Imperial Diet: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:18, 20 October 2025

Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire
The Imperial Diet (Reichstag) was the forum where the Imperial Estates and the Emperor could discuss and negotiate issues from the early modern period of the Empire onwards ; what it enacted was Imperial Law.
The Imperial Estates (Reichsstände) were the territories that enjoyed imperial immediacy (Reichsunmittelbarkeit), that is the Emperor was their immediate and direct feudal lord, since the territories they held were formally feudal fiefs. Alongside this immediacy, the Imperial Estates had to share the burden of the Empire and were to pay taxes to fund the various bodies whose responsability was to maintain the common legal framework that characterised the social and political order of the Empire ; these two criteria thus determined whether or not a territory formally attached to the Empire could enjoy the right to participate and vote in the Diet.

College of Electors
1. Archbishop of Mainz
Arch-Chancellor of Germany
Head of Corpus Catholicorum
2. Archbishop of Trier
Arch-Chancellor of Gaul
3. Archbishop of Cologne
Arch-Chancellor of Italy

4. King of Bohemia
Arch-Butler of the Empire
5. Count Palatine of the Rhine
Arch-Steward of the Empire
Imperial Vicar for Frankish territories
6. Duke of Saxony
Arch-Marshal of the Empire
Imperial Vicar for Saxon territories
Head of Corpus Evangelicorum
7. Margrave of Brandenburg
Arch-Chamberlain of the Empire
8. Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Arch-Treasurer of the Empire

College of Princes
1. Archduke of Austria
2. Duke of Burgundy

Ecclesiastical Bench
3. Archbishop of Salzburg
4. Archbishop of Besançon
5. Grand Master of the Teutonic Order
6. Bishop of Bamberg
7. Bishop of Würzburg
8. Bishop of Worms
9. Bishop of Eichstätt
10. Bishop of Speyer
11. Bishop of Strassburg
12. Bishop of Constance
13. Bishop of Augsburg
14. Bishop of Hildesheim
15. Bishop of Paderborn
16. Bishop of Freising
17. Bishop of Regensburg
18. Bishop of Passau
19. Bishop of Trent
20. Bishop of Brixen
21. Bishop of Basel
22. Bishop of Münster
23. Bishop of Osnabrück
24. Bishop of Liège
25. Bishop of Lübeck
26. Bishop of Chur
27. Bishop of Fulda
28. Abbot of Kempten
29. Provost of Ellwangen
30. Grand Master of the Order of St. John
31. Prior of Berchtesgaden
32. Provost of Weissenburg
33. Abbot of Prüm
34. Abbot of Stablo
35. Abbot of Corvey

College of Imperial Cities

Rhenish Bench
Free and Imperial City of Cologne
Free and Imperial City of Aachen
Free and Imperial City of Lübeck
Free and Imperial City of Worms
Free and Imperial City of Frankfurt
Free and Imperial City of Goslar
Free and Imperial City of Bremen
Free and Imperial City of Hamburg
Free and Imperial City of Mühlhausen
Free and Imperial City of Nordhausen
Free and Imperial City of Dortmund

Swabian Bench
Free and Imperial City of Regensburg
Free and Imperial City of Augsburg
Free and Imperial City of Nuremberg
Free and Imperial City of Ulm
Free and Imperial City of Überlingen
Free and Imperial City of Schwäbisch Gmünd
Free and Imperial City of Lindau
Free and Imperial City of Dinkelsbühl
Free and Imperial City of Biberach
Free and Imperial City of Kempten
Free and Imperial City of Weil
Free and Imperial City of Wangen
Free and Imperial City of Isny im Allgäu
Free and Imperial City of Pfullendorf
Free and Imperial City of Offenburg
Free and Imperial City of Leutkirch im Allgäu
Free and Imperial City of Wimpfen
Free and Imperial City of Weissenburg
Free and Imperial City of Giengen
Free and Imperial City of Zell am Harmersbach
Free and Imperial City of Buchhorn
Free and Imperial City of Buchau

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 <gallery mode="nolines" caption="College of Electors" align=center style= "color: #292929;font-size:1.2em;font-weight: normal;text-align:center;font-style: normal;">
-Mainz.svg|1. Archbishop of Mainz<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Chancellor of Germany<br>Head of ''Corpus Catholicorum''</span>
+Mainz.svg|1. [[Prince-Archbishopric of Mainz|Archbishop of Mainz]]<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Chancellor of Germany<br>Head of ''Corpus Catholicorum''</span>
-Trier.svg|2. Archbishop of Trier<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Chancellor of Gaul</span>
+Trier.svg|2. [[Prince-Archbishopric of Trier|Archbishop of Trier]]<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Chancellor of Gaul</span>
-Cologne.svg|3. Archbishop of Cologne<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Chancellor of Italy</span>
+Cologne.svg|3. [[Prince-Archbishopric of Cologne|Archbishop of Cologne]]<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Chancellor of Italy</span>
 </gallery>
 <gallery mode="nolines" caption="" align=center style= "color: #292929;font-size:1.2em;font-weight: normal;text-align:center;font-style: normal;">
-Bohemia.svg|4. King of Bohemia<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Butler of the Empire</span>
+Bohemia.svg|4. [[Kingdom of Bohemia|King of Bohemia]]<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Butler of the Empire</span>
-Electorate of Pfalz.svg|5. Count Palatine of the Rhine<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Steward of the Empire<br>Imperial Vicar for Frankish territories</span>
+Electorate of Pfalz.svg|5. [[County Palatine of the Rhine|Count Palatine of the Rhine]]<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Steward of the Empire<br>Imperial Vicar for Frankish territories</span>
-Kurfürsten von Sachsen.svg|6. Duke of Saxony<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Marshal of the Empire<br>Imperial Vicar for Saxon territories<br>Head of ''Corpus Evangelicorum''</span>
+Kurfürsten von Sachsen.svg|6. [[Duchy of Saxony|Duke of Saxony]]<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Marshal of the Empire<br>Imperial Vicar for Saxon territories<br>Head of ''Corpus Evangelicorum''</span>
-Brandenburg-Prussia.svg|7. Margrave of Brandenburg<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Chamberlain of the Empire</span>
+Brandenburg-Prussia.svg|7. [[Margraviate of Brandenburg|Margrave of Brandenburg]]<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Chamberlain of the Empire</span>
-Hannover Welf.svg|8. Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Treasurer of the Empire</span>
+Hannover Welf.svg|8. [[Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg|Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg]]<br><span style="font-size:88%; line-height: 1.3em;">Arch-Treasurer of the Empire</span>
 </gallery>
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 <gallery mode="nolines" caption="College of Princes" align=center style= "color: #292929;font-size:1.2em;font-weight: normal;text-align:center;font-style: normal;">
-Habsburg Austria.svg|1. Archduke of Austria
+Habsburg Austria.svg|1. [[Duchy of Austria|Archduke of Austria]]
-Philip I Castile.svg|2. Duke of Burgundy
+Philip I Castile.svg|2. [[Duchy of Burgundy|Duke of Burgundy]]
 </gallery>
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 <gallery mode="nolines" caption="Secular Bench" align=center style= "color: #292929;font-size:1.2em;font-weight: normal;text-align:center;font-style: normal;">
-Wittelsbach.svg|1. Duke of Bavaria
+Wittelsbach.svg|1. [[Duchy of Bavaria|Duke of Bavaria]]
-Magdeburg.svg|2. Duke of Magdeburg
+Magdeburg.svg|2. [[Prince-Archbishopric of Magdeburg|Duke of Magdeburg]]
-Pfalz-Simmern.svg|3. Count Palatine of Lautern
+Pfalz-Simmern.svg|3. [[ County Palatine of the Rhine |Count Palatine of Lautern]]
-Pfalz Simmern.svg|4. Count Palatine of Simmern
+Pfalz Simmern.svg|4. [[ County Palatine of the Rhine |Count Palatine of Simmern]]
-Pfalz-Neuburg.svg|5. Count Palatine of Neuburg
+Pfalz-Neuburg.svg|5. [[ County Palatine of the Rhine |Count Palatine of Neuburg]]
-Bremen.svg|6. Duke of Bremen
+Bremen.svg|6. [[Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen|Duke of Bremen]]
-Pfalz Sweden.svg|7. Duke of Zweibrücken
+Pfalz Sweden.svg|7. [[County of Zweibrücken|Duke of Zweibrücken]]
-Pfalz-Veldenz.svg|8. Count Palatine of Veldenz
+Pfalz-Veldenz.svg|8. [[County of Veldenz|Count Palatine of Veldenz]]
-Saxe-Weimar.svg|9. Duke of Saxe-Weimar
+Saxe-Weimar.svg|9. [[Duchy of Saxe-Weimar|Duke of Saxe-Weimar]]
-Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach.svg|10. Duke of Saxe-Eisenach
+Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach.svg|10. [[ Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg |Duke of Saxe-Eisenach]]
-Saxe-Coburg.svg|11. Duke of Saxe-Coburg
+Saxe-Coburg.svg|11. [[ Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg |Duke of Saxe-Coburg]]
-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.svg|12. Duke of Saxe-Gotha
+Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.svg|12. [[ Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg |Duke of Saxe-Gotha]]
-Saxe-Altenburg.svg|13. Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
+Saxe-Altenburg.svg|13. [[Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg|Duke of Saxe-Altenburg]]
-Brandenburg-Ansbach.svg|14. Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
+Brandenburg-Ansbach.svg|14. [[Margraviate of Ansbach|Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach]]
-Brandenburg-Kulmbach.svg|15. Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
+Brandenburg-Kulmbach.svg|15. [[ Burgraviate of Nuremberg|Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach]]
-Ernst II Braunschweig-Luneburg.svg|16. Duke of Brunswick-Celle
+Ernst II Braunschweig-Luneburg.svg|16. [[ Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg |Duke of Brunswick-Celle]]
-Braunschweig Luneburg.svg|17. Duke of Brunswick-Kalenberg
+Braunschweig Luneburg.svg|17. [[ Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg |Duke of Brunswick-Kalenberg]]
-Calenberg-Grubenhagen.svg|18. Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
+Calenberg-Grubenhagen.svg|18. [[ Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg |Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen]]
-Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.svg|19. Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
+Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.svg|19. [[ Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg |Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]]
-Halberstadt.svg|20. Prince of Halberstadt
+Halberstadt.svg|20. [[Prince-Bishopric of Halberstadt|Prince of Halberstadt]]
-Pomerania Ancient.svg|21. Duke of Farther Pomerania <!-- Vorpommern, Philip I, passed to Prussia (Pomerania-Wolgast) -->
+Pomerania Ancient.svg|21. [[Duchy of Pomerania|Duke of Farther Pomerania]] <!-- Vorpommern, Philip I, passed to Prussia (Pomerania-Wolgast) -->
-Pomerania Ancient.svg|22. Duke of Upper Pomerania <!-- Hinterpommern, Barnim IX, passed to Sweden (Pomerania-Stettin) -->
+Pomerania Ancient.svg|22. [[Duchy of Pomerania|Duke of Upper Pomerania]] <!-- Hinterpommern, Barnim IX, passed to Sweden (Pomerania-Stettin) -->
-  Johann IV Mecklenburg-Schwerin.svg|23. Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
+  Johann IV Mecklenburg-Schwerin.svg|23. [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
-Mecklenburg-Guscerov.svg|24. Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
+Mecklenburg-Guscerov.svg|24. [[Duchy of Mecklenburg|Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow]]
-Württemberg Ancient.svg|25. Duke of Württemberg
+Württemberg Ancient.svg|25. [[Duchy of Württemberg|Duke of Württemberg]]
-Hesse-Kassel.svg|26. Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
+Hesse-Kassel.svg|26. [[Landgraviate of Hesse|Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel]]
-Hesse-Darmstadt.svg|27. Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
+Hesse-Darmstadt.svg|27. [[Landgraviate of Hesse|Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt]]
-Bernhard III Baden.svg|28. Margrave of Baden-Baden
+Bernhard III Baden.svg|28. [[Margraviate of Baden-Baden|Margrave of Baden-Baden]]
-Baden-Durlach.svg|29. Margrave of Baden-Durlach
+Baden-Durlach.svg|29. [[Margraviate of Baden|Margrave of Baden-Durlach]]
-Verden.svg|30. Prince of Verden
+Verden.svg|30. [[Prince-Bishopric of Verden|Prince of Verden]]
-Baden-Hachberg.svg|31. Margrave of Baden-Hachberg
+Baden-Hachberg.svg|31. [[Margraviate of Baden|Margrave of Baden-Hachberg]]
-Oldenburg.svg|32. Duke of Holstein
+Oldenburg.svg|32. [[Duchy of Holstein|Duke of Holstein]]
-Saxe-Lauenberg.svg|33. Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
+Saxe-Lauenberg.svg|33. [[Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg|Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg]]
-Minden.svg|34. Prince of Minden
+Minden.svg|34. [[Prince-Bishopric of Minden|Prince of Minden]]
-Holstein Gottorp.svg|35. Duke of Holstein-Gottorp-Oldenburg
+Duchy of Oldenburg.svg|35. [[Duchy of Oldenburg|Duke of Oldenburg]]
-Savoy.svg|36. Duke of Savoy
+Savoy.svg|36. [[Duchy of Savoy|Duke of Savoy]]
-Leuchtenberg.svg|37. Landgrave of Leuchtenberg
+Leuchtenberg.svg|37. [[Landgraviate of Leuchtenberg|Landgrave of Leuchtenberg]]
-Anhalt 1260.svg|38. Prince of Anhalt
+Anhalt 1260.svg|38. [[Principality of Anhalt|Prince of Anhalt]]
-Henneberg.svg|39. Princely Count of Henneberg
+Henneberg.svg|39. [[County of Henneberg|Princely Count of Henneberg]]
-Schwerin Principality.svg|40. Prince of Schwerin
+Schwerin Principality.svg|40. [[County of Schwerin|Prince of Schwerin]]
-Kammin.svg|41. Prince of Kammin
+Kammin.svg|41. [[ Prince-Bishopric of Cammin |Prince of Kammin]]
-Ratzeburg.svg|42. Prince of Ratzeburg
+Ratzeburg.svg|42. [[Prince-Bishopric of Ratzeburg|Prince of Ratzeburg]]
-Hersfeld.svg|43. Prince of Hersfeld
+Hersfeld.svg|43. [[Imperial Abbey of Hersfeld|Prince of Hersfeld]]
-Nomeny.svg|44. Prince of Nomény
+Nomeny.svg|44. [[ Margraviate of Nomeny|Prince of Nomény]]
-Württemberg Waiblingen.svg|45. Prince of Mömpelgard
+Württemberg Waiblingen.svg|45. [[County of Montbéliard|Prince of Mömpelgard]]
-D'Arenberg Ancient.svg|46. Duke of Arenberg
+D'Arenberg Ancient.svg|46. [[Lordship of Arenberg|Duke of Arenberg]]
-Hohenzollern-Hechingen.svg|47. Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen
+Hohenzollern-Hechingen.svg|47. [[County of Zollern |Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen]]
 Lobkowicz Sagan.svg|48. Prince of Lobkowitz
-Salm.svg|49. Prince of Salm
+Salm.svg|49. [[ County of Obersalm|Prince of Salm]]
-Dietrichstein.svg|50. Prince of Dietrichstein
+Dietrichstein.svg|50. [[ County of Dietrichstein |Prince of Dietrichstein]]
-Nassau Dillenburg.svg|51. Prince of Nassau-Hadamar
+Nassau Dillenburg.svg|51. [[County of Nassau|Prince of Nassau-Hadamar]]
-Nassau-Dillenburg.svg|52. Prince of Nassau-Dillenburg
+Nassau-Dillenburg.svg|52. [[County of Nassau|Prince of Nassau-Dillenburg]]
 Fürsten von Auersperg.svg|53. Prince of Auersperg
-Cirksena 1625.svg|54. Prince of East Frisia
+Cirksena 1625.svg|54. [[ County of East Frisia|Prince of East Frisia]]
-Von Furstenberg.svg|55. Prince of Fürstenberg
+Von Furstenberg.svg|55. [[ County of Fürstenberg |Prince of Fürstenberg]]
 Seinsheim-Schwarzenberg.svg|56. Prince of Schwarzenberg
 Liechtenstein Ancient.svg|57. Prince of Liechtenstein
 Thurn-Valsassina-Taxis.svg|58. Prince of Thurn und Taxis
-Schwarzburg.svg|59. Prince of Schwarzburg
+Schwarzburg.svg|59. [[County of Schwarzburg|Prince of Schwarzburg]]
 </gallery>