The Holy Roman Empire, structure and economy NOT IN EXAM

Question 1

What was the Holy Roman Empire and when was it established?

Answer 1

A phrase to describe a vast area of Central Europe established in 800 AD. The core was the German states but it included huge territories from modern day Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and parts of eastern France, western Poland and Northern Italy.

Question 2

How could you describe the structure?

Answer 2

A complex structure with both ecclesiastical (religious) states and secular ones. Different levels of ruler existed in the HRE.

Question 3

How many ‘prince bishops’ were there and where?

Answer 3

46 in esslesiatical states, archbishops and bishops.

Question 4

How many secular states were there? Ruled by who?

Answer 4

26 ruled by princes but including the King of Bohemia, an archduke, a ‘landorare’, ‘margraves’ and 27 dukes.

Question 5

What were smaller states ruled by?

Answer 5

Counts and Lords.

Question 6

What were the 65 imperial cities?

Answer 6

Had no separate leader but governed directly by the HRE himself.

Question 7

What did all states and cities have?

Answer 7

Their own control goverment structure and guarded their own privileges, but looked to the Empire for their overall protection and loyalty. So they were more likely to get away with things and do things their own ways.

Question 8

How did the leaders live (Duke’s not as powerful).

Answer 8

In the bigger states lived as kings and saw themselves as just as powerful as standing nations but apart of a bigger power.

Question 9

Who was the Emperor in the HRE?

Answer 9

The most powerful man in Europe.

Question 10

How was the Emperor elected?

Answer 10

By 7 powerful electors (princess, dukes, archbishops from the HR states).

Question 11

In reality how was the emperor selected?

Answer 11

The position had been constantly occupied by a member of the Hapsburg dynasty in Austria- richest family in Central Europe, with vast land ownership. Marriage links to C of A.

My love Marie Antoinette <3

Question 12

Who was the HRE 1493-1519?

Answer 12

Maximilian I HapsB

Question 13

Who was the HRE from 1519?

Answer 13

Charles V (Catherine of Aragon’s Nephew) HB

Question 14

What was the imperial diet?

Explain the voting rights.

Answer 14

The key institution of central government in the empire. 3 colleges (estates) are for the electors.
1480- other ecclesiastical and secular princes
1589- representatives from the imperial cities (through latter fifty non achieve voting rights until 1648).

Like a Parliament sitting/ meeting.

Question 15

What was the diet used for by the HRE?

Answer 15

Summoned by HRE- had to use to raise taxes (military) trips or address nation concerns (religious issues too).

Question 16

When were the diets?

Answer 16

10 diets 1501-1521

18 diets 1521 and 1555

Question 17

What was the outcome of the diets?

Answer 17

Decisions of the diet were transmitted into the circles to be implemented (circle-10 of then 7500-12 no. of states and cities)- only worked if interests of emperor and prince happened to coincide.

Question 18

Why did the emperor need the diet to agree?

Answer 18

The diet restricted his power- big decisions in whole empire.

Keep religious and secular leaders happy and those who run states - high class run this.

Question 19

Why was Charles elected?

Answer 19

Handed out the largest bribes (850,000 florins), money he had to borrow. Wealthy.

Hansburg- precedent and most equipped to defend e.g. Ottoman.

Given the rest of his inheritance, Charles was likely be absent most of the time, and therefore less likely to challenge the princes power.

A French candidate would be unwelcome in the empire, given its new state of G national identity.

Threat of Swabain League as they clearly favoured Charles.

He agreed to sign the Capitulation 1519.

Question 20

What was the Capitulation? Look at the list of rules for extra evidence.

Answer 20

1519 worried about Charles’ potential strength, the electors made this a condition of election (writing to compromise to get what he wants-able to manipulate)

e.g. use only Latin to Green when in the empire, respect rights and privileges of princes, consult diet on all imperial matters, not to bring foreign troops into empire.

Question 21

Who were the 7 electors and how many came from Germany?

Answer 21

Mainz- Senior Archbishop
Cologne- Senior Arch
Trier- Senior A
The King of Bohemia- Senior Elector Princes
Margrave of Brandenburg- Senior Secular Princes
Duke of Ernestine Saxony- Senior Secular Princes
Count Palatine of the Rhine- Senior Secular Princes

3/7 Germany

Question 22

What could the electors do and what did they have?

Answer 22

Huge power as elected by Emperor.

Could extract promises and money from hopeful candidates. Did in 1519.

A reluctance to alienate the electors in 1519 helps to explain the pope’s slow reaction to Luther.

Question 23

What was the Swabian League?

Answer 23

In practice, only effective armed force in the empire, created by Maximilian’s father.
Original function, securing law and order in the Swabian League.
Members initially all local small rulers- Swabian nobles and knights, counts and 22 local imperial cities.

Question 24

What was the Swabian League by early 16c?

Answer 24

Some 10 princes had joined. Closest thing there was to imperial army.
Maximilian used it, 13,000 troops to crush expansionist attacks being made by Bararia in 1504, and to evict Ulrich of Wuttemberg in Jan 1519.

Question 25

Look at economic sheet!!

Answer 25

<3