic branch of the same family, now gave the electoral council six Catholic votes to two Lutheran ones.
The 1711 election took place on October 12.
Electors
Elected
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
.
This election followed on the death of Emperor Joseph I
on April 17, 1711, and took place during the War of the Spanish Succession
.
Since the election of 1690, several changes were made to the roster and character of the electors:
As the Saxon and Palatine electors were now Catholic, the addition of the Elector of Hanover prevented the Elector of Brandenburg from being the sole Protestant member of the Electoral college.
.
Electors
Elected
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
.
This election took place during the War of the Austrian Succession
. It was the first election in over three hundred years in which a Habsburg was not elected Emperor.
The Electors of Bavaria and of Cologne had recovered their electorates at the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714, bringing the total number of electors up to nine. Charles VI
in his later years had tried to secure electoral support for the election of his son-in-law, Francis Stephen
of Lorraine, to succeed him as emperor. He was opposed in these efforts by Elector Charles Albert of Bavaria, who believed he himself had a better claim, as son-in-law of Charles VI's older brother Joseph I and as himself a descendant of Emperor Ferdinand II. Up to the time of the emperor's death, however, it seemed likely that Francis Stephen would prevail.
Following the emperor's death on October 20, 1740, the whole edifice collapsed. King Frederick of Prussia had invaded Silesia, and refused to support Francis Stephen's election unless Charles's daughter Maria Theresa recognized his acquisition of the territory. Frederick's success in defending his new conquest encouraged the French to support Charles Albert's claims not only to the imperial election, but to some of the Habsburg lands themselves. With French support, Charles Albert invaded Bohemia and was crowned king of that land.
In the long-delayed imperial election, Charles Albert had the firm support of two other electoral votes, those of his brother Clemens August of Cologne, and of his cousin Charles Philip of the Palatinate. Francis Stephen was supported by his wife, as Queen of Bohemia, as well as the electors of Mainz, Trier, and Hanover. Brandenburg and Saxony remained uncommitted, but were wooed by the French to support Charles Albert. Charles Albert's cause won a major victory when he was able to secure the exclusion of Maria Theresa from the election on the grounds that the succession to Bohemia remained unsettled. With the three Wittelsbach votes and the support of Saxony and Brandenburg, Charles Albert's election seemed inevitable. The other three electors acquiesced, choosing Charles Albert emperor as Charles VII. As a result of her exclusion, Maria Theresa did not accept the legitimacy of the election until after the Emperor's death three years later.
The 1745 election took place on September 13 in Frankfurt
.
Electors
Elected
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
.
This election again took place during the War of the Austrian Succession
, and marked the return of the Imperial crown to Habsburg hands. Emperor Charles VII died on January 20, 1745. This time Maria Theresa was permitted to exercise the Bohemian vote. She came to an arrangement with Charles VII's son Maximilian Joseph, by which she would allow him to return to Bavaria, occupied by Austrian troops since 1742, in exchange for which he and his uncle the Elector of Cologne would support Francis Stephen's candidacy for the imperial throne. Austrian diplomacy also won the support of Saxony and the three pro-Habsburg electors of Mainz, Trier, and Hanover. The Elector Palatine and the Elector of Brandenburg, who were opponents of Austria in the war, abstained from voting.
.
Electors
Elected
Joseph II, King of the Romans
.
The election of 1764 took place while Emperor Francis I
was still alive, with a view toward assuring the continuity of succession; the prince-elect would be known only as King of the Romans
until the Emperor died, at which point he became Emperor without the necessity of a further election. The timing was apt, as Emperor Francis died the next year, August 18, 1765.
.
Electors
Elected
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
.
The election followed the death of Emperor Joseph II on February 20, 1790.
Leopold, brother of Joseph II, was elected when the French Revolution
had begun, but being still in its constitutional phase, seemed to pose no serious threat to the established institutions of Europe. Leopold, as Grand Duke of Tuscany
during his brother's reign, had been a reformer, and his election as Emperor suggested the spread of his reforms to, at least, his Austrian and Hungarian dominions if not throughout the Empire. The degeneration of the French situation and Leopold's early death prevented these reforms from coming to fruition.
Charles Theodore
, Elector Palatine, succeeded as Duke and Elector of Bavaria on December 30, 1777. In accordance with previous provisions for the merger of the family lines, the electoral vote of the Palatinate was suppressed in favor of the Bavarian vote.
The 1792 election took place on July 5 in Frankfurt
.
Electors
Elected
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
.
Leopold II had died on March 1, 1792; less than two months later, France declared war upon Francis II, not as Emperor (since he had not yet been elected) but as "King of Hungary". The electors met in Frankfurt among growing concerns about the revolutionary situation in France; however, it was generally believed that a united coalition could put down the revolutionaries easily, and it was not foreseen that the French Revolution would lead to a war that would sweep away the Empire.
Before Francis II died in 1835, the electorates of Mainz, Cologne, and Trier were abolished; new electorates were created in Regensburg, Salzburg
, Württemberg, Baden, and Hesse-Kassel
(1803); Francis went from being King of Bohemia to Emperor of Austria
(1804); and the entire Empire was abolished in 1806.
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
or King of Germany was, from at least the 13th century, accomplished by a small body of the greatest princes of the Empire, the Prince-elector
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
s. Appointment as Emperor was normally for life. In 1356, the Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
, promulgated the Golden Bull
Golden Bull of 1356
The Golden Bull of 1356 was a decree issued by the Reichstag assembly in Nuremberg headed by the Luxembourg Emperor Charles IV that fixed, for a period of more than four hundred years, important aspects of the constitutional structure of the Holy Roman Empire...
, which became the fundamental law by which all future Kings and Emperors were elected.
Prince-electors
The seven electorPrince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
s who chose the Emperor, or, in some cases, the King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
— the Emperor's designated heir — were:
Spiritual electors
- The Prince-Archbishop of MainzArchbishopric of MainzThe Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
- The Prince-Archbishop of Trier
- The Prince-Archbishop of Cologne
Secular electors
- The King of Bohemia, of the House of LuxembourgHouse of LuxembourgThe House of Luxembourg was a late medieval German dynasty, which between 1308 and 1437 ruled the Holy Roman Empire, twice interrupted by the rivaling House of Wittelsbach.-History:...
at the time of the Golden Bull, but from 1526 onward ruled by the House of Habsburg. The Bohemian crown itself was also theoretically electiveElective monarchyAn elective monarchy is a monarchy ruled by an elected rather than hereditary monarch. The manner of election, the nature of the candidacy and the electors vary from case to case...
, but under the Habsburgs it became hereditary de facto. - The Count Palatine of the Rhine, throughout the entire period a member of the House of Wittelsbach
- The Duke of Saxony; from 1423, a member of the House of Wettin
- The Margrave of Brandenburg; from 1415, a member of the House of HohenzollernHouse of HohenzollernThe House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
.
Subsequent changes
Later additions to the electoral council were:- The Duke of Bavaria; of another branch of the House of Wittelsbach.
- The Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (also known as the Elector of Hanover) of the House of Welf.
Listed below are all the elections that took place under the conditions of the Golden Bull, as are expulsions, readmittances, and additions to the electoral council.
Election of 1376
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Ludwig von Meissen, Elector of Mainz (1374–1379)
- Kuno II von FalkensteinKuno II von FalkensteinKuno II of Falkenstein was from 1362 to 1388 the Roman Catholic Archbishop Elector of Trier....
, Elector of Trier (1362–1388) - Friedrich III von Saarwerden, Elector of Cologne (1372–1414)
- CharlesCharles IV, Holy Roman EmperorCharles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
, King of Bohemia (1346–1378) and Emperor - Rupert I, Elector Palatine (1356–1390)
- WenceslausWenceslas I, Duke of Saxe-WittenbergWenceslas I, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg from the House of Ascania ruled from 1370 to 1388 and was a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire as well as Prince of Lüneburg. He was the son of Rudolf I and his 3rd wife, Agnes of Lindow.- Life :In 1370 Wenceslas succeeded his brother Rudolf II...
, Elector of Saxony (1370–1388) - WenceslausWenceslaus, King of the RomansWenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1373–1378)
Elected
Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
of Bohemia, King of the Romans.
This was the first election to be carried out following the enactment of the Golden Bull
Golden Bull of 1356
The Golden Bull of 1356 was a decree issued by the Reichstag assembly in Nuremberg headed by the Luxembourg Emperor Charles IV that fixed, for a period of more than four hundred years, important aspects of the constitutional structure of the Holy Roman Empire...
, which laid out in exact terms the qualifications of the electors, the manner of holding elections and was the basis of every election thenceforward. Wenceslaus, son of Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
, and then holding the dignity of Elector of Brandenburg, was elected as Charles's heir, King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
. He succeeded as king when Charles died two years later on November 29, 1378, at which point he also became King of Bohemia.
First election of 1400
The first election in 1400 took place on May 22 in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Johann II von Nassau, Elector of Mainz (1396–1419)
- Werner von Falkenstein, Elector of Trier (1388–1418)
- Friedrich III von Saarwerden, Elector of Cologne (1372–1414)
- Rupert III, Elector Palatine (1398–1410)
- Rudolph III, Elector of Saxony (1388–1419)
- JobstJobst of MoraviaJobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
, Elector of Brandenburg (1388–1411)
Elected
Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
Dissatisfied with Wenceslaus's performance of his duties as King of Germany, the electors met to consider alternatives. Frederick of Brunswick-Lüneburg was elected in opposition to Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
. However, the three spiritual electors of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne, (and of course Wenceslaus himself) did not concur with the election, which was therefore legally invalid, as supported by only a minority of the electors. Frederick was assassinated two weeks later, on June 5, 1400.
Second election of 1400
Rhens
Rhens is a municipality in the district Mayen-Koblenz, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the Rhine, approx. 10 km south of Koblenz.Rhens is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde Rhens....
.
Electors
- Johann II von Nassau, Elector of Mainz (1396–1419)
- Werner von Falkenstein, Elector of Trier (1388–1418)
- Friedrich III von Saarwerden, Elector of Cologne (1372–1414)
- Rupert III, Elector Palatine (1398–1410)
Elected
Rupert, Elector Palatine (as Rupert III) and King of Germany (as Rupert I).
The three spiritual electors and Rupert met again to formally depose King Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
on August 20, 1400. The next day Rupert was chosen unanimously as the new King of Germany. However, the Elector of Saxony (Rudolph III, 1388–1419), the Elector of Brandenburg (Jobst
Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
, 1388–1411) and the King of Bohemia (Wenceslaus, 1378–1419) were not present, and Wenceslaus never admitted the validity of his deposition and the election of Rupert.
Elections of 1410
Electors
- Johann II von Nassau, Elector of Mainz (1396–1419)
- Werner von Falkenstein, Elector of Trier (1388–1418)
- Friedrich III von Saarwerden, Elector of Cologne (1372–1414)
- Wenceslaus IVWenceslaus, King of the RomansWenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
, King of Bohemia (1378–1419) - Louis IIILouis III, Elector PalatineLouis III, Count Palatine of the Rhine , was an Elector Palatine of the Rhine from the house of Wittelsbach in 1410–1436....
, Elector Palatine (1410–1436) - Rudolph III, Elector of Saxony (1388–1419)
- JobstJobst of MoraviaJobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
, Elector of Brandenburg (1388–1411)
Elected
Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
and Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
.
These elections followed the death of Rupert, King of Germany, on May 18, 1410. On September 20, three of the electors irregularly proclaimed Sigismund, King of Hungary, the son of the late Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
as King. They included Frederick
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick was Burgrave of Nuremberg as Frederick VI and Elector of Brandenburg as Frederick I. He was a son of Burgrave Frederick V of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Meissen, and was the first member of the House of Hohenzollern to rule the Margraviate of Brandenburg.- Biography :Frederick entered...
, Burggrave of Nuremberg, acting on behalf of Sigismund and claiming to represent the Electorate of Brandenburg, but not authorized by the then-current Margrave, Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
, the late Emperor's nephew.
The doubtful election of Sigismund in September was not accepted by the remaining electors. On October 1, 1410, they elected Jobst of Moravia in opposition to his cousin Sigismund, but Jobst died only three months later. The elections of 1410 were the last to result in a competing king and antiking
Antiking
An Antiking is a would-be king who, due to succession disputes or simple political opposition, declares himself king in opposition to a reigning monarch. Antikings are more often found in elected monarchies than in hereditary monarchies like those of England and France; such figures in hereditary...
.
Election of 1411
Electors
- Johann II von Nassau, Elector of Mainz (1396–1419)
- Werner von Falkenstein, Elector of Trier (1388–1418)
- Friedrich III von Saarwerden, Elector of Cologne (1372–1414)
- Wenceslaus IVWenceslaus, King of the RomansWenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
, King of Bohemia (1378–1419) - Louis IIILouis III, Elector PalatineLouis III, Count Palatine of the Rhine , was an Elector Palatine of the Rhine from the house of Wittelsbach in 1410–1436....
, Elector Palatine (1410–1436) - Rudolph III, Elector of Saxony (1388–1419)
- SigismundSigismund, Holy Roman EmperorSigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1411–1415), also King of HungaryKing of HungaryThe King of Hungary was the head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 to 1918.The style of title "Apostolic King" was confirmed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 and used afterwards by all the Kings of Hungary, so after this date the kings are referred to as "Apostolic King of...
Elected
Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
, King of Germany.
Following the death of Jobst
Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
on January 18, 1411, there was no further obstacle to Sigismund (now undisputed Elector of Brandenburg) being accepted as King by all the electors. An election was duly held after six months. By accepting this election, Sigismund tacitly admitted to the invalidity of his election in 1410.
Election of 1438
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Dietrich Schenk von ErbachDietrich Schenk von ErbachDietrich Schenk von Erbach was the Archbishop of Mainz from 1434 until 1459.Theodoric was a son of Arch-Cupbearer Eberhard VI of Erbach. He was a cathedral member of Mainz when on 6 July 1434 he was elected its archbishop. Theodoric was confirmed by Pope Eugene IV on 20 October...
, Elector of Mainz (1434–1459) - Raban von Helmstatt, Elector of Trier (1430–1439)
- Dietrich II von Mors, Elector of Cologne (1414–1463)
- Louis IV, Elector Palatine (1436–1449)
- Frederick IIFrederick II, Elector of SaxonyFrederick II was Elector of Saxony and was Landgrave of Thuringia .-Biography:...
, Elector of Saxony (1428–1464) - Frederick IFrederick I, Elector of BrandenburgFrederick was Burgrave of Nuremberg as Frederick VI and Elector of Brandenburg as Frederick I. He was a son of Burgrave Frederick V of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Meissen, and was the first member of the House of Hohenzollern to rule the Margraviate of Brandenburg.- Biography :Frederick entered...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1415–1440)
Elected
Albert
Albert II of Germany
Albert the Magnanimous KG was King of Hungary from 1438 until his death. He was also King of Bohemia, elected King of Germany as Albert II, duke of Luxembourg and, as Albert V, archduke of Austria from 1404.-Biography:Albert was born in Vienna as the son of Albert IV, Duke of Austria, and Johanna...
, King of Germany.
This election followed the death of Emperor Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
on December 9, 1437.
Albert, the elected King, though nominally King of Bohemia by virtue of his marriage to Elizabeth of Luxembourg, was not crowned until after the election. As he was fighting the Bohemians at the time, Albert was not present at his own election.
The Electorate of Brandenburg was conferred in 1415 upon the House of Hohenzollern
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
, where it remained until the end of the Empire.
Election of 1440
The 1440 election took place on February 2 in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Dietrich Schenk von ErbachDietrich Schenk von ErbachDietrich Schenk von Erbach was the Archbishop of Mainz from 1434 until 1459.Theodoric was a son of Arch-Cupbearer Eberhard VI of Erbach. He was a cathedral member of Mainz when on 6 July 1434 he was elected its archbishop. Theodoric was confirmed by Pope Eugene IV on 20 October...
, Elector of Mainz (1434–1459) - Jakob von Sierk, Elector of Trier (1439–1456)
- Dietrich II von Mors, Elector of Cologne (1414–1463)
- Louis IV, Elector Palatine (1436–1449)
- Frederick IIFrederick II, Elector of SaxonyFrederick II was Elector of Saxony and was Landgrave of Thuringia .-Biography:...
, Elector of Saxony (1428–1464) - Frederick IFrederick I, Elector of BrandenburgFrederick was Burgrave of Nuremberg as Frederick VI and Elector of Brandenburg as Frederick I. He was a son of Burgrave Frederick V of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Meissen, and was the first member of the House of Hohenzollern to rule the Margraviate of Brandenburg.- Biography :Frederick entered...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1415–1440)
The place of the King of Bohemia at this election was vacant, because the previous king Albert
Albert II of Germany
Albert the Magnanimous KG was King of Hungary from 1438 until his death. He was also King of Bohemia, elected King of Germany as Albert II, duke of Luxembourg and, as Albert V, archduke of Austria from 1404.-Biography:Albert was born in Vienna as the son of Albert IV, Duke of Austria, and Johanna...
had died (October 27, 1439) leaving his wife Elisabeth pregnant. Their child, Ladislaus the Posthumous, was not born until February 22, 1440, twenty days after the election.
Elected
Frederick III, King of Germany
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
.
Frederick was the last German king to be crowned Emperor in Rome by the Pope, on March 19, 1452. He was the lineal ancestor of all subsequent Habsburg Emperors.
Election of 1486
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Bertold von Henneberg-RömhildBertold von Henneberg-RömhildBertold von Henneberg-Römhild was Archbishop of Mainz and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1484 to 1504.The son of George, Count of Henneberg and Johanna, daughter of Count Philipp I of Nassau-Weilburg entered the ecclesiastical profession and, after passing through its lower stages,...
, Elector of Mainz (1484–1504) - Johann II of Baden, Elector of Trier (1456–1503)
- Hermann IV of HesseHermann IV of HesseHermann IV of Hesse was Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1480 to 1508 and Prince-Bishop of Paderborn from 1498 to 1508.-Early years, 1450–1473:...
, Elector of Cologne (1480–1508) - Vladislaus IIVladislaus II of Bohemia and HungaryVladislaus II, also known as Ladislaus Jagiellon ; was King of Bohemia from 1471 and King of Hungary from 1490 until his death in 1516...
, King of Bohemia (1471–1516) - PhilipPhilip, Elector PalatinePhilip the Upright, Elector Palatine of the Rhine was an Elector Palatine of the Rhine from the house of Wittelsbach from 1476 to 1508....
, Elector Palatine (1476–1508) - ErnestErnest, Elector of SaxonyErnst, Elector of Saxony was Elector of Saxony from 1464 to 1486.-Biography:Ernst was founder of the Ernestine line of Saxon princes, ancestor of George I of Great Britain, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, as well as his wife and cousin Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and their...
, Elector of Saxony (1464–1486) - Albert III, Elector of Brandenburg (1470–1486)
Elected
Maximilian I, King of the Romans
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
.
Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, was elected King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
, and succeeded his father, Frederick III
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
, on the latter's death on August 19, 1493. As wars in Italy
War of the League of Cambrai
The War of the League of Cambrai, sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and by several other names, was a major conflict in the Italian Wars...
made it impossible for Maximilian to undertake the journey to Rome for the Imperial coronation, on February 4, 1508 at Trent
Trento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
, he claimed for himself the title of Electus Romanorum Imperator, "Elected Roman Emperor" or "Roman Emperor by election" (rather than by coronation), which was subsequently accepted (February 12, 1508) by Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...
. Subsequent electees retained the right to call themselves Emperor, rather than merely King, without Papal coronation.
Election of 1519
The 1519 election took place on June 28 in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Albert of MainzAlbert of MainzCardinal Albert of Hohenzollern was Elector and Archbishop of Mainz from 1514 to 1545, and Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1513 to 1545.-Biography:...
, Elector of Mainz (1514–1545) - Richard von Greiffenklau zu VollradsRichard von Greiffenklau zu VollradsRichard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1511 to 1531.-Biography:...
, Elector of Trier (1511–1531) - Hermann of WiedHermann of WiedHermann of Wied was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1515 to 1546.-Biography:The fourth son of Frederick, count of Wied , Hermann was educated for the Church, he became elector and archbishop in 1515. He supported the claims of Charles V, whom he crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle in 1520...
, Elector of Cologne (1515–1546) - Louis II Jagiellon, King of Bohemia (1516–1526), also King of Hungary
- Louis VLouis V, Elector PalatineLouis V, Count Palatine of the Rhine ; a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty was prince elector of the Palatinate....
, Elector Palatine (1508–1544) - Frederick IIIFrederick III, Elector of SaxonyFrederick III of Saxony , also known as Frederick the Wise , was Elector of Saxony from 1486 to his death. Frederick was the son of Ernest, Elector of Saxony and his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria...
, Elector of Saxony (1486–1525) - Joachim I, Elector of Brandenburg (1499–1535)
Elected
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
.
This election followed the death of Emperor Maximilian
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
on January 12, 1519. It was one of the most hotly contested elections of the later Empire. There was no German contender; the two main candidates were Charles
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, a Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...
who had recently become King of Spain
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
, and Francis I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
, the King of France
Early Modern France
Kingdom of France is the early modern period of French history from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 18th century...
. Running as a dark-horse candidate was Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, King of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
. Although Charles was a Habsburg by paternal ancestry, and the grandson of the late Emperor Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
, he spoke French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, not German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and was felt to be as much of a foreigner as Francis; while the experiment of giving the Empire to the monarch of a foreign power (in this case Spain) had never been tried. On the other hand, France and the Empire had not been joined since the days of the Carolingian dynasty.
Charles and Francis tried to outdo each other in voluminous bribes
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
; Charles in the end had deeper pockets. Charles could count on the vote of the King of Bohemia, his brother-in-law; Francis had bought the Elector of Trier; up for grabs were the Electors of Mainz, Brandenburg and the Palatinate. Although full details of the election were never revealed, it is possible that the Electors sought a way out of their dilemma by electing as Emperor the Elector of Saxony, but that he turned them down. In the end, Charles was elected unanimously, though with some misgivings by the Elector of Brandenburg.
Election of 1531
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
Electors
- Albert of MainzAlbert of MainzCardinal Albert of Hohenzollern was Elector and Archbishop of Mainz from 1514 to 1545, and Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1513 to 1545.-Biography:...
, Elector of Mainz (1514–1545) - Richard von Greiffenklau zu VollradsRichard von Greiffenklau zu VollradsRichard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1511 to 1531.-Biography:...
, Elector of Trier (1511–1531) - Hermann of WiedHermann of WiedHermann of Wied was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1515 to 1546.-Biography:The fourth son of Frederick, count of Wied , Hermann was educated for the Church, he became elector and archbishop in 1515. He supported the claims of Charles V, whom he crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle in 1520...
, Elector of Cologne (1515–1546) - FerdinandFerdinand I, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
, King of Bohemia (1526–1564), also King of Hungary - Louis VLouis V, Elector PalatineLouis V, Count Palatine of the Rhine ; a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty was prince elector of the Palatinate....
, Elector Palatine (1508–1544) - JohnJohn, Elector of SaxonyJohn of Saxony , known as John the Steadfast or John the Constant, was Elector of Saxony from 1525 until 1532...
, Elector of Saxony (1525–1532) - Joachim I, Elector of Brandenburg (1499–1535)
Elected
Ferdinand I, King of the Romans
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
.
Charles V, who had realized that the entirety of the Habsburg dominions could not be ruled by one man, had settled the rule of the original Habsburg lands in Austria upon his brother Ferdinand (who, in 1526, also became King of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
and Hungary
King of Hungary
The King of Hungary was the head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 to 1918.The style of title "Apostolic King" was confirmed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 and used afterwards by all the Kings of Hungary, so after this date the kings are referred to as "Apostolic King of...
). While Charles would have liked the Imperial crown to pass to his own son Philip
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, the German princes, having had experience of an Emperor who was rarely in the Empire (at a time of both internal religious strife, and external threats from the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
), lobbied instead for Ferdinand. As a compromise, Charles acquiesced in the election of Ferdinand as his heir (King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
), with the stipulation that Philip should succeed Ferdinand (though this did not in fact happen). Despite being elected in 1531, Ferdinand had to wait over a quarter-century before succeeding as Emperor with Charles's abdication
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
in 1558.
The election took place in the middle of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, with the first splits appearing between Catholic and Protestant electors. The electors of Mainz and Brandenburg were strongly pro-Catholic, while the elector of Saxony was a Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
since 1527; the elector of Cologne, though a bishop, showed Reforming tendencies, and would eventually be deposed from his episcopate in 1546. At this point, however, it was still far from certain that a compromise between Catholics and Lutherans could not be reached.
Election of 1562
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
.
Electors
- Daniel Brendel of HomburgDaniel Brendel of HomburgDaniel Brendel of Homburg was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1555 to 1582.-Biography:Daniel Brendel of Homburg was born in Aschaffenburg on March 22, 1522....
, Elector of Mainz (1555–1582) - Johann V von der LeyenJohann von der LeyenJohann von der Leyen was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1556 to 1567.-Biography:Johann von der Leyen was born in Saffig in 1510, the son of Bartholomäus von der Leyen, chancellor of the Archbishopric of Cologne, and his wife Katharina von Pallandt. He became Domizellar of the Cathedral of...
, Elector of Trier (1556–1567) - Friedrich IV of WiedFriedrich IV of WiedFriedrich IV of Wied was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1562 to 1567.-Biography:Friedrich IV of Wied was born in 1518, the son of Graf Johann II of Wied and his wife Elisabeth of Nassau-Dillenburg....
, Elector of Cologne (1562–1567) - FerdinandFerdinand I, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
, King of Bohemia (1526–1564), Emperor and also King of Hungary - Frederick IIIFrederick III, Elector PalatineFrederick III of Simmern, the Pious, Elector Palatine of the Rhine was a ruler from the house of Wittelsbach, branch Palatinate-Simmern-Sponheim. He was a son of John II of Simmern and inherited the Palatinate from the childless Elector Otto-Henry, Elector Palatine in 1559...
, Elector Palatine (1559–1576) - AugustusAugustus, Elector of SaxonyAugustus was Elector of Saxony from 1553 to 1586.-First years:Augustus was born in Freiberg, the youngest child and third son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, and Catherine of Mecklenburg. He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the Wettin family...
, Elector of Saxony (1553–1586) - Joachim IIJoachim II Hector, Elector of BrandenburgJoachim II Hector was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg . A member of the House of Hohenzollern, Joachim II was the son of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg, and his wife Elizabeth of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1535–1571)
Elected
Maximilian II, King of the Romans
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
.
This election took place during the lifetime of Emperor Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
. Maximilian, elected as King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
succeeded as Emperor on Ferdinand's death less than two years later on July 25, 1564.
This was the first election in which a member of the Albertine line of Saxon electors participated; they had displaced the elder, Ernestine line in 1547.
By 1562, the divisions between Catholic and Protestant had become entrenched in the Empire. The spiritual electors remained Catholic, as did the King of Bohemia. The Elector Palatine, however, had become a Calvinist
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
Protestant in 1561; the Saxon elector was Lutheran, as was the elector of Brandenburg, who had converted to Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
in 1555.
Election of 1575
The 1575 election took place on October 27 in RegensburgRegensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
.
Electors
- Daniel Brendel of HomburgDaniel Brendel of HomburgDaniel Brendel of Homburg was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1555 to 1582.-Biography:Daniel Brendel of Homburg was born in Aschaffenburg on March 22, 1522....
, Elector of Mainz (1555–1582) - Jakob III of Eltz-RübenachJakob von Eltz-RübenachJakob von Eltz-Rübenach was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1567 to 1581.-Biography:Jakob von Eltz-Rübenach was born in Burg Eltz in 1510, the second son of Johann von und zu Eltz and his wife Maria von Breitbach....
, Elector of Trier (1567–1581) - Salentin VI, of Isenburg, Elector of Cologne (1567–1577)
- MaximilianMaximilian II, Holy Roman EmperorMaximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
, King of Bohemia (1564–1576), Emperor and also King of Hungary - Frederick IIIFrederick III, Elector PalatineFrederick III of Simmern, the Pious, Elector Palatine of the Rhine was a ruler from the house of Wittelsbach, branch Palatinate-Simmern-Sponheim. He was a son of John II of Simmern and inherited the Palatinate from the childless Elector Otto-Henry, Elector Palatine in 1559...
, Elector Palatine (1559–1576) - AugustusAugustus, Elector of SaxonyAugustus was Elector of Saxony from 1553 to 1586.-First years:Augustus was born in Freiberg, the youngest child and third son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, and Catherine of Mecklenburg. He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the Wettin family...
, Elector of Saxony (1553–1586) - John GeorgeJohn George, Elector of BrandenburgJohn George of Brandenburg was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and a Duke of Prussia...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1571–1598)
Elected
Rudolf II, King of the Romans
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
.
Rudolph, then titular King of Hungary, was elected during the lifetime of his father Maximilian II as King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
. When Maximilian died on October 12, 1576, Rudolph became Emperor.
Religious divisions among the electors remained as they had been at the previous election.
Election of 1612
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Johann Schweikhard von KronbergJohann Schweikhard von KronbergJohann Schweikhard von Kronberg was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1604 to 1626.-Early Life, 1553-1604:Born on July 15, 1553, Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg was the third son of Hartmut XIII von Kronburg and his wife Barbara von Sickingen...
, Elector of Mainz (1604–1626) - Lothar von MetternichLothar von MetternichLothar Johann Reinhard von Metternich was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1599 to 1623.-Biography:Lothar von Metternich was born in Schloss Vettelhoven in Grafschaft on August 31, 1551, the son of Johann von Metternich , Lord of Vettelhoven and bailiff of Saffenberg, and his fourth wife,...
, Elector of Trier (1599–1623) - Ferdinand of Bavaria, Elector of Cologne (1612–1650)
- MatthiasMatthias, Holy Roman EmperorMatthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
, King of Bohemia (1611–1618), also King of Hungary - Frederick VFrederick V, Elector PalatineFrederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
, Elector Palatine (1610–1623) - John George IJohn George I, Elector of SaxonyJohn George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
, Elector of Saxony (1611–1656) - John SigismundJohn Sigismund, Elector of BrandenburgJohn Sigismund was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from the House of Hohenzollern. He also served as a Duke of Prussia.-Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia:...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1608–1619)
Elected
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
.
The election followed the death of Emperor Rudolf II
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
on January 20, 1612. Ferdinand of Bavaria promoted the election of his brother Maximilian
Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria
Maximilian I, Duke/Elector of Bavaria , called "the Great", was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was marked by the Thirty Years' War ....
, Duke of Bavaria as Emperor; however, Maximilian refused to accept the throne. Instead, Rudolph's next surviving brother, Matthias, who had already taken power in Bohemia and Hungary, was elected.
Religious divisions among the electors remained as they had been at the previous election.
Election of 1619
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Johann Schweikhard von KronbergJohann Schweikhard von KronbergJohann Schweikhard von Kronberg was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1604 to 1626.-Early Life, 1553-1604:Born on July 15, 1553, Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg was the third son of Hartmut XIII von Kronburg and his wife Barbara von Sickingen...
, Elector of Mainz (1604–1626) - Lothar von MetternichLothar von MetternichLothar Johann Reinhard von Metternich was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1599 to 1623.-Biography:Lothar von Metternich was born in Schloss Vettelhoven in Grafschaft on August 31, 1551, the son of Johann von Metternich , Lord of Vettelhoven and bailiff of Saffenberg, and his fourth wife,...
, Elector of Trier (1599–1623) - Ferdinand of Bavaria, Elector of Cologne (1612–1650)
- FerdinandFerdinand II, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
, King of Bohemia (1618–1637), also King of Hungary - Frederick VFrederick V, Elector PalatineFrederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
, Elector Palatine (1610–1623), claimant to the crown of Bohemia - John George IJohn George I, Elector of SaxonyJohn George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
, Elector of Saxony (1611–1656) - John SigismundJohn Sigismund, Elector of BrandenburgJohn Sigismund was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from the House of Hohenzollern. He also served as a Duke of Prussia.-Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia:...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1608–1619)
Elected
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
.
This election, following the death of Emperor Matthias on March 20, 1619, occurred coincident with the beginning of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. Two days before the election, the Estates of Bohemia had deposed Ferdinand and elected Frederick, the Palatine Elector, as king of their nation. Nonetheless, the other Electors refused to hear a deputation from the Bohemian Estates and confirmed Ferdinand as Bohemian Elector, with only the Palatine delegation objecting. The Elector Palatine, after casting a vote for Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria
Maximilian I, Duke/Elector of Bavaria , called "the Great", was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was marked by the Thirty Years' War ....
, Duke of Bavaria, retracted his vote and also voted for Ferdinand.
Coming just seven years after the previous election, the lineup of electors, save for the King of Bohemia, was identical to that of 1612, as were the religious affiliations of the electors.
Election of 1636
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
.
Electors
- Anselm Casimir Wambold von UmstadtAnselm Casimir Wambold von UmstadtAnselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1629 to 1647.-Biography:Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt was the son of Eberhard Wambolt Umstadt and Anna von Reiffenberg . He was born on November 30, 1582, most likely in Speyer, where his father was an official in...
, Elector of Mainz (1629–1647) - Philipp Christoph von SöternPhilipp Christoph von SöternPhilipp Christoph von Sötern was the Prince-Bishop of Speyer from 1610 to 1652 and the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1623 to 1652.-Biography:...
, Elector of Trier (1623–1652) - Ferdinand of Bavaria, Elector of Cologne (1612–1650)
- FerdinandFerdinand III, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
, titular King of Bohemia (1627–1646), also titular King of Hungary - Maximilian IMaximilian I, Elector of BavariaMaximilian I, Duke/Elector of Bavaria , called "the Great", was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire. His reign was marked by the Thirty Years' War ....
of Bavaria, Elector Palatine (1623–1648), Elector of Bavaria (1648–1651) - John George IJohn George I, Elector of SaxonyJohn George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
, Elector of Saxony (1611–1656) - George WilliamGeorge William, Elector of BrandenburgGeorge William of Brandenburg , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was margrave and elector of Brandenburg and duke of Prussia from 1619 until his death. His reign was marked by ineffective governance during the Thirty Years' War...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1619–1640)
Elected
Ferdinand III, King of the Romans
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
.
This election took place during the course of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
(1618–48), during the reign of Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
. His son, Ferdinand III, who had already been named King of Bohemia in 1627, was elected King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
, and duly became Emperor on the death of his father less than three months later on February 15, 1637.
In 1621, early in the war, Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
was deprived of his electorate and territories; his son would not regain them until 1648. In February 1623, the electoral vote and office of the Palatinate were formally transferred to the Duke of Bavaria, a distant cousin. As the Bavarian elector was Catholic, the council of electors now consisted of five Catholics and two Lutherans.
Election of 1653
The 1653 election took place on May 31 in AugsburgAugsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
.
Electors
- Johann Philipp von SchönbornJohann Philipp von SchönbornJohann Philipp von Schönborn was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1647 until 1673, the Bishop of Würzburg from 1642 until 1673, and the Bishop of Worms from 1663 until 1673....
, Elector of Mainz (1647–1673) - Karl Kaspar von der Leyen-HohengeroldseckKarl Kaspar von der Leyen-HohengeroldseckKarl Kaspar von der Leyen was Archbishop-Elector of Trier and a Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1652 to 1676.- Life :A member of the noble Leyen family, Charles Kaspar was made a coadjutor bishop on 11 June 1650...
, Elector of Trier (1652–1676) - Maximilian Henry of BavariaMaximilian Henry of Bavariathumb|154 px|Maximilian Heinrich of BavariaMaximilian Henry of Bavaria was the third son and fourth child of Albert VI, landgrave of Leuchtenberg and his wife, Mechthilde von Leuchtenberg. In 1650, he was named Archbishop of Cologne, Bishop of Hildesheim and Bishop of Liège succeeding his uncle,...
, Elector of Cologne (1650–1688) - Ferdinand MariaFerdinand Maria, Elector of BavariaFerdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1651 to 1679.-Biography:He was born in Munich...
, Elector of Bavaria (1651–1679) - John George IJohn George I, Elector of SaxonyJohn George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
, Elector of Saxony (1611–1656) - Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg (1640–1688)
- Charles LouisCharles I Louis, Elector PalatineCharles Louis, , Elector Palatine KG was the second son of Frederick V of the Palatinate, the "Winter King" of Bohemia, and his wife, Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James I of England ....
, Elector Palatine (1648–1680) - (Ferdinand, titular King of Bohemia (1646–1654), also titular King of Hungary)
Elected
Ferdinand IV, King of the Romans.
The election of Ferdinand as King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
was intended to provide an heir to automatically succeed to the throne of Emperor Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
. However, Ferdinand died of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
on July 9, 1654, a year after his election.
This was the first election following the end of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. By the treaties
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
ending that war, the Count Palatine of the Rhine was given a new Palatine electorate; however, the Duke of Bavaria retained the old Palatine electorate that had been given him in 1623, under the title of "Elector of Bavaria". There were now eight electors. To avoid the possibility of ties, the King of Bohemia (by now the presumptive favorite to win any election) agreed to abstain from participation in the electoral process, while retaining the Electoral title (marked here by placing the Bohemian elector in parentheses).
The electoral council now contained five Catholics (or four, without Bohemia), two Lutherans (Brandenburg and Saxony), and a Calvinist (the Palatinate). However, after the Thirty Years' War, religious differences played a smaller role in Imperial politics.
Election of 1658
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Johann Philipp von SchönbornJohann Philipp von SchönbornJohann Philipp von Schönborn was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1647 until 1673, the Bishop of Würzburg from 1642 until 1673, and the Bishop of Worms from 1663 until 1673....
, Elector of Mainz (1647–1673) - Karl Kaspar von der Leyen-HohengeroldseckKarl Kaspar von der Leyen-HohengeroldseckKarl Kaspar von der Leyen was Archbishop-Elector of Trier and a Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1652 to 1676.- Life :A member of the noble Leyen family, Charles Kaspar was made a coadjutor bishop on 11 June 1650...
, Elector of Trier (1652–1676) - Maximilian Henry of BavariaMaximilian Henry of Bavariathumb|154 px|Maximilian Heinrich of BavariaMaximilian Henry of Bavaria was the third son and fourth child of Albert VI, landgrave of Leuchtenberg and his wife, Mechthilde von Leuchtenberg. In 1650, he was named Archbishop of Cologne, Bishop of Hildesheim and Bishop of Liège succeeding his uncle,...
, Elector of Cologne (1650–1688) - Ferdinand MariaFerdinand Maria, Elector of BavariaFerdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1651 to 1679.-Biography:He was born in Munich...
, Elector of Bavaria (1651–1679) - John George IIJohn George II, Elector of SaxonyJohn George was the Elector of Saxony from 1656 to 1680.He was the third but eldest surviving son of the Elector John George I of Saxony and Magdalene Sybille of Prussia, his second spouse....
, Elector of Saxony (1656–1680) - Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg (1640–1688)
- Charles LouisCharles I Louis, Elector PalatineCharles Louis, , Elector Palatine KG was the second son of Frederick V of the Palatinate, the "Winter King" of Bohemia, and his wife, Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James I of England ....
, Elector Palatine (1648–1680) - (LeopoldLeopold I, Holy Roman Emperor| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
, King of Bohemia (1656–1705), also King of Hungary)
Elected
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
.
This election followed on the death of Emperor Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
, on April 2, 1657, which was followed by the longest interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
since the 13th century. This was largely a result of the youth of Ferdinand III's surviving son Leopold — he was only 17 at the time of his father's death, and it was generally considered that the Emperor had to be 18 years old. Cardinal Mazarin, the French prime minister, hoped to prevent Leopold's election, and to secure either the election of Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
or, at least, to find an alternate candidate to the Habsburgs — perhaps Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria. These efforts were unsuccessful and Leopold was elected with little difficulty.
Election of 1690
The 1690 election took place on January 23 in AugsburgAugsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
.
Electors
- Anselm Franz von IngelheimAnselm Franz von Ingelheim (archbishop)Anselm Franz of Ingelheim was Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1679 until his death in 1695.Anselm became prince-bishop of Mainz on 7 November 1679 and thus was an elector of the Holy Roman Empire...
, Elector of Mainz (1679–1695) - Johann Hugo von OrsbeckJohann Hugo von OrsbeckJohann Hugo von Orsbeck was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1675 to 1711.-Biography:Johann Hugo von Orsbeck was born in Weilerswist on January 30, 1634, the son of Wilhelm von Orsbeck, Herr von Vernich and of Katharina von der Leyen...
, Elector of Trier (1676–1711) - Joseph Clemens of BavariaJoseph Clemens of BavariaJoseph Clemens of Bavaria was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria and Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1688 to 1723.-Biography:...
, Elector of Cologne (1688–1723) - Maximilian IIMaximilian II Emanuel, Elector of BavariaMaximilian II , also known as Max Emanuel or Maximilian Emanuel, was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. He was also the last Governor of the Spanish Netherlands and duke of Luxembourg...
, Elector of Bavaria (1679–1726) - John George IIIJohn George III, Elector of SaxonyJohann Georg III was Elector of Saxony from 1680 to 1691.-Early life:Johann Georg was the only son of the Elector Johann Georg II and Magdalene Sybille of Brandenburg-Bayreuth....
, Elector of Saxony (1680–1691) - Frederick IFrederick I of PrussiaFrederick I , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia in personal union . The latter function he upgraded to royalty, becoming the first King in Prussia . From 1707 he was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1688–1713) - Philip William of Neuburg, Elector Palatine (1685–1690)
- (LeopoldLeopold I, Holy Roman Emperor| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
, King of Bohemia (1656–1705), Emperor and also King of Hungary)
Elected
Joseph I, King of the Romans
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
.
This election took place while the Emperor Leopold I
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
was still alive and during the War of the Grand Alliance
War of the Grand Alliance
The Nine Years' War – often called the War of the Grand Alliance, the War of the Palatine Succession, or the War of the League of Augsburg – was a major war of the late 17th century fought between King Louis XIV of France, and a European-wide coalition, the Grand Alliance, led by the Anglo-Dutch...
. Leopold's son and successor, Joseph I, was crowned King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
, but had to be content with this lesser title until the death of his father fifteen years later, on May 5, 1705. Joseph then became Emperor without opposition.
The inheritance of the Palatinate in 1685 by Philip William
Philipp Wilhelm, Elector Palatine
Philip William of Neuburg, Elector Palatine was Count Palatine of Neuburg from 1653 to 1690, Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1653 to 1679 and Elector of the Palatinate from 1685 to 1690...
, head of a Catholic branch of the same family, now gave the electoral council six Catholic votes to two Lutheran ones.
Election of 1711
Electors
- Lothar Franz von SchönbornLothar Franz von SchönbornLothar Franz von Schönborn was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1694 until 1729, and the Bishop of Bamberg from 1693 until 1729.Lothar Franz was born in Steinheim am Main in 1655 to Count Philip Erwin of Schönborn...
, Elector of Mainz (1694–1729) - Charles Joseph of LorraineCharles Joseph of LorraineCharles Joseph John Anthony Ignace Felix of Lorraine , also known as Charles III in his capacity as the bishop of Olomouc , was a German prelate.Born in Vienna, he was the second son of Charles V, Duke of Lorraine...
, Elector of Trier (1711–1715) - CharlesCharles VI, Holy Roman EmperorCharles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
, King of Bohemia (1711–1740), also King of Hungary and claimant to the throne of Spain - John WilliamJohann Wilhelm, Elector PalatineJohann Wilhelm II, Elector Palatine was Elector Palatine , Duke Palatine of Neuburg/Danube , Duke of Jülich and Berg , and Duke of Upper Palatinate and Cham...
, Elector Palatine (1690–1716) - Frederick-Augustus IAugustus II the StrongFrederick Augustus I or Augustus II the Strong was Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania ....
, Elector of Saxony (1694–1733), also King of Poland - Frederick IFrederick I of PrussiaFrederick I , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia in personal union . The latter function he upgraded to royalty, becoming the first King in Prussia . From 1707 he was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1688–1713), also King in PrussiaKing in PrussiaKing in Prussia was a title used by the Electors of Brandenburg from 1701 to 1772. Subsequently they used the title King of Prussia.... - George IGeorge I of Great BritainGeorge I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
, Elector of Hanover (1698–1727)
Elected
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
.
This election followed on the death of Emperor Joseph I
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
on April 17, 1711, and took place during the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
.
Since the election of 1690, several changes were made to the roster and character of the electors:
- In 1692, the Emperor conferred a ninth electorate ("of Hanover") upon Ernst AugustErnest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-LüneburgErnest Augustus was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Principality of Calenberg subdivision of the duchy. He was appointed prince-elector, but died before the appointment became effective...
, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenburg, a Lutheran. This move initially met with considerable resistance, and the Imperial Diet did not immediately ratify the Emperor's choice. - In 1697, Augustus II the StrongAugustus II the StrongFrederick Augustus I or Augustus II the Strong was Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania ....
, Elector of Saxony converted to Catholicism, the better to pursue his campaign for the crown of Poland. - The War of the Spanish SuccessionWar of the Spanish SuccessionThe War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
with France began in 1701. In 1702, the Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian IIMaximilian II Emanuel, Elector of BavariaMaximilian II , also known as Max Emanuel or Maximilian Emanuel, was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. He was also the last Governor of the Spanish Netherlands and duke of Luxembourg...
(1679–1726) came in on the French side. He was joined by his brother, the Elector of Cologne, Joseph Clemens of BavariaJoseph Clemens of BavariaJoseph Clemens of Bavaria was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria and Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1688 to 1723.-Biography:...
(1688–1723). - In 1703, the Elector of Cologne was forced to flee into exile in France, where he remained for the duration of the war. In 1706, both the Elector of Bavaria and the Elector of Cologne were deprived of their Electorates for taking the part of the Empire's enemies.
- At a meeting of the Imperial Diet in 1708, the two missing Electorates were compensated for by, first, approving the appointment of the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg as Elector of Hanover, and second, by readmitting the King of Bohemia to the electoral proceedings.
As the Saxon and Palatine electors were now Catholic, the addition of the Elector of Hanover prevented the Elector of Brandenburg from being the sole Protestant member of the Electoral college.
Election of 1742
The 1742 election took place on January 24 in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Philipp Karl von Eltz-KempenichPhilipp Karl von Eltz-KempenichPhilipp Karl von Eltz-Kempenich was Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1732 to 1743.-Biography:Philipp Karl von Eltz-Kempenich was born at Burg Eltz on October 26, 1665. In 1686, he enrolled in the Collegium Germanicum in Rome and received a substantial theological education...
, Elector of Mainz (1732–1743) - Franz Georg von Schönborn-BuchheimFranz Georg von Schönborn-BuchheimFranz Georg von Schönborn was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1729 until 1756, and the Prince-Bishop of Worms and Prince-Provost of Ellwangen from 1732 until 1756.-Biography:...
, Elector of Trier (1729–1756) - Clemens August of BavariaClemens August of BavariaClemens August of Bavaria was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria and Archbishop-Elector of Cologne.-Biography:...
, Elector of Cologne (1723–1761) - Charles AlbertCharles VII, Holy Roman EmperorCharles VII Albert a member of the Wittelsbach family, was Prince-elector of Bavaria from 1726 and Holy Roman Emperor from 24 January 1742 until his death in 1745...
, Elector of Bavaria (1726–1745), also in possession of the Kingdom of Bohemia 1741-1743 - Frederick-Augustus IIAugustus III of PolandAugustus III, known as the Saxon ; ; also Prince-elector Friedrich August II was the Elector of Saxony in 1733-1763, as Frederick Augustus II , King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1734-1763.-Biography:Augustus was the only legitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, Imperial Prince-Elector...
, Elector of Saxony (1733–1763), also King of Poland - Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg (1740–1786), also King in Prussia
- Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine (1716–1742)
- George IIGeorge II of Great BritainGeorge II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, Elector of Hanover (1727–1760), also King of Great Britain
Elected
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VII Albert a member of the Wittelsbach family, was Prince-elector of Bavaria from 1726 and Holy Roman Emperor from 24 January 1742 until his death in 1745...
.
This election took place during the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
. It was the first election in over three hundred years in which a Habsburg was not elected Emperor.
The Electors of Bavaria and of Cologne had recovered their electorates at the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714, bringing the total number of electors up to nine. Charles VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
in his later years had tried to secure electoral support for the election of his son-in-law, Francis Stephen
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis I was Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany, though his wife effectively executed the real power of those positions. With his wife, Maria Theresa, he was the founder of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty...
of Lorraine, to succeed him as emperor. He was opposed in these efforts by Elector Charles Albert of Bavaria, who believed he himself had a better claim, as son-in-law of Charles VI's older brother Joseph I and as himself a descendant of Emperor Ferdinand II. Up to the time of the emperor's death, however, it seemed likely that Francis Stephen would prevail.
Following the emperor's death on October 20, 1740, the whole edifice collapsed. King Frederick of Prussia had invaded Silesia, and refused to support Francis Stephen's election unless Charles's daughter Maria Theresa recognized his acquisition of the territory. Frederick's success in defending his new conquest encouraged the French to support Charles Albert's claims not only to the imperial election, but to some of the Habsburg lands themselves. With French support, Charles Albert invaded Bohemia and was crowned king of that land.
In the long-delayed imperial election, Charles Albert had the firm support of two other electoral votes, those of his brother Clemens August of Cologne, and of his cousin Charles Philip of the Palatinate. Francis Stephen was supported by his wife, as Queen of Bohemia, as well as the electors of Mainz, Trier, and Hanover. Brandenburg and Saxony remained uncommitted, but were wooed by the French to support Charles Albert. Charles Albert's cause won a major victory when he was able to secure the exclusion of Maria Theresa from the election on the grounds that the succession to Bohemia remained unsettled. With the three Wittelsbach votes and the support of Saxony and Brandenburg, Charles Albert's election seemed inevitable. The other three electors acquiesced, choosing Charles Albert emperor as Charles VII. As a result of her exclusion, Maria Theresa did not accept the legitimacy of the election until after the Emperor's death three years later.
Election of 1745
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Johann Friedrich Karl von OsteinJohann Friedrich Karl von OsteinJohann Friedrich Karl von Ostein was the Prince-Bishop of Worms, Archbishop of Mainz and Elector of Mainz.He was a relative of Lothar Franz von Schönborn, a prior Archbishop-Elector of Mainz. On April 22, 1743 he was selected as a compromise candidate for Archbishop...
, Elector of Mainz (1743–1763) - Franz Georg von Schönborn-BuchheimFranz Georg von Schönborn-BuchheimFranz Georg von Schönborn was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1729 until 1756, and the Prince-Bishop of Worms and Prince-Provost of Ellwangen from 1732 until 1756.-Biography:...
, Elector of Trier (1729–1756) - Clemens August of BavariaClemens August of BavariaClemens August of Bavaria was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria and Archbishop-Elector of Cologne.-Biography:...
, Elector of Cologne (1723–1761) - Maria Theresa, Queen of Bohemia (1743–1780), also Queen of Hungary
- Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria (1745–1777)
- Frederick-Augustus IIAugustus III of PolandAugustus III, known as the Saxon ; ; also Prince-elector Friedrich August II was the Elector of Saxony in 1733-1763, as Frederick Augustus II , King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1734-1763.-Biography:Augustus was the only legitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, Imperial Prince-Elector...
, Elector of Saxony (1733–1763), also King of Poland - Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg (1740–1786), also King in Prussia
- Charles TheodoreCharles Theodore, Elector of BavariaCharles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
, Elector Palatine (1742–1799) - George IIGeorge II of Great BritainGeorge II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, Elector of Hanover (1727–1760), also King of Great Britain
Elected
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis I was Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany, though his wife effectively executed the real power of those positions. With his wife, Maria Theresa, he was the founder of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty...
.
This election again took place during the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
, and marked the return of the Imperial crown to Habsburg hands. Emperor Charles VII died on January 20, 1745. This time Maria Theresa was permitted to exercise the Bohemian vote. She came to an arrangement with Charles VII's son Maximilian Joseph, by which she would allow him to return to Bavaria, occupied by Austrian troops since 1742, in exchange for which he and his uncle the Elector of Cologne would support Francis Stephen's candidacy for the imperial throne. Austrian diplomacy also won the support of Saxony and the three pro-Habsburg electors of Mainz, Trier, and Hanover. The Elector Palatine and the Elector of Brandenburg, who were opponents of Austria in the war, abstained from voting.
Election of 1764
The 1764 election took place on March 27 in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Emmerich Joseph von Briedbach, Elector of Mainz (1763–1774)
- Johann Philipp von WalderdorfJohann Philipp von WalderdorfJohann Philipp von Walderdorf was the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1756 until 1768, and the Prince-Bishop of Worms from 1763 until 1768.-Biography:...
, Elector of Trier (1756–1768) - Maximilian Friedrich von Königsegg-Rothenfels, Elector of Cologne (1761–1784)
- Maria Theresa, Queen of Bohemia (1740–1780), also Queen of Hungary
- Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria (1745–1777)
- Frederick-Augustus IIIFrederick Augustus I of SaxonyFrederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw...
, Elector of Saxony (1763–1806) - Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg (1740–1786), also King in Prussia
- Charles TheodoreCharles Theodore, Elector of BavariaCharles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
, Elector Palatine (1742–1799) - George IIIGeorge III of the United KingdomGeorge III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, Elector of Hanover (1760–1806), also King of Great Britain
Elected
Joseph II, King of the Romans
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
.
The election of 1764 took place while Emperor Francis I
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis I was Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany, though his wife effectively executed the real power of those positions. With his wife, Maria Theresa, he was the founder of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty...
was still alive, with a view toward assuring the continuity of succession; the prince-elect would be known only as King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
until the Emperor died, at which point he became Emperor without the necessity of a further election. The timing was apt, as Emperor Francis died the next year, August 18, 1765.
Election of 1790
The 1790 election took place on September 30 in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Friedrich Karl JosephFriedrich Karl Joseph von ErthalFriedrich Karl Joseph Reichsfreiherr von Erthal was prince-elector and archbishop of Mainz from 18 July 1774 to 4 July 1802, shortly before the end of the archbishopric in the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss....
, Elector of Mainz (1774–1802) - Clemens Wenceslaus, Elector of Trier (1768–1803)
- Maximilian FranzArchduke Maximilian Francis of AustriaArchduke Maximilian Francis of Austria was an Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, the last child of the Habsburg ruler Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. His siblings included two Holy Roman Emperors , as well as Queen Marie Antoinette of France and Queen Maria Carolina of...
, Elector of Cologne (1784–1801) - LeopoldLeopold II, Holy Roman EmperorLeopold II , born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia from 1790 to 1792, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790. He was a son of Emperor Francis I and his wife, Empress Maria Theresa...
, King of Bohemia (1790–1792), also King of Hungary and Grand Duke of Tuscany - Charles TheodoreCharles Theodore, Elector of BavariaCharles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
, Elector of Bavaria (1777–1799) - Frederick-Augustus IIIFrederick Augustus I of SaxonyFrederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw...
, Elector of Saxony (1763–1806) - Frederick William IIFrederick William II of PrussiaFrederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1786–1797), also King of Prussia - George IIIGeorge III of the United KingdomGeorge III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, Elector of Hanover (1760–1806), also King of Great Britain
Elected
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold II , born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia from 1790 to 1792, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790. He was a son of Emperor Francis I and his wife, Empress Maria Theresa...
.
The election followed the death of Emperor Joseph II on February 20, 1790.
Leopold, brother of Joseph II, was elected when the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
had begun, but being still in its constitutional phase, seemed to pose no serious threat to the established institutions of Europe. Leopold, as Grand Duke of Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
during his brother's reign, had been a reformer, and his election as Emperor suggested the spread of his reforms to, at least, his Austrian and Hungarian dominions if not throughout the Empire. The degeneration of the French situation and Leopold's early death prevented these reforms from coming to fruition.
Charles Theodore
Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
Charles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
, Elector Palatine, succeeded as Duke and Elector of Bavaria on December 30, 1777. In accordance with previous provisions for the merger of the family lines, the electoral vote of the Palatinate was suppressed in favor of the Bavarian vote.
Election of 1792
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
Electors
- Friedrich Karl JosephFriedrich Karl Joseph von ErthalFriedrich Karl Joseph Reichsfreiherr von Erthal was prince-elector and archbishop of Mainz from 18 July 1774 to 4 July 1802, shortly before the end of the archbishopric in the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss....
, Elector of Mainz (1774–1802) - Clemens Wenceslaus, Elector of Trier (1768–1803)
- Maximilian FranzArchduke Maximilian Francis of AustriaArchduke Maximilian Francis of Austria was an Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, the last child of the Habsburg ruler Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. His siblings included two Holy Roman Emperors , as well as Queen Marie Antoinette of France and Queen Maria Carolina of...
, Elector of Cologne (1784–1801) - FrancisFrancis II, Holy Roman EmperorFrancis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
, King of Bohemia (1792–1835), also King of Hungary. - Charles TheodoreCharles Theodore, Elector of BavariaCharles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
, Elector of Bavaria (1742–1799) - Frederick-Augustus IIIFrederick Augustus I of SaxonyFrederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw...
, Elector of Saxony (1763–1806) - Frederick William IIFrederick William II of PrussiaFrederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
, Elector of Brandenburg (1786–1797), also King of Prussia. - George IIIGeorge III of the United KingdomGeorge III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, Elector of Hanover (1760–1806), also King of Great Britain.
Elected
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
.
Leopold II had died on March 1, 1792; less than two months later, France declared war upon Francis II, not as Emperor (since he had not yet been elected) but as "King of Hungary". The electors met in Frankfurt among growing concerns about the revolutionary situation in France; however, it was generally believed that a united coalition could put down the revolutionaries easily, and it was not foreseen that the French Revolution would lead to a war that would sweep away the Empire.
Before Francis II died in 1835, the electorates of Mainz, Cologne, and Trier were abolished; new electorates were created in Regensburg, Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Württemberg, Baden, and Hesse-Kassel
Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
(1803); Francis went from being King of Bohemia to Emperor of Austria
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
(1804); and the entire Empire was abolished in 1806.
External links
- The Holy Roman Empire at Heraldica.org.