Holy Roman Empire
Origins
The Holy Roman Empire was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. The largest territory of the empire after 962 was the Kingdom of Germany, though it also came to include the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Burgundy, the Kingdom of Italy, and numerous other territories.
Structure
The empire's complex political structure was characterized by an elective monarchy, with the Emperor selected by a group of prince-electors. The Emperor's power was limited, and while the various princes, lords, bishops, and cities of the empire were vassals who owed the Emperor their allegiance, they also possessed an extent of privileges that gave them de facto sovereignty within their realms. The empire's numerous entities included Free Imperial Cities, over which the Emperor had direct rule, but the majority of the empire's territory was ruled by princes who governed their lands independently from the Emperor.
Imperial Election
The election of the Emperor was generally a contest between the most powerful and influential princes from among the secular and ecclesiastical magnates. In the Middle Ages, these elections involved the majority of the princes and were very contentious. Later, the Golden Bull of 1356 formally defined the process of Imperial election and the electors of the Emperor.
Religion
The Holy Roman Empire was predominantly Catholic, but the Reformation led to a long period of religious conflict, culminating in the Thirty Years War, which devastated Germany and killed a third of its population. The Peace of Westphalia ended religious warfare among the German states, but the empire was de facto divided into numerous independent principalities.
Dissolution
The empire was dissolved in 1806 when Emperor Francis II abdicated following a military defeat by the French under Napoleon at Austerlitz. The territories were then reorganized into a more centralized Napoleonic Empire.
