Luther - Key Theme 1: Conditions in Early 16th Century - The Holy Roman Empire

What was the Holy Roman Empire based on?

The ancient ideal of the revival of the old Roman Empire

What was the Pope head of?

The religious head of Christendom

What was the House Roman Emperor the head of?

The Secular head of Christendom

What was the Holy Roman Empire geographically?

A collection of 300 or more different territories - kingdoms, principalities, self governing cities, church land etc.

Who officially ruled the Empire?

An emperor

Which family was typically emperor?

A Habsburg

What was the Emperor's power like?

Little power as there is no imperial army or diets

Who makes decisions in the Empire?

Parliaments/Diets

How does the Emperor become Emperor?

Elected by 7 electors

How many princes were electors?

3 princes

How many archbishops were electors?

3

How many kings were electors?

1

When was Charles V elected emperor?

1519

How many imperial cities/states were there?

390 states and imperial cities in total

How many ecclesiastical states were there?

46 ecclesiastical states

How many archbishops/bishops were there?

6 archbishops and 40 bishops

How many large secular states were there?

26

How many kings were there?

1 king

How many archdukes were there?

1 archduke

How many landgraves were there?

1 Landgrave

How many princes were there?

1 prince

How many margraves?

5 margraves

How many dukes were there?

17 dukes

How many small secular states were there?

150 small secular states

How many small ecclesiastical states were there?

60 small ecclesiastical states

How many imperial cities were there?

65 imperial cities

How many imperial knights were there?

600 imperial knights

How long did the dynasty established by Maximilian I last?

400 years

What could the Emperor do?

Raise troops to defend the empire and propose reforms

What was the benefit of the Habsburgs owning lots of land?

France is encircled by Habsburg territory and fears domination

From what year did the position go the Habsburgs?

1437

What was the problem of the Emperor being elected not inherited?

Could not fall back on an argument of divine right in case of rebellion

Whose permission did the emperor have to have in order to raise troops?

The Elector

Whose permission did the emperor have to have in order to raise taxes?

The Imperial Diet

When could the Emperor arbitrate in disputes between states?

Only if asked by princes

Could the emperor intervene in internal affairs of any states or cities in the empire?

Had no right to directly intervene in internal affairs of any states or cities in the empire

Who did the emperor have to rely on to implement decisions of the diets and to enforce law? Why?

Had to rely on princes to implement decisions of the diets and to enforce law due to a lack of communication

What was the prince's willingness to cooperate dependant on?

Their own self interest

Who was the Emperor under threat from?

The Ottomans and the French (and the Danish + Polish)

What was the Imperial Diet?

Three colleges/estates: electors, other ecclesiastical and secular princes and representatives from the imperial states.

When did the diet meet?

When summoned by the Emperor

Why was the diet raised frequently?

Because the emperor could only raise taxes and impose decisions through the diet

How many diets met between 1501 and 1521?

Ten

How many diets met between 1521 and 1555?

Eighteen

What was the location of the diet?

The town or city where it met

What happened at a meeting of the diet?

The Emperor expresses his ideas, the Colleges go away and discuss these concerns, the Colleges make suggestions and express their own concerns, if the diet and Emperor are in agreement, their ideas are posted as a recess

Decisions by the diet were passed in to circles. Why was this only theoretical?

Because their decisions had to coincide/align

When was the Empire split into circles?

Between 1510 and 1512

How many circles was the Empire split into?

Ten

What was the purpose of circles?

Regional coordination

How did the circles help with regional coordination?

Each circle was made up of a number of states and cities. Each had an assembly with representatives from member states. Their purpose was to enforce decisions made by the diet, to collect taxes and supervise coinage and to settle disputes between member states. They also raised troops when requested by the emperor.

What was the relationship like between the Princes and Emperor?

The princes and the emperor were kept relatively separate. By 1500, they had two separate courts of law, one dominated by the emperor and the other by the princess.

What was the purpose of these two courts?

These courts were supreme courts to settle disputes between states or within a state (as every state and city had their own legal system).

Despite advancements, in what ways did the emperor still lack the power to implement or stop change?

- There was a lack of strong central authority in the empire.

- Germany was more open than any other state in Europe to financial exploitation by Rome.

- The Emperor could not stop land being lost and there was loss in the non-German parts of the Empire.

What relation was Charles to Maximilian?

Grandson

When did Maximilian die?

January 1519

Who did Charles have to compete for the title of emperor with?

Charles had to compete for the title of emperor against King Francis I of France.

Of which other country was Charles also the surviving male heir?

Spain

When did Charles become King of Spain?

1516

How did bribes lead to Charles' appointment in the imperial election?

Charles handed out the largest bribes of money that he had to borrow

What bribe did Charles give out?

This bribe was 850,000 florins.

How did protection lead to Charles' appointment in the imperial election?

Charles was a Habsburg - he was the greatest landowner in the empire and would therefore be able to defend Germany against external threats. These external threats included that of the Ottoman Empire.

How did absenteeism lead to Charles' appointment in the imperial election?

Charles was likely to be absent most of the time due to the rest of his inheritance. This meant he was not so much of a threat on the princes' power.

How did German national identity lead to Charles' appointment in the imperial election?

A French candidate would be unwelcome in the empire given its new sense of German national identity.

How did the Swabian League lead to Charles' appointment in the imperial Election?

They surrounded the town where electors were meeting and made it clear that they favoured Charles and not the French King.

How did the Catipultation of 1519 lead to Charles' appointment in the imperial election?

Charles agreed to sign the Capitulation of 1519, which was made a condition of election when electors feared for Charles' strength.

What was the Capitulation of 1519?

An agreement where Charles agreed to six things (reducing the power of the Empire).

Give the six things Charles agreed to in the Capitulation of 1519.

- To respect the rights and privileges of the princes

- To consult the electors and the diet on all imperial matters

- To only use Latin or German when in the empire

- To not appoint foreigners in imperial positions

- Not to bring any foreign troops into the empire

- Not to declare war without consent of the electors