Conditions Early 16th Century - Holy Roman Empire Flashcards
How was the Central Government structured?
Separated into:
- 46 Ecclesiastical(Christian) states(Run by Bishops)
- 26 Large Secular states (Run by princes)
- More smaller secular/ecclesiastical states
- 65 City States
What were city states like and what did they need?
They guarded themselves fiercely, some princes acted like kings. They needed a central government and strong leader/emperor
Who was the emperor at start of Luther and how were emperors elected etc?
Maximilian I was emperor until 1519 and seven electors who were seven most important princes from richest families e.g. Habsburg family.
What power did the emperor and prices have?
Being emperor was meant to be a sign of Honour and status but in reality they had very little power, no salary or imperial army of taxation.
Without a central executive or city emperors had to rely on princes to control law and order in cities and circles.
Princes only helped if it didn’t threaten them or their power.
What was the imperial Diet and what did it consist of and why and how often did they meet?
How were decisions made here implemented into the empire?
Key institution of central government and consisted of 3 estates/colleges.
1- electors
2- Ecclesiastical/secular princes
3- representers for imperial cities.
The diet only met when summoned by emperors and to grant taxation, raise troops and address national concerns so they met often. Decisions made by the diet were transmitted to the circles to be implemented.
How was empire divided into circles and (give example) what was their purpose?
Empire divided into 10 circles each consisting of states and cities e.g. swabian circle.
Purpose was for regional coordination. Each circle had assembly which was meant to enforce decisions made in the diet (tax war funding) and to settle disputes within circles. If dispute wasn’t settled would be referred to Imperial cameral court which had judges from all the courts.
What was the Swabian league who ran it/what did it consist of and what were their purposes?
Only effective armed force in empire role was securing law in south west consisted of local small rulers - Swabian nobles.
What were the 2 central courts and how did laws within cities run. What were the purposes of central courts? Where were the courts and who ran them.
Every state had its own laws no common law. they need a form of supreme court to deal with subjects which couldnt be dealt with by the circles:
1- Imperial Chamber court: Based in Frankfurt emperor chose 20 princes to be judges.
2 - Imperial Aulic court: In Vienna
Based in Habsburg land as Maximilian resented Princes power in Imperial court (he was a Habsburg)
What conclusion can be made about the structure of central government?
Under Maximilian’s reign regional coordination improved greatly (circles, Swabian league, central court created) Germany was more politically united than it’d been for centuries.
What negative conclusion could be made?
One thing did not change: LACK OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.
- Mattered as Germany was open to financial exploitation to Rome
- Meant Emperor lacked power.
Imperial Election of 1519 - Who were the two main candidates and say info about Maximilian’s grandson.
Maximilian died and Charles V, his grandson, had chnce to compete with King Francis I of France for role as emperor. By age of 19 he was most powerful man in Europe as he inherited a lot of land.
Why was Charles Elected?
- Handed out largest bribes
- Was a Habsburg and had lots of land most likely able to defend against threat of Ottoman empire
- Charles couldn’t challenge the princes power as he would likely be absent for long periods of time (divided, vast land)
- French wouldn’t be welcome
- Swabian League surrounded towns where electors met
- Charles agreed to sign the capitulation) of 1519 which produced lots of things for the empire e.g. only using latin or german in empire etc.
How did the Imperial Election aid Luther?
- Thanks to goodwill of one elector Luther didnt have to be questioned in Rome where he might’ve been executed.
- Capitulation meant he could only used diets and electors t deal with Luther
- Charles rarely focussed on the issues of league was distracted by Ottomans etc.
