The Holy Roman Empire�s Imperial Diet: Electoral Votes in 1792

Council of Electors

By Stephen Millar

For a candidate to be elected Holy Roman Emperor, he needed a simple majority of votes in the Diet�s Council of Electors. The eight members of the Council of Electors also held 28 � additional votes in the Council of Princes � seven votes in the Ecclesiastical Bench and 21 � votes in the Secular Bench.

The number preceding an ecclesiastical or secular title indicates the order of voting in the respective council (for example, the Elector-Archbishop of Trier cast the second vote in the Council of Electors and as Prince-Bishop of Augsburg, he cast the thirteenth vote in the Council of Princes).

1. Elector-Archbishop of Mainz
Arch-Chancellor of Germany (also head of the Diet�s Catholic Body)

1a. Erthal, Friedrich-Karl-Josef, Reichsfreiherr von (1774-1802) [1]

2. Elector-Archbishop of Trier
Arch-Chancellor of Burgundy

2a. Klemens-Wenzel, Herzog zu Sachsen (1768-1803) [2]
13. Prince-Bishop of Augsburg
29. Prince-Prior of Ellwangen
33. Prince-Abbot of Prum

3. Elector-Archbishop of Koln
Arch-Chancellor of Italy

3a. Maximilian-Franz, Erzherog von Osterreich (1784-1801) [3]
5. Grand-Master of the Teutonic Order
22. Prince-Bishop of Munster

4. King of Bohemia (confirmed 1356; House of Hapsburg-Lotheringen, 3 votes)
Arch-Cupbearer of the Holy Roman Empire

4a. Franz I, Erzherzog von Osterreich (1792-1806)
81. Markgraf zu Nomeny
1. Osterreich [first vote in the Ecclesiastical Bench]
2. Burgundy

5. Elector-Palatine (confirmed 1356; House of Pfalz-Sulzbach; 6 votes)
Arch-Steward of the Holy Roman Empire

5a. Karl-Theodor, Elector-Palatine (1733-1799)
38. Herzog von Bayern [first vote in the Secular Bench]
40. Pfalzgraf zu Kaiserslautern
41. Pfalzgraf zu Simmern
42. Pfalzgraf zu Neuburg
45. Pfalzgraf zu Veldenz
74. Landgraf zu Leuchtenberg

6. Kurfurst zu Sachsen (confirmed 1356; House of Wettin)
Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire (also head of the Diet�s Protestant Body)

6a. Friedrich-August III, Herzog zu Kursachsen (1763-1827)
76. Graf zu Henneberg [held � of this vote]

7. Kurfurst zu Brandenburg (confirmed 1356; House of Hohenzollern; 8 votes)
Arch-Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Empire

7a. Prussen, Friedrich-Wilhelm II, Konig von (1786-1797)
39. Herzog von Magdeburg
51. Markgraf zu Ansbach
52. Markgraf zu Bayreuth-Kulmbach
57. Furst zu Halberstadt
59. Herzog von Hinterpommern [Lower Pommerania]
71. Furst zu Minden
78. Furst zu Kammin
91. Herzog von Ostfriesland

8. Kurfurst zu Braunschweig-Luneburg (created 1692; House of Hanover; 6 votes)
Arch-Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire

8a. George III, King of the United Kingdom and Ireland (1760-1820)
43. Herzog von Bremen
53. Herzog von Braunschweig-Celle
54. Herzog von Braunchweig-Kalenberg
55. Herzog von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen
60. Furst zu Verden
70. Herzog von Sachsen-Lauenburg

Notes:

[1] Reichsfreiherr von Erthal (03.01.1719-25.07.1802) became Elector-Archbishop of Mainz on 18.07.1774.

[2] Klemens-Wenzel was the thirteenth child of� Friedrich-August II, Kurfurst zu Sachsen and King of Poland (07.10.1696-05.10.1763). He was a member of the House of Wettin.

[3] Maximilian-Franz was youngest child of Maria-Theresa, Holy Roman Empress (13.05.1717-29.11.1780).

Placed on the Napoleon Series: October 2005

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