644:
46:
600:
214:
58:
573:, 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
841:
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
424:
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
488:
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
536:
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
389:, 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
404:
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
401:. 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.
846:(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
537:
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).
736:"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.
568:
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
79:
533:, 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.
425:
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.
493:
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
397:
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
374:
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
581:
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
17:
670:. Twelve quaternions are shown, as follows (eight dukes being divided into two quaternions called "pillars" and "vicars", respectively):
866:
549:. Each of these had a collective vote. Similarly, Counts were grouped into four comital benches with one collective vote each: the
185:. Counts and nobles were not directly represented in the Diet in spite of their immediate status, but were grouped into "benches" (
871:
208:
1018:
574:
570:
886:
518:
196:
103:
161:
divisions. From 1489, the
Imperial Estates represented in the Diet were divided into three chambers, the college of
861:
562:
322:
172:
154:
433:
Rulers of Imperial States enjoyed precedence over other subjects in the Empire. Electors were originally styled
30:
This article is about the constituents of the Holy Roman Empire. For imperial estates in the Roman Empire, see
410:
381:
The status of Estate was normally attached to a particular territory within the Empire, but there were some
1023:
50:
636:
578:
304:
375:
276:
221:
Imperial Estates could be either ecclesiastic or secular. The ecclesiastical Estates were led by:
948:
teutsches ivs pvblicvm; oder, des Heil. Römisch-Teutschen Reichs vollständige Staats-Rechts-Lehre
398:
258:
31:
541:(abbots and priors) without individual votes were classified into two benches: the Bench of the
262:
234:
951:
917:
616:
316:
312:
230:
114:). Rulers of these Estates were able to exercise significant rights and privileges and were "
876:
628:
550:
421:
300:
296:
272:
8:
992:
620:
612:
392:
284:
238:
740:
367:
308:
266:
182:
138:
119:
115:
827:). The list could be shortened or expanded, by the mid-16th century to as many as 45.
585:
held one individual vote in the Council of Princes and two in the Bench of the Rhine.
831:
643:
558:
490:
99:
1000:
959:
648:
594:
360:
280:
27:
Constituent state of the Holy Roman Empire with representation in the Imperial Diet
800:
624:
447:
437:
414:
192:
162:
83:
39:
45:
759:. The number of quaternions was usually ten, in descending order of precedence
752:
660:
656:
632:
608:
582:
546:
530:
461:(high and well-born). In the eighteenth century, the electors were upgraded to
348:
334:
252:
226:
142:
70:
732:
122:. They were thus able to rule their territories with a considerable degree of
1012:
848:
812:
756:
748:
604:
244:
607:
1606). The ten quaternions are shown underneath the emperor flanked by the
599:
406:
248:
150:
977:
Findbuch der Epitaphienbücher (1238)–1928 und der Wappenbücher (1190)–1801
843:
652:
494:
213:
158:
892:
881:
760:
326:
145:, but they became increasingly obsolete during the early high medieval
141:
stem duchies were retained as the major divisions of Germany under the
134:
784:
776:
342:
129:
The system of imperial states replaced the more regular division of
768:
554:
356:
352:
338:
123:
835:
651:" (each quaternion being represented by four coats of arms on the
538:
130:
34:. For the use of "imperial state" as a synonym for "empire", see
506:
35:
542:
792:
744:
502:
330:
57:
929:
Hans Legband, "Zu den Quaternionen der Reichsverfassung",
830:
It is likely that this system was first introduced under
498:
146:
118:", meaning the only authority above them was that of the
933:
3 (1905), 495–498. Ernst Schubert, "Die Quaternionen",
730:"quaternions of the imperial constitution"; from Latin
958:); the extended list of quaternions is here traced to
834:, who is assumed to have commissioned the frescoes in
413:, who was banned in 1621 for his participation in the
195:
had immediate status but were not represented in the
102:with representation and the right to vote in the
1010:
153:, and they were finally abolished in 1180 by
852:the structure of the imperial constitution.
479:
471:
463:
455:
445:
435:
390:
383:
186:
176:
166:
108:
92:
755:, the estates are represented in groups of
603:Typical representation of the quaternions (
523:
867:List of Imperial Diet participants (1792)
642:
598:
428:
212:
56:
44:
872:List of states in the Holy Roman Empire
209:List of states in the Holy Roman Empire
137:in the early medieval period. The old
14:
1011:
38:. For the Imperial State of Iran, see
935:Zeitschrift fĂĽr historische Forschung
168:KurfĂĽrstenkollegium/den KurfĂĽrstenrat
914:AnfĂĽhrung zur Teutschen Staats-Kunst
912:c.f. Christian Knorr von Rosenroth,
739:Apart from the highest tiers of the
217:Map of the Holy Roman Empire in 1648
61:Map of the Holy Roman Empire in 1400
469:(Most Serene Highness), princes to
409:(the most notable example involved
291:The secular Estates, most notably:
24:
887:Feudalism in the Holy Roman Empire
25:
1035:
986:
728:Quaternionen der Reichsverfassung
862:Princes of the Holy Roman Empire
512:
477:(Serene Highness) and counts to
295:the four Prince-Electors of the
950:, George Marcus Knoche (1723),
315:(replacing the Palatinate) and
969:
940:
923:
906:
588:
385:reichsständische Personalisten
247:and Prince-Bishops as well as
202:
18:State of the Holy Roman Empire
13:
1:
899:
664:
411:Frederick V, Elector Palatine
1019:Law of the Holy Roman Empire
497:money, the power to collect
297:County Palatine of the Rhine
51:Perpetual Diet of Regensburg
7:
931:Archiv fĂĽr Kulturgeschichte
855:
842:Salzburg. The Burggrave of
443:(Serene Highness), princes
191:) with a single vote each.
157:in favour of more numerous
10:
1040:
592:
206:
29:
557:, the Swabian Bench, the
964:De Comitiis Imperatoriis
485:(Illustrious Highness).
368:Free and Imperial cities
637:Margrave of Brandenburg
521:was divided into three
517:From 1489 onwards, the
453:(high-born) and counts
32:Imperial estate (Roman)
719:
640:
579:Elector of Brandenburg
524:
480:
472:
464:
456:
446:
436:
391:
384:
218:
187:
177:
167:
109:
93:
87:
74:
62:
54:
1003:The Holy Roman Empire
1001:Velde, F. R. (2004),
993:Velde, F. R. (2003),
646:
617:Archbishop of Cologne
602:
593:Further information:
457:Hoch- und Wohlgeboren
429:Rights and privileges
229:: the Archbishops of
216:
181:) and the college of
60:
49:Seating order of the
48:
877:Estates of the realm
781:Comites Provinciales
724:imperial quaternions
577:, for instance, the
501:and a monopoly over
422:German mediatization
155:Frederick Barbarossa
98:) was a part of the
1024:Monarchy in Germany
946:Jakob Carl Spener,
836:Frankfurt city hall
621:Archbishop of Mainz
613:Archbishop of Trier
285:Knights Hospitaller
225:the three clerical
789:Comites Castrenses
720:
641:
245:Prince-Archbishops
219:
171:), the college of
120:Holy Roman Emperor
63:
55:
937:20 (1993), 1–63.
832:Emperor Sigismund
575:Reichstag in 1792
545:and the Bench of
529:: the Council of
259:Imperial Prelates
100:Holy Roman Empire
16:(Redirected from
1031:
980:
973:
967:
960:Onofrio Panvinio
944:
938:
927:
921:
910:
823:) and Peasants (
669:
666:
649:Quaternion Eagle
605:Anton III Wierix
595:Quaternion Eagle
571:Charles Theodore
527:
483:
475:
467:
465:Durchläuchtigste
459:
451:
441:
399:Imperial Circles
396:
387:
376:Kings of Bohemia
323:Imperial Princes
281:Teutonic Knights
193:Imperial Knights
190:
180:
178:ReichsfĂĽrstenrat
173:imperial princes
170:
112:
96:
82:
53:(1663 engraving)
21:
1039:
1038:
1034:
1033:
1032:
1030:
1029:
1028:
1009:
1008:
989:
984:
983:
974:
970:
945:
941:
928:
924:
911:
907:
902:
858:
753:prince electors
667:
625:King of Bohemia
609:prince-electors
597:
591:
515:
431:
415:Bohemian Revolt
349:Imperial Counts
335:Counts Palatine
277:military orders
253:Prince-Provosts
227:Prince-electors
211:
205:
183:imperial cities
163:prince-electors
78:
67:Imperial Estate
43:
40:Pahlavi dynasty
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1037:
1027:
1026:
1021:
1007:
1006:
998:
988:
987:External links
985:
982:
981:
968:
966:(Basel 1558).
939:
922:
904:
903:
901:
898:
897:
896:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
857:
854:
749:prince-bishops
722:The so-called
690:(burggraves),
686:(landgraves),
661:Hans Burgkmair
653:imperial eagle
633:Duke of Saxony
629:Count Palatine
590:
587:
583:Teutonic Order
561:Bench and the
514:
511:
430:
427:
372:
371:
364:
346:
320:
289:
288:
270:
256:
255:of the Empire;
242:
204:
201:
143:Salian dynasty
75:Status Imperii
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1036:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1005:
1004:
999:
997:
996:
991:
990:
978:
975:Konrad Bund,
972:
965:
961:
957:
953:
949:
943:
936:
932:
926:
919:
915:
909:
905:
895:
894:
890:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
859:
853:
851:
850:
849:pars pro toto
845:
839:
837:
833:
828:
826:
822:
819:), Villages (
818:
814:
810:
807:), Noblemen (
806:
802:
798:
794:
790:
786:
782:
778:
774:
770:
766:
762:
758:
754:
750:
746:
742:
737:
735:
734:
729:
725:
717:
713:
709:
705:
701:
697:
693:
689:
685:
682:(margraves),
681:
677:
674:("pillars"),
673:
662:
658:
654:
650:
645:
638:
634:
630:
626:
622:
618:
614:
610:
606:
601:
596:
586:
584:
580:
576:
572:
566:
564:
560:
556:
552:
551:Upper Rhenish
548:
544:
540:
534:
532:
528:
526:
520:
519:Imperial Diet
513:Imperial Diet
510:
508:
504:
500:
496:
492:
486:
484:
482:
476:
474:
468:
466:
460:
458:
452:
450:
449:
442:
440:
439:
426:
423:
418:
416:
412:
408:
402:
400:
395:
394:
388:
386:
379:
377:
369:
365:
362:
358:
354:
350:
347:
344:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
321:
318:
314:
311:, later also
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
293:
292:
286:
282:
278:
274:
273:Grand Masters
271:
268:
264:
260:
257:
254:
250:
249:Prince-Abbots
246:
243:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
223:
222:
215:
210:
200:
198:
194:
189:
184:
179:
174:
169:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
127:
125:
121:
117:
113:
111:
105:
104:Imperial Diet
101:
97:
95:
89:
85:
81:
76:
72:
68:
59:
52:
47:
41:
37:
33:
19:
1002:
995:Royal Styles
994:
976:
971:
963:
955:
947:
942:
934:
930:
925:
913:
908:
891:
847:
840:
829:
824:
820:
816:
808:
804:
796:
788:
780:
772:
764:
738:
731:
727:
723:
721:
715:
714:(peasants),
711:
710:(villages),
707:
703:
699:
696:Semper freie
695:
691:
687:
683:
679:
678:("vicars"),
675:
671:
567:
535:
522:
516:
487:
478:
470:
462:
454:
444:
434:
432:
419:
407:Imperial ban
403:
382:
380:
373:
290:
261:, immediate
220:
151:Hohenstaufen
135:stem duchies
128:
107:
94:Reichsstände
91:
66:
64:
702:(knights),
668: 1510
589:Quaternions
563:Westphalian
473:Durchlaucht
448:Hochgeboren
438:Durchlaucht
327:Grand Dukes
305:Brandenburg
203:Composition
188:Grafenbänke
159:territorial
139:Carolingian
88:Reichsstand
1013:Categories
900:References
893:Heerschild
882:Stem duchy
817:Metropoles
785:Burggraves
777:Landgraves
773:Marchiones
718:(castles).
706:(cities),
698:(nobles),
694:(counts),
688:Burggraven
684:Lantgraven
680:Marggraven
559:Franconian
343:Landgraves
325:including
207:See also:
149:under the
90:, plural:
844:Stramberg
838:in 1414.
769:Margraves
733:quaterniĹŤ
726:(German:
553:Bench of
491:alliances
393:Reichstag
353:Burgraves
339:Margraves
279:like the
116:immediate
110:Reichstag
80:‹See Tfd›
916:(1672),
856:See also
751:and the
555:Wetterau
539:Prelates
531:Electors
525:collegia
481:Erlaucht
361:prelates
267:Provosts
124:autonomy
979:(1987).
825:Rustici
805:Milites
801:Knights
797:Comites
741:emperor
657:remiges
565:Bench.
509:mines.
420:In the
317:Hanover
313:Bavaria
309:Bohemia
231:Cologne
131:Germany
954:(note
918:p. 669
821:Villae
813:Cities
809:Liberi
793:Counts
712:Bauern
708:Dörfer
700:Ritter
692:Graven
676:Vicari
547:Swabia
507:silver
359:, and
357:Barons
301:Saxony
263:Priors
147:period
84:German
36:Empire
952:124f.
765:Duces
761:Dukes
745:kings
704:Stett
672:Seill
543:Rhine
499:tolls
331:Dukes
239:Trier
235:Mainz
133:into
71:Latin
757:four
716:Birg
505:and
503:gold
495:mint
366:the
341:and
307:and
265:and
251:and
237:and
197:Diet
811:),
799:),
791:),
783:),
775:),
767:),
655:'s
647:A "
639:).
417:).
283:or
275:of
65:An
1015::
962:,
747:,
743:,
665:c.
663:,
659:)
635:,
631:,
627:,
623:;
619:,
615:,
378:.
355:,
351:,
337:,
333:,
329:,
303:,
299:,
233:,
199:.
126:.
86::
77:;
73::
956:a
920:.
815:(
803:(
795:(
787:(
779:(
771:(
763:(
611:(
370:.
363:;
345:;
319:.
287:.
269:;
241:;
175:(
165:(
106:(
69:(
42:.
20:)
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