The Holy Roman Empire, structure and economy NOT IN EXAM Flashcards
What was the Holy Roman Empire and when was it established?
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.
How could you describe the structure?
A complex structure with both ecclesiastical (religious) states and secular ones. Different levels of ruler existed in the HRE.
How many ‘prince bishops’ were there and where?
46 in esslesiatical states, archbishops and bishops.
How many secular states were there? Ruled by who?
26 ruled by princes but including the King of Bohemia, an archduke, a ‘landorare’, ‘margraves’ and 27 dukes.
What were smaller states ruled by?
Counts and Lords.
What were the 65 imperial cities?
Had no separate leader but governed directly by the HRE himself.
What did all states and cities have?
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.
How did the leaders live (Duke’s not as powerful).
In the bigger states lived as kings and saw themselves as just as powerful as standing nations but apart of a bigger power.
Who was the Emperor in the HRE?
The most powerful man in Europe.
How was the Emperor elected?
By 7 powerful electors (princess, dukes, archbishops from the HR states).
In reality how was the emperor selected?
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
Who was the HRE 1493-1519?
Maximilian I HapsB
Who was the HRE from 1519?
Charles V (Catherine of Aragon’s Nephew) HB
What was the imperial diet?
Explain the voting rights.
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.
What was the diet used for by the HRE?
Summoned by HRE- had to use to raise taxes (military) trips or address nation concerns (religious issues too).
When were the diets?
10 diets 1501-1521
18 diets 1521 and 1555
What was the outcome of the diets?
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.
Why did the emperor need the diet to agree?
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.
Why was Charles elected?
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.
What was the Capitulation? Look at the list of rules for extra evidence.
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.
Who were the 7 electors and how many came from Germany?
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
What could the electors do and what did they have?
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.
What was the Swabian League?
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.
What was the Swabian League by early 16c?
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.
Look at economic sheet!!
<3
