Prince-elector

Lore & Background

A prince-elector was a member of the Electoral College of the Holy Roman Empire, a small group of princes who, from the 13th century onward, gained the privilege of electing the King of the Romans. The king would later be crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the pope; after Charles V, the last emperor to be crowned, successors assumed the title "Elected Emperor of the Romans." The dignity of elector carried great prestige, ranking only behind the emperor, kings, and the highest dukes. Electors held exclusive privileges not shared with other imperial princes, and they retained their original titles alongside that of elector. The heir apparent to a secular elector was known as an electoral prince. Electors were rulers of Imperial Estates and enjoyed precedence over other Imperial Princes. Until the 18th century, they were exclusively entitled to be addressed as "Serene Highness"; after 1742, they were promoted to "Most Serene Highness." The Golden Bull granted them the *Privilegium de non appellando*, preventing their subjects from appealing to a higher imperial court, though this privilege was not exclusive to electors and was also granted to many larger Imperial Estates. Electors were members of the Imperial Diet, which was divided into three councils: the Council of Electors, the Council of Princes, and the Council of Cities. Most electors also held multiple votes in the Council of Princes by virtue of possessing other territories or ecclesiastical positions. In 1792, for example, the Elector of Brandenburg held eight votes in that council, the Elector of Bavaria six, and the Elector of Hanover six. The Archbishop of Mainz presided over the Catholic body of the Diet, while the Elector of Saxony presided over the Protestant body. Elections were originally summoned by the Archbishop of Mainz within one month of an emperor's death, with electors meeting within three months. During an interregnum, imperial power was exercised by two imperial vicars: the Elector of Saxony in areas under Saxon law, and the Elector Palatine in the remainder of the Empire. Frankfurt was the regular site of elections from the 14th century, though elections also occurred at Cologne, Regensburg, and Augsburg. Voting took place in the cathedral, and a majority of electors sufficed to elect a king, with each elector casting one vote. The office was abolished in 1806 upon the dissolution of the

Reader's Guide

The prince-electors formed the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, a small group of princes who gained the privilege of choosing the King of the Romans from the 13th century onward. Their rights were formally codified in 1356 by the Golden Bull, which established that a majority vote sufficed to elect a king, with each elector casting a single vote. The office was abolished in 1806 upon the empire’s dissolution. The electors’ dignity was considered second only to that of the emperor, kings, and highest dukes, and they held exclusive privileges not shared by other imperial princes, such as the Privilegium de non appellando, which prevented their subjects from appealing to higher imperial courts. They were addressed as Serene Highness until the 18th century, when they gained the title Most Serene Highness. In the Imperial Diet, electors sat in the Council of Electors, but most also held multiple votes in the Council of Princes due to ruling several territories or holding ecclesiastical positions; by 1792, electors collectively held twenty-nine of the hundred votes in that council. Elections were typically held in Frankfurt from the 14th century, though other cities were used. The Archbishop of Mainz summoned electors within a month of an emperor’s death, and during an interregnum, imperial power was exercised by two vicars: the Elector of Saxony in northern regions and the Elector Palatine in the south. The heir to a secular elector was known as an electoral prince.

Did You Know?

• The heir apparent to a secular prince-elector was known as an electoral prince (German: Kurprinz).
• The Archbishop of Mainz presided over the Catholic body in the Imperial Diet, while the Elector of Saxony presided over the Protestant body.
• During an interregnum, imperial power was exercised by two imperial vicars: the Elector of Saxony in northern areas and the Elector Palatine in the south.
• From the 16th century, electors drafted an electoral capitulation (Wahlkapitulation) that the king-elect had to swear to before assuming office.