Imperial Government
Encyclopedia
The name imperial government denotes two organs, created in 1500 and 1521 respectively, in the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation
to enable a unified political leadership, with input from the Princes. Both were composed of the emperor or his deputy and 20 — later 22 — representatives of the Imperial State
s and in both cases, the imperial city of Nuremberg
was the seat of government. The creation of a functional imperial government was the central plank of the Imperial Reform
the princes attempted in the early 16th Century. Both attempts failed after a short time, due to the resistance of the Emperor and the divergent interests of princes.
and the Diet of Worms (1495). In return for granting the tax and assistance in the war against France
, he demanded the Emperor Maximilian I
establish a permanent government, with representation of the estates. The emperor would be honorary president of the committee the would deal with the Treasury, war and foreign policy.
Since this would have meant a massive curtailment of his power, Maximilian I rejected the proposal. However, under pressure from his precarious financial situation, he agreed to other reforms which would pave the way to the imperial government. Only when at the Diet of Augsburg
in 1500, when the Princes allowed the Emperor to organize an imperial militia
, did the formation of the imperial government coma about. A panel of 20 representatives of the spiritual and temporal princes of the Empire was formed and they chose the Free Imperial City
of Nuremberg
as their seat. Maximilian, however, refused to cooperate with this institution form the beginning and dissolved it in 1502.
was also confronted with the demand by the Princes to form a Council of Regency. As a condition of his election to Roman-German King, he had to allow the reconvening of the panel in his election treaty. Since Charles was also King of Spain and other countries outside the Empire, he was to spend most of his time outside Germany. At such times, his brother Ferdinand
, was to fill in for him and chair the government and take care of the affairs of the Empire.
Consequently, at the Diet of Worms
in 1521, where Martin Luther
was to explain himself before the Emperor, the second Imperial Government was founded. Charles V endorsed it, but only granted it decision-making powers when he was absent from the Empire. Otherwise, it was to have a purely consultative role. Thus the second imperial government was also frustrated by the lack of support from the emperor. After Ferdinand was elected Roma-German King in 1531, Charles disbanded the government for good.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
to enable a unified political leadership, with input from the Princes. Both were composed of the emperor or his deputy and 20 — later 22 — representatives of the Imperial State
Imperial State
An Imperial State or Imperial Estate was an entity in the Holy Roman Empire with a vote in the Imperial Diet assemblies. Several territories of the Empire were not represented, while some officials were non-voting members; neither qualified as Imperial States.Rulers of Imperial States were...
s and in both cases, the imperial city of Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
was the seat of government. The creation of a functional imperial government was the central plank of the Imperial Reform
Imperial Reform
In 1495, an attempt was made at an Imperial Diet in the City of Worms to give the disintegrating Holy Roman Empire a new structure, commonly referred to as Imperial Reform ....
the princes attempted in the early 16th Century. Both attempts failed after a short time, due to the resistance of the Emperor and the divergent interests of princes.
The first imperial government
The first imperial government was an initiative of Elector Berthold of Henneberg in MainzMainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
and the Diet of Worms (1495). In return for granting the tax and assistance in the war against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he demanded the Emperor Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
establish a permanent government, with representation of the estates. The emperor would be honorary president of the committee the would deal with the Treasury, war and foreign policy.
Since this would have meant a massive curtailment of his power, Maximilian I rejected the proposal. However, under pressure from his precarious financial situation, he agreed to other reforms which would pave the way to the imperial government. Only when at the Diet of Augsburg
Diet of Augsburg
The Diet of Augsburg were the meetings of the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire in the German city of Augsburg. There were many such sessions, but the three meetings during the Reformation and the ensuing religious wars between the Roman Catholic emperor Charles V and the Protestant...
in 1500, when the Princes allowed the Emperor to organize an imperial militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, did the formation of the imperial government coma about. A panel of 20 representatives of the spiritual and temporal princes of the Empire was formed and they chose the Free Imperial City
Free Imperial City
In the Holy Roman Empire, a free imperial city was a city formally ruled by the emperor only — as opposed to the majority of cities in the Empire, which were governed by one of the many princes of the Empire, such as dukes or prince-bishops...
of Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
as their seat. Maximilian, however, refused to cooperate with this institution form the beginning and dissolved it in 1502.
The second imperial government
Maximilian's successor, Charles VCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
was also confronted with the demand by the Princes to form a Council of Regency. As a condition of his election to Roman-German King, he had to allow the reconvening of the panel in his election treaty. Since Charles was also King of Spain and other countries outside the Empire, he was to spend most of his time outside Germany. At such times, his brother Ferdinand
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
, was to fill in for him and chair the government and take care of the affairs of the Empire.
Consequently, at the Diet of Worms
Diet of Worms
The Diet of Worms 1521 was a diet that took place in Worms, Germany, and is most memorable for the Edict of Worms , which addressed Martin Luther and the effects of the Protestant Reformation.It was conducted from 28 January to 25 May 1521, with Emperor Charles V presiding.Other Imperial diets at...
in 1521, where Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
was to explain himself before the Emperor, the second Imperial Government was founded. Charles V endorsed it, but only granted it decision-making powers when he was absent from the Empire. Otherwise, it was to have a purely consultative role. Thus the second imperial government was also frustrated by the lack of support from the emperor. After Ferdinand was elected Roma-German King in 1531, Charles disbanded the government for good.