639:
46:
595:
209:
58:
568:, Elector Palatine, inherited the Electorate of Bavaria in 1777, the vote of the Palatinate was nullified. However, Electors who ruled states in addition to their electorates also voted in the Council of Princes; similarly, princes who also ruled comital territories voted both individually and in the comital benches. In the
836:
As has been noted from an early time, this representation of the "imperial constitution" does not in fact represent the actual constitution of the Holy Roman Empire, as some imperial cities appear as "villages" or even "peasants". E.g. the four "peasants" are
Cologne, Constance, Regensburg and
419:
between 1803 and 1806, the vast majority of the
Estates of the Holy Roman Empire were mediatised. They lost their Imperial immediacy and became part of other Estates. The number of Estates was reduced from about three hundred to about thirty. Mediatisation went along with secularisation: the
483:
Imperial States enjoyed several rights and privileges. Rulers had autonomy inasmuch as their families were concerned; in particular, they were permitted to make rules regarding the inheritance of their states without imperial interference. They were permitted to make treaties and enter into
531:
Votes were held in right of the states, rather than personally. Consequently, an individual ruling several states held multiple votes; similarly, multiple individuals ruling parts of the same state shared a single vote. These rules were not formalized until 1582; before then, when multiple
384:, or "persons with Imperial statehood". Originally, the Emperor alone could grant that status, but in 1653, several restrictions on the Emperor's power were introduced. The creation of a new Estate required the assent of the College of Electors and of the College of Princes (see
399:
From 1648 onwards, inheritance of the Estate was limited to one family; a territory inherited by a different family ceased to be an Estate unless the
Emperor explicitly allowed otherwise. Finally, a territory could cease to be an Imperial Estate by being subjected to the
396:. Theoretically, personalist Estates were forbidden after 1653, but exceptions were often made. Once a territory attained the status of an Estate, it could only lose that status under very few circumstances. A territory ceded to a foreign power ceased to be an Estate.
841:(or Stromberg, Straburg, Strandeck, and variants) was an unknown entity even at the time. The representation of imperial subjects is also far from complete. The "imperial quaternions" are, rather, a more or less random selection intended to represent
532:
individuals inherited parts of the same state, they sometimes received a vote each. Votes were either individual or collective. Princes and senior clerics generally held individual votes (but such votes, as noted above, were sometimes shared).
731:"group of four soldiers") were a conventional representation of the Imperial States of the Holy Roman Empire which first became current in the 15th century and was extremely popular during the 16th century.
563:
No elector ever held multiple electorates; nor were electorates ever divided between multiple heirs. Hence, in the
Council of Electors, each individual held exactly one vote. An example of this was when
528:, the Council of Princes, and the Council of Cities. Electoral states belonged to the Council of Electors; other states, whether ecclesiastical or secular, belonged to the Council of Princes.
420:
abolition of most of the ecclesiastical
Estates. This dissolution of the constitution of the structure of the empire was soon followed by the dissolution of the empire itself, in 1806.
488:
with other
Imperial States as well as with foreign nations. The electors, but not the other rulers, were permitted to exercise certain regalian powers, including the power to
392:
below). The ruler was required to agree to accept
Imperial taxation and military obligations. Furthermore, the Estate was required to obtain admittance into one of the
369:
Until 1582 the votes of the Free and
Imperial Cities were only advisory. None of the rulers below the Holy Roman Emperor ranked as kings, with the exception of the
576:
held eight individual votes in the
Council of Princes and one vote in the Bench of Westphalia. Similarly, among ecclesiastics, the Grand Master of the
861:
866:
203:
1013:
569:
565:
665:. Twelve quaternions are shown, as follows (eight dukes being divided into two quaternions called "pillars" and "vicars", respectively):
881:
513:
191:
98:
544:. Each of these had a collective vote. Similarly, Counts were grouped into four comital benches with one collective vote each: the
180:. Counts and nobles were not directly represented in the Diet in spite of their immediate status, but were grouped into "benches" (
856:
557:
317:
167:
149:
405:
1018:
50:
156:
divisions. From 1489, the
Imperial Estates represented in the Diet were divided into three chambers, the college of
631:
573:
299:
370:
428:
Rulers of Imperial States enjoyed precedence over other subjects in the Empire. Electors were originally styled
271:
30:
This article is about the constituents of the Holy Roman Empire. For imperial estates in the Roman Empire, see
393:
376:
The status of Estate was normally attached to a particular territory within the Empire, but there were some
253:
31:
257:
229:
611:
311:
307:
225:
638:
871:
623:
545:
416:
295:
291:
267:
615:
607:
279:
233:
216:
Imperial Estates could be either ecclesiastic or secular. The ecclesiastical Estates were led by:
943:
teutsches ivs pvblicvm; oder, des Heil. Römisch-Teutschen Reichs vollständige Staats-Rechts-Lehre
735:
362:
303:
261:
177:
133:
114:
110:
536:(abbots and priors) without individual votes were classified into two benches: the Bench of the
45:
946:
912:
826:
553:
485:
94:
109:). Rulers of these Estates were able to exercise significant rights and privileges and were "
954:
643:
589:
355:
275:
795:
619:
594:
442:
432:
409:
187:
157:
78:
39:
987:
747:
655:
651:
627:
603:
577:
541:
525:
387:
343:
329:
247:
221:
208:
137:
70:
822:). The list could be shortened or expanded, by the mid-16th century to as many as 45.
580:
held one individual vote in the Council of Princes and two in the Bench of the Rhine.
1007:
843:
807:
751:
743:
599:
239:
995:
401:
243:
145:
27:
Constituent state of the Holy Roman Empire with representation in the Imperial Diet
838:
647:
489:
153:
17:
754:. The number of quaternions was usually ten, in descending order of precedence
456:(high and well-born). In the eighteenth century, the electors were upgraded to
887:
876:
755:
727:
321:
129:
117:. They were thus able to rule their territories with a considerable degree of
779:
771:
337:
602:
1606). The ten quaternions are shown underneath the emperor flanked by the
972:
Findbuch der Epitaphienbücher (1238)–1928 und der Wappenbücher (1190)–1801
830:
763:
549:
351:
347:
333:
118:
533:
140:, but they became increasingly obsolete during the early high medieval
136:
stem duchies were retained as the major divisions of Germany under the
125:
501:
35:
124:
The system of imperial states replaced the more regular division of
57:
646:" (each quaternion being represented by four coats of arms on the
637:
537:
44:
34:. For the use of "imperial state" as a synonym for "empire", see
787:
739:
497:
325:
493:
141:
924:
Hans Legband, "Zu den Quaternionen der Reichsverfassung",
825:
It is likely that this system was first introduced under
113:", meaning the only authority above them was that of the
928:
3 (1905), 495–498. Ernst Schubert, "Die Quaternionen",
725:"quaternions of the imperial constitution"; from Latin
953:); the extended list of quaternions is here traced to
829:, who is assumed to have commissioned the frescoes in
408:, who was banned in 1621 for his participation in the
190:
had immediate status but were not represented in the
97:with representation and the right to vote in the
148:, and they were finally abolished in 1180 by
8:
847:the structure of the imperial constitution.
474:
466:
458:
450:
440:
430:
385:
378:
181:
171:
161:
103:
87:
750:, the estates are represented in groups of
598:Typical representation of the quaternions (
518:
862:List of Imperial Diet participants (1792)
593:
207:
56:
900:
867:List of states in the Holy Roman Empire
204:List of states in the Holy Roman Empire
132:in the early medieval period. The old
38:. For the Imperial State of Iran, see
930:Zeitschrift fĂĽr historische Forschung
163:KurfĂĽrstenkollegium/den KurfĂĽrstenrat
7:
909:AnfĂĽhrung zur Teutschen Staats-Kunst
907:c.f. Christian Knorr von Rosenroth,
734:Apart from the highest tiers of the
212:Map of the Holy Roman Empire in 1648
61:Map of the Holy Roman Empire in 1400
464:(Most Serene Highness), princes to
404:(the most notable example involved
286:The secular Estates, most notably:
882:Feudalism in the Holy Roman Empire
25:
723:Quaternionen der Reichsverfassung
857:Princes of the Holy Roman Empire
472:(Serene Highness) and counts to
290:the four Prince-Electors of the
945:, George Marcus Knoche (1723),
310:(replacing the Palatinate) and
380:reichsständische Personalisten
242:and Prince-Bishops as well as
1:
659:
406:Frederick V, Elector Palatine
1014:Law of the Holy Roman Empire
492:money, the power to collect
292:County Palatine of the Rhine
51:Perpetual Diet of Regensburg
926:Archiv fĂĽr Kulturgeschichte
837:Salzburg. The Burggrave of
438:(Serene Highness), princes
186:) with a single vote each.
152:in favour of more numerous
1035:
587:
201:
29:
552:, the Swabian Bench, the
959:De Comitiis Imperatoriis
480:(Illustrious Highness).
363:Free and Imperial cities
632:Margrave of Brandenburg
516:was divided into three
512:From 1489 onwards, the
448:(high-born) and counts
32:Imperial estate (Roman)
714:
635:
574:Elector of Brandenburg
519:
475:
467:
459:
451:
441:
431:
386:
379:
213:
182:
172:
162:
104:
88:
82:
74:
62:
54:
998:The Holy Roman Empire
996:Velde, F. R. (2004),
988:Velde, F. R. (2003),
641:
612:Archbishop of Cologne
597:
588:Further information:
452:Hoch- und Wohlgeboren
424:Rights and privileges
224:: the Archbishops of
211:
176:) and the college of
60:
49:Seating order of the
48:
872:Estates of the realm
776:Comites Provinciales
719:imperial quaternions
572:, for instance, the
496:and a monopoly over
417:German mediatization
150:Frederick Barbarossa
93:) was a part of the
1019:Monarchy in Germany
941:Jakob Carl Spener,
831:Frankfurt city hall
616:Archbishop of Mainz
608:Archbishop of Trier
280:Knights Hospitaller
220:the three clerical
784:Comites Castrenses
715:
636:
240:Prince-Archbishops
214:
166:), the college of
115:Holy Roman Emperor
63:
55:
932:20 (1993), 1–63.
827:Emperor Sigismund
570:Reichstag in 1792
540:and the Bench of
524:: the Council of
254:Imperial Prelates
95:Holy Roman Empire
16:(Redirected from
1026:
975:
968:
962:
955:Onofrio Panvinio
939:
933:
922:
916:
905:
818:) and Peasants (
664:
661:
644:Quaternion Eagle
600:Anton III Wierix
590:Quaternion Eagle
566:Charles Theodore
522:
478:
470:
462:
460:Durchläuchtigste
454:
446:
436:
394:Imperial Circles
391:
382:
371:Kings of Bohemia
318:Imperial Princes
276:Teutonic Knights
188:Imperial Knights
185:
175:
173:ReichsfĂĽrstenrat
168:imperial princes
165:
107:
91:
53:(1663 engraving)
21:
18:Imperial Estates
1034:
1033:
1029:
1028:
1027:
1025:
1024:
1023:
1004:
1003:
984:
979:
978:
969:
965:
940:
936:
923:
919:
906:
902:
897:
853:
748:prince electors
662:
620:King of Bohemia
604:prince-electors
592:
586:
510:
426:
410:Bohemian Revolt
344:Imperial Counts
330:Counts Palatine
272:military orders
248:Prince-Provosts
222:Prince-electors
206:
200:
178:imperial cities
158:prince-electors
67:Imperial Estate
43:
40:Pahlavi dynasty
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1032:
1030:
1022:
1021:
1016:
1006:
1005:
1002:
1001:
993:
983:
982:External links
980:
977:
976:
963:
961:(Basel 1558).
934:
917:
899:
898:
896:
893:
892:
891:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
859:
852:
849:
744:prince-bishops
717:The so-called
685:(burggraves),
681:(landgraves),
656:Hans Burgkmair
648:imperial eagle
628:Duke of Saxony
624:Count Palatine
585:
582:
578:Teutonic Order
556:Bench and the
509:
506:
425:
422:
367:
366:
359:
341:
315:
284:
283:
265:
251:
250:of the Empire;
237:
199:
196:
138:Salian dynasty
75:Status Imperii
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1031:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1011:
1009:
1000:
999:
994:
992:
991:
986:
985:
981:
973:
970:Konrad Bund,
967:
964:
960:
956:
952:
948:
944:
938:
935:
931:
927:
921:
918:
914:
910:
904:
901:
894:
890:
889:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
854:
850:
848:
846:
845:
844:pars pro toto
840:
834:
832:
828:
823:
821:
817:
814:), Villages (
813:
809:
805:
802:), Noblemen (
801:
797:
793:
789:
785:
781:
777:
773:
769:
765:
761:
757:
753:
749:
745:
741:
737:
732:
730:
729:
724:
720:
712:
708:
704:
700:
696:
692:
688:
684:
680:
677:(margraves),
676:
672:
669:("pillars"),
668:
657:
653:
649:
645:
640:
633:
629:
625:
621:
617:
613:
609:
605:
601:
596:
591:
583:
581:
579:
575:
571:
567:
561:
559:
555:
551:
547:
546:Upper Rhenish
543:
539:
535:
529:
527:
523:
521:
515:
514:Imperial Diet
508:Imperial Diet
507:
505:
503:
499:
495:
491:
487:
481:
479:
477:
471:
469:
463:
461:
455:
453:
447:
445:
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437:
435:
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421:
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364:
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357:
353:
349:
345:
342:
339:
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331:
327:
323:
319:
316:
313:
309:
306:, later also
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
288:
287:
281:
277:
273:
269:
268:Grand Masters
266:
263:
259:
255:
252:
249:
245:
244:Prince-Abbots
241:
238:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
218:
217:
210:
205:
197:
195:
193:
189:
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159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
139:
135:
131:
127:
122:
120:
116:
112:
108:
106:
100:
99:Imperial Diet
96:
92:
90:
84:
80:
76:
72:
68:
59:
52:
47:
41:
37:
33:
19:
997:
990:Royal Styles
989:
971:
966:
958:
950:
942:
937:
929:
925:
920:
908:
903:
886:
842:
835:
824:
819:
815:
811:
803:
799:
791:
783:
775:
767:
759:
733:
726:
722:
718:
716:
710:
709:(peasants),
706:
705:(villages),
702:
698:
694:
691:Semper freie
690:
686:
682:
678:
674:
673:("vicars"),
670:
666:
562:
530:
517:
511:
482:
473:
465:
457:
449:
439:
429:
427:
414:
402:Imperial ban
398:
377:
375:
368:
285:
256:, immediate
215:
146:Hohenstaufen
130:stem duchies
123:
102:
89:Reichsstände
86:
66:
64:
697:(knights),
663: 1510
584:Quaternions
558:Westphalian
468:Durchlaucht
443:Hochgeboren
433:Durchlaucht
322:Grand Dukes
300:Brandenburg
198:Composition
183:Grafenbänke
154:territorial
134:Carolingian
83:Reichsstand
1008:Categories
895:References
888:Heerschild
877:Stem duchy
812:Metropoles
780:Burggraves
772:Landgraves
768:Marchiones
713:(castles).
701:(cities),
693:(nobles),
689:(counts),
683:Burggraven
679:Lantgraven
675:Marggraven
554:Franconian
338:Landgraves
320:including
202:See also:
144:under the
85:, plural:
839:Stramberg
833:in 1414.
764:Margraves
728:quaterniĹŤ
721:(German:
548:Bench of
486:alliances
388:Reichstag
348:Burgraves
334:Margraves
274:like the
111:immediate
105:Reichstag
911:(1672),
851:See also
746:and the
550:Wetterau
534:Prelates
526:Electors
520:collegia
476:Erlaucht
356:prelates
262:Provosts
119:autonomy
974:(1987).
820:Rustici
800:Milites
796:Knights
792:Comites
736:emperor
652:remiges
560:Bench.
504:mines.
415:In the
312:Hanover
308:Bavaria
304:Bohemia
226:Cologne
126:Germany
949:(note
913:p. 669
816:Villae
808:Cities
804:Liberi
788:Counts
707:Bauern
703:Dörfer
695:Ritter
687:Graven
671:Vicari
542:Swabia
502:silver
354:, and
352:Barons
296:Saxony
258:Priors
142:period
79:German
36:Empire
947:124f.
760:Duces
756:Dukes
740:kings
699:Stett
667:Seill
538:Rhine
494:tolls
326:Dukes
234:Trier
230:Mainz
128:into
71:Latin
752:four
711:Birg
500:and
498:gold
490:mint
361:the
336:and
302:and
260:and
246:and
232:and
192:Diet
806:),
794:),
786:),
778:),
770:),
762:),
650:'s
642:A "
634:).
412:).
278:or
270:of
65:An
1010::
957:,
742:,
738:,
660:c.
658:,
654:)
630:,
626:,
622:,
618:;
614:,
610:,
373:.
350:,
346:,
332:,
328:,
324:,
298:,
294:,
228:,
194:.
121:.
81::
77:;
73::
951:a
915:.
810:(
798:(
790:(
782:(
774:(
766:(
758:(
606:(
365:.
358:;
340:;
314:.
282:.
264:;
236:;
170:(
160:(
101:(
69:(
42:.
20:)
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