The word "Elector" is foreign and came to us from the German language. As a rule, it is used in a purely historical context, and therefore not many know its significance. It belongs to one of the categories of princes in the Holy Roman Empire. Details about who this elector will be described in the proposed review.
Dictionary word
The following definition of "elector" is given there. In the literal sense, the German word Kurfürst means the elect prince. It consists of two parts. The first of these is Kur, which is translated into Russian as “election, choice”. And the second is Fürst, which means “prince”. Electors called a certain category of princes in the Holy Roman Empire. Starting from the 13th century, they had the right to elect a king (emperor).
Emperor Charles IV recognized the special rights and privileges of the prince-voters in 1356. They were issued by the publication of the Golden Bull. Electors are an institution that arose in connection with the peculiarities that existed in the political development of Germany, which was a feudal state. Territorial principalities were formed there, and political fragmentation was consolidated for a long period. As a result, central authority was significantly weakened.
Seven Electors
Within the empire, the electors belonged to almost complete political independence. They emperors almost imposed selective surrender. In them, the rulers were forced to make promises about strict observance of princely privileges.
The rights of the electors, who have been recognized "from time immemorial," were initially tied to a position of a general imperial character. She was occupied by the elective princes. In the 13th century there were 7. It is about:
- archbishops serving in Trier, Cologne and Mainz;
- secular princes who ruled in Saxony, Brandenburg, Palatinate;
- king of the Czech Republic.
Wherein:
- Elector Archbishop of Mainz was called the Imperial Grand Chancellor of Germany, Archbishop of Trier - Galia and the Kingdom of Burgundy, Archbishop of Cologne - Italy;
- the king of Bohemia (Czech Republic) was an imperial great butler;
- Palatinate Rhine - imperial great metropolitan;
- Duke of Saxony - Imperial Great Marshal;
- Margrave of Brandenburg - imperial great chamberlain.
In the middle of the 15th century, in 3 of the secular electors, a change of dynasties took place:
- the Margraves of Brandenburg became Luxembourg (1373), and then the Hohenzollern (1415);
- Askaniev in Saxony was replaced by the Wettins (1423);
- Albrecht of Habsburg was elected king of the Czech Republic (1437).
Considering the question of who this elector is, it must be said about the further development of this institution.
The increase in the number of elective princes
In 1648, the Electors became 8. At first, in 1623, Friedrich Pfalzsky was in disgrace, and his lands, together with the title, were given to the Duke of Bavaria. Then part of the possessions and the title were returned to the first, and he received the newly introduced position of the great imperial treasurer.
In 1692, the Duke of Braunschweig, together with the title of Elector, received a new position as "imperial great standard bearer". Thus, Hanover became the ninth Elector.
In conclusion, the study of the meaning of the “Elector” will consider the termination of this title.
Reform and liquidation
In 1801, the composition of the electors changed, which was associated with the redrawing of the map of Europe by Napoleon. It looked like this:
- the Elector of the Archbishops of Trier and Cologne, as well as the Palatine Counts of the Rhine, was abolished in 1803;
- The rights of the Archbishop of Mainz to the Elector were given to the county of Regensburg (newly created).
- the title of Elector was obtained by the Dukes of Salzburgsim and Württemberg, Margrave of Baden, Landgrave of Hesse-Kasselsky.
In addition to its usual name, the territory controlled by the elector was also called the elector. Since the 18th century, there has been an increase in the electors. Elector of Brandenburg, who at the same time was the owner of Prussia, took the royal title. He united his hereditary possessions, giving the new formation the name of the Kingdom of Prussia. Elector of Hanover became king of Great Britain, and Elector of Saxony became king of Poland.
This institute ended its existence after the Holy Roman Empire collapsed in 1806. The title was retained only by the ruler of Hesse-Kassel, which remained a fact after the Vienna Congress, which met in 1815. The title “Royal Highness” was added to the title. The title of elector became the last thing in history when Hesse-Kassel was captured by Prussia in 1866.