The Holy Roman Empire:
the structure of central government;
- Each state ruled themselves and fiercely guarded their own liberties. Some of the
princes lived like kings, Margrave of Brandenburg had a court of over 200
- However even the greatest princes did not want true independence as their states
were too small and weak to survive on their own.
- The emperor was elected by 7 electors and in theory any prince could run but in
practise it had gone to a member of Hapsburg family since 1437, they were the only
family wealthy enough for the position and their austrian lands provided a buffer
against ottoman invasion
- The position of emperor was essentially the secular head of christendom. However
there was no salary, no imperial taxation or army. He could raise troops but only with
electors permission and raise money for troops but needed permission from a diet.
Imperial diets:
- Consisted of three ‘colleges’ one for electors, a second for ecclesiastical and secular
princes and a third for representatives from imperial cities. They would meet when
the emperor called them, usually in order to raise money for troops, so diets
happened often.
- The emperor's propositions would be read, colleges would meet to vote and discuss.
If the emperor and diet were in agreement their conclusions were published in a
‘recess’ which, it was decided in 1512, would be binding for all even if they had not
attended the diet
the seven electors;
the respective powers of the Emperor and the princes;
the imperial election of 1519.
- Maximilian died in January 1519
- He had not pre-organised the election of his grandson Charles so Charles had to
fight against Francis I of France for the title
- Why did electors choose Charles:
- He had the largest bribes (850,000 florins)
- Greatest landowner so most likely to defend against external threats
- The size of the rest of his inheritance meant he was likely to be absent most
of the time so would not be as large a threat to power.
- A french candidate would be unwelcome due to germany's newfound
nationalism
- Charles agreed to sign the capitulation 1519 (respect the rights of princes,
consult electors and diet on all imperial matters, not to bring foreign troops
into empire)
The state of the German economy:
growing towns and cities;
the structure of central government;
- Each state ruled themselves and fiercely guarded their own liberties. Some of the
princes lived like kings, Margrave of Brandenburg had a court of over 200
- However even the greatest princes did not want true independence as their states
were too small and weak to survive on their own.
- The emperor was elected by 7 electors and in theory any prince could run but in
practise it had gone to a member of Hapsburg family since 1437, they were the only
family wealthy enough for the position and their austrian lands provided a buffer
against ottoman invasion
- The position of emperor was essentially the secular head of christendom. However
there was no salary, no imperial taxation or army. He could raise troops but only with
electors permission and raise money for troops but needed permission from a diet.
Imperial diets:
- Consisted of three ‘colleges’ one for electors, a second for ecclesiastical and secular
princes and a third for representatives from imperial cities. They would meet when
the emperor called them, usually in order to raise money for troops, so diets
happened often.
- The emperor's propositions would be read, colleges would meet to vote and discuss.
If the emperor and diet were in agreement their conclusions were published in a
‘recess’ which, it was decided in 1512, would be binding for all even if they had not
attended the diet
the seven electors;
the respective powers of the Emperor and the princes;
the imperial election of 1519.
- Maximilian died in January 1519
- He had not pre-organised the election of his grandson Charles so Charles had to
fight against Francis I of France for the title
- Why did electors choose Charles:
- He had the largest bribes (850,000 florins)
- Greatest landowner so most likely to defend against external threats
- The size of the rest of his inheritance meant he was likely to be absent most
of the time so would not be as large a threat to power.
- A french candidate would be unwelcome due to germany's newfound
nationalism
- Charles agreed to sign the capitulation 1519 (respect the rights of princes,
consult electors and diet on all imperial matters, not to bring foreign troops
into empire)
The state of the German economy:
growing towns and cities;
