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{{short description|Members of the electoral college that elected the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire}}
{{redirect|College of Electors|other uses|Electoral college}}{{more sources|date=November 2025}}[[File:Balduineum Wahl Heinrich VII.jpg|thumb|400px|The imperial prince-electors<br /> Left to right: [[Archbishop of Cologne]], [[Archbishop of Mainz]], [[Elector of Trier|Archbishop of Trier]], [[Elector of the Palatinate|Count Palatine]], [[Duke of Saxony]], [[Margrave of Brandenburg]] and [[King of Bohemia]] (''[[Codex Balduini Trevirorum]]'', {{Circa|1340}})]]
[[File:Sachsenspiegel die wahl des deutschen Königs.jpg|thumb|Choosing the king. Above: the three ecclesiastical princes choosing the king, pointing at him. Middle: the [[Electorate of the Palatinate|Count Palatine of the Rhine]] hands over a golden bowl, acting as a servant. Behind him, the [[Rulers of Saxony|Duke of Saxony]] with his marshal's staff and the [[Margrave of Brandenburg]] bringing a bowl of warm water, as a valet. Below, the new king in front of the great men of the empire ([[Heidelberg]] [[Sachsenspiegel]], around 1300).]]
{{Ranks of Nobility}}

A '''Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire''' ({{langx|la|Sacri Romani Imperii Princeps Elector}}; {{langx|de|Kurfürst}} {{IPA|de|ˈkuːɐ̯ˌfʏʁst||De-Kurfürst2.ogg}}, pl. {{lang|de|Kurfürsten}} {{IPA|de|ˈkuːɐ̯ˌfʏʁstn̩||De-Kurfürsten.ogg}}, from the [[Middle High German]] ''kure'' "choice" and the German ''Fürst'' "prince") was a member of the [[Electoral College (Holy Roman Empire)|Electoral College]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], which elected the [[Holy Roman Emperor]], initially according to formally unregulated customs, and since 1356 in accordance with provisions of the [[Golden Bull of 1356|Golden Bull]]. The office was abolished in 1806, upon the [[Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire]].

From the 13th century onwards, a small group of prince-electors gained the privilege of [[Imperial election|electing the King of the Romans]]. The king would then later be [[Coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor|crowned Emperor]] by the [[pope]]. [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] (elected in 1519) was the last emperor to be crowned (1530); his successors assumed the title "Elected Emperor of the Romans" ({{langx|de|erwählter Römischer Kaiser}}; {{langx|la|electus Romanorum imperator}}) upon their coronation as kings.

The dignity of elector carried great prestige and was considered to be behind only the emperor, kings, and the highest dukes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/nations.htm|title=Precedence among Nations|website=Heraldica|access-date=2020-04-26}}</ref> The electors held exclusive privileges that were not shared with other princes of the Empire, and they continued to hold their original titles alongside that of elector.

The [[heir apparent]] to a secular prince-elector was known as an '''electoral prince''' ({{langx|de|Kurprinz}}).

== Rights and privileges ==
Electors were rulers of {{lang|de|Reichsstände}} ([[Imperial Estate]]s), enjoying precedence over the other [[Princes of the Holy Roman Empire|Imperial Princes]]. They were, until the 18th century, exclusively entitled to be addressed with the title {{lang|de|Durchlaucht}} (Serene Highness). In 1742, the electors became entitled to the superlative {{lang|de|Durchlauchtigste}} (Most Serene Highness), while other princes were promoted to {{lang|de|Durchlaucht}}.

As rulers of Imperial Estates, the electors enjoyed all the privileges of princes, including the right to enter into alliances, to autonomy in relation to dynastic affairs, and to precedence over other subjects. The [[Golden Bull of 1356|Golden Bull]] granted them the [[Privilegium de non appellando]], which prevented their subjects from lodging an appeal to a higher Imperial court. Although this privilege, and some others, were automatically granted to Electors, they were not exclusive to them and many of the larger Imperial Estates were also to be individually granted some or all those rights and privileges.<ref>Even a small [[Free Imperial City]] such as [[Schwäbisch Gmünd]] had been granted the ''Privilegium de non appellando'' in 1475. Cf. [[:s:de:Kaiser Friedrich III.: Privilegium de non appellando für Schwäbisch Gmünd, 1475|Kaiser Friedrich III.: Privilegium de non appellando für Schwäbisch Gmünd, 1475]]</ref>

== Imperial Diet ==
{{no sources section|date=November 2025}}
The electors, like the other princes ruling States of the Empire, were members of the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Diet]], which was divided into three ''collegia'': the Council of Electors, the Council of Princes, and the Council of Cities. In addition to being members of the Council of Electors, most electors were also members of the Council of Princes by virtue of possessing territory or holding ecclesiastical position. The assent of both bodies was required for important decisions affecting the structure of the Empire, such as the creation of new electorates or States of the Empire.

Many electors ruled a number of States of the Empire or held several ecclesiastical titles, and therefore had multiple votes in the Council of Princes. In 1792, the Elector of Brandenburg had eight votes, the Elector of Bavaria six votes, the Elector of Hanover six votes, the King of Bohemia three votes, the Elector-Archbishop of Trier three votes, the Elector-Archbishop of Cologne two votes, and the Elector-Archbishop of Mainz one vote. Thus, of the hundred votes in the [[List of Imperial Diet participants (1792)|Council of Princes in 1792]], twenty-nine belonged to electors, giving them considerable influence in the Council of Princes in addition to their positions as electors.

In addition to voting by colleges or councils, the Imperial Diet also voted in religious coalitions, as provided for in the [[Peace of Westphalia]]. The Archbishop of Mainz presided over the [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] body, the {{lang|la|corpus catholicorum}}, while the Elector of Saxony presided over the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] body, the {{lang|la|[[corpus evangelicorum]]}}. The division into religious bodies was on the basis of the official religion of the state.

== Elections ==
{{Main|Imperial election}}

The electors were originally summoned by the Archbishop of Mainz within one month of an Emperor's death, and met within three months of being summoned. On many occasions, however, there was no interregnum, as a new king had been elected during the lifetime of the previous Emperor. During any interregnum, imperial power was exercised by two [[imperial vicar]]s under the terms of the Golden Bull.  The Elector of Saxony was vicar in areas operating under [[Saxon law]] ([[Saxony]], [[Westphalia]], [[Electorate of Hanover|Hannover]], and northern Germany), while the Elector Palatine was vicar in the remainder of the Empire ([[Franconia]], [[Swabia]], the [[Rhine]], and southern Germany). The Elector of Bavaria sometimes replaced the Elector Palatine between 1623 and 1777, when the Elector Palatine inherited Bavaria. 

[[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]] regularly served as the site of the election from the 14th century on, but elections were also held at [[Cologne]] (1531), [[Regensburg]] (1575 and 1636), and [[Augsburg]] (1653 and 1690). An elector could appear in person or could appoint another elector as his proxy. More often, an electoral suite or embassy was sent to cast the vote; the credentials of such representatives were verified by the Archbishop of Mainz, who presided over the ceremony. The deliberations were held at the city hall, but voting occurred in the cathedral. In Frankfurt, a special electoral chapel, or {{lang|de|Wahlkapelle}}, was used for elections. Under the Golden Bull, a majority of electors sufficed to elect a king, and each elector could cast only one vote. Electors were free to vote for whomsoever they pleased (including themselves), but dynastic considerations played a great part in the choice.

From the 16th century on, electors drafted a {{lang|de|[[Wahlkapitulation]]}}, or electoral capitulation, which was presented to the king-elect. The capitulation may be described as a contract between the princes and the king, the latter conceding rights and powers to the electors and other princes. Once an individual swore to abide by the electoral capitulation, he assumed the office of King of the Romans.

In the 10th and 11th centuries, princes often acted merely to confirm hereditary succession in the [[Ottonian dynasty|Ottonian]] and [[Salian dynasty|Salian dynasties]]. But with the actual formation of the prince-elector class, elections became more open, starting with the election of [[Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor|Lothair III]] in 1125. The [[Hohenstaufen|Staufen]] dynasty managed to get its sons formally elected in their fathers' lifetimes almost as a formality. After those lines ended in extinction, the electors began to elect kings from different families, so that the throne would not once again settle within a single dynasty. All kings elected from 1438 onwards were from among the [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg dynasty]] until 1740, when Austria was inherited by a woman, [[Maria Theresa of Austria|Maria Theresa]], sparking the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] and the short-lived rule of a Bavarian [[Wittelsbach]] emperor. In 1745, Maria Theresa's husband, [[Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I of Lorraine]], was elected emperor. All of his successors were also from the Habsburg-Lorraine family.

=== High offices ===
<!--This section linked from [[Clemens August of Bavaria]]-->
Each elector held a "High Office of the Empire" ({{lang|de|Reichserzamt}}) analogous to a modern cabinet office position and was a member of the ceremonial [[Imperial Household]]. The three spiritual electors became [[Archchancellor]]s ({{langx|de|Erzkanzler}}, {{langx|la|Archicancellarius}}): the [[Elector of Mainz|Archbishop of Mainz]] became ''Archchancellor of [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]]'', the [[Archbishop of Cologne]] became ''Archchancellor of [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]]'', and the [[Elector of Trier|Archbishop of Trier]] became ''Archchancellor of [[Kingdom of Arles|Burgundy]]''. The secular electors were granted [[heraldic augmentation]]s to their coats of arms reflecting their positions in the Household. These augmentations were displayed in three alternative ways:
* as an [[inescutcheon]] on their coat of arms (as in the case of the Arch-Steward, Treasurer, and Chamberlain);
* as [[Dexter and sinister|dexter]] impalements (as in the case of the Arch-Marshal and Arch-Bannerbearer)
* integrated into the charge within the [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] (as in the case of the Arch-Cupbearer, where the Lion of Bohemia acquired a "simple crown" held in its dexter paw).

{|class="wikitable"
|+Holders of imperial offices and their heraldic augmentations
!Imperial office<br>([[German language|German]], [[Latin language|Latin]]) !! Augmentation !!  Elector
|-
| align="center" | Arch-[[Cupbearer]]<br>(''Erzmundschenk,<br>Archipincerna'') 
| align="center" | [[File:Simple gold crown.svg|40px]]<br>''A simple crown, [[Or (heraldry)|Or]]''<br>{{efn|name=armorial Frederick III|[[File:Armorial Emperor Frederick III.jpg|thumb|none|upright=0.7|Page from an [[armorial]] showing the arms of Emperor Frederick III, ca 1415–1493.]]}}{{efn|name=armorial Maximilian I |[[File:Armorial Emperor Maximilian I.jpg|thumb|none|upright=0.7|Page from an armorial showing arms of Kaiser Maximilian I ca 1508–1519]]}}{{efn|name=Kurrent|[[File:Deutsche Kurrentschrift.svg|thumb|none|upright=0.7|German Kurrent script, in which the armorial sources are written.]]}}
|| [[King of Bohemia]]
|-
|align="center"| Arch-[[Steward (office)|Steward]]<br>(''Erztruchseß'',<br>''Archidapifer'')
|align="center"| [[File:HRE Arch-Steward Arms.svg|40px]]<br>''[[Gules]], an [[Globus cruciger|orb]], [[or (heraldry)|Or]]''
||[[Elector Palatine]] (1356-1623)<br>[[Elector of Bavaria]] (1623–1706)<br>[[Elector Palatine]] (1706–1714)<br>[[Elector of Bavaria]] (1714–1806)
|-
|align="center"|{{anchor|Arch-Marshal}}<!-- [[Arch-Marshal]] redirects here --> Arch-[[Marshal#Ceremonial and protocol|Marshal]]<br>(''Erzmarschall'',<br>''Archimarescallus'')
|align="center"|[[File:HRE Arch-Marshal Arms.svg|40px]]<br>''[[Fess|Per fess]] [[Sable (heraldry)|sable]] and [[argent]], two swords in [[saltire]], gules''
|| [[Elector of Saxony]]
|-
|align="center"|Arch-[[Chamberlain (office)|Chamberlain]]<br>(''Erzkämmerer'',<br>''Archicamerarius'') 
|align="center"|[[File:HRE Arch-Chamberlain Arms (Ancient).svg|40px]] [[File:HRE Arch-Chamberlain Arms (Modern).svg|40px]]<br>{{Fix|text=Please clarify why two  images.}}<br>''[[azure (heraldry)|Azure]], a [[scepter]] [[Pale (heraldry)|palewise]], Or''
|| [[Elector of Brandenburg]]
|-
|align="center"| [[Arch-Treasurer]]<br>(''Erzschatzmeister'',<br>''Archithesaurarius'') 
|align="center"| [[File:HRE Arch-Treasurer Arms.svg|40px]]<br>''Gules, [[Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire|Crown of the Holy Roman Empire]], or''
||[[Elector Palatine]] (1648–1706)<br>[[Elector of Hanover]] (1710–1714)<ref name=Treasurer>The augmentation was borne as an inescutcheon continuously and without interruption by the Electors of Hanover from 1714-1837. There is no evidence that this inescutcheon was ever borne by the Elector Palatine (House of Wittelsbach).</ref><br>[[Elector Palatine]] (1714–1777)<ref name=Treasurer/><br>[[Elector of Hanover]] (1777–1806)<ref name=Treasurer/>
|-
| align="center" | Arch-[[King of Arms|Bannerbearer]]<br>(''Erzbannerträger'',<br>''Archivexillarius'')
| align="center" | [[File:HRE Arch-Bannerbearer Arms.svg|40px]]<br />''Azure, a lance party [[Fess|per fess]], or, and gules bendwise<br>flying to sinister chief a [[Flags of the Holy Roman Empire|banner, or, with the Imperial Eagle]]'' 
||[[Electorate of Hanover|Elector of Hanover]] (1692–1710)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noack |first=Konstantin |url=https://www.grin.com/document/384498 |title=Die neun Kurfürstentümer des Heiligen Römischen Reiches Deutscher Nation |date=2017-12-10 |publisher=GRIN Verlag |isbn=978-3-668-62294-4 |language=de}}</ref><br>[[Electorate of Hanover|Elector of Hanover]] (1714–1777)<br>[[Electorate of Württemberg|Elector of Württemberg]] (1803–1806)<ref>[https://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/hre.htm#Electors “The Holy Roman Empire”, ''Heraldica'']</ref>
|}
[[File:COA family de Kurpfalz.svg|thumb|150px|right|Arms of [[Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria|Maximilian I, Duke of Bavaria and Prince-Elector]], with inescutcheon of the Arch-Steward of the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[File:Royal Hanover Inescutcheon.svg|thumb|150px|right|The ''Lesser coat of arms of the Elector of Hanover'' with inescutcheon of the Arch-Treasurer, borne as an inescutcheon on the royal arms of the United Kingdom by [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]].]]

When the [[Duke of Bavaria]] replaced the Elector Palatine in 1623, he assumed the latter's office of Arch-Steward. When the Count Palatine was granted a new electorate, he assumed the position of Arch-Treasurer of the Empire. When the Duke of Bavaria was banned in 1706, the Elector Palatine returned to the office of Arch-Steward, and in 1710, the Elector of Hanover was promoted to the post of Arch-Treasurer. Matters were complicated by the Duke of Bavaria's restoration in 1714; the Elector of Bavaria resumed the office of Arch-Steward, while the Elector Palatine returned to the post of Arch-Treasurer, and the Elector of Hanover was given the new office of Archbannerbearer. The Electors of Hanover, however, continued to be styled Arch-Treasurers, though the Elector Palatine was the one who actually exercised the office until 1777, when he inherited Bavaria and the Arch-Stewardship. After 1777, no further changes were made to the Imperial Household; new offices were planned for the Electors admitted in 1803, but the Empire was abolished before they could be created. The Duke of Württemberg, however, started to adopt the trappings of the Arch-Bannerbearer.

The electors discharged the ceremonial duties associated with their offices only during coronations, where they bore the crown and regalia of the Empire. Otherwise, they were represented by holders of corresponding "[[Hereditary Offices of the Household]]". The Arch-Butler/[[Cupbearer]] was represented by the Hereditary Mundschenk<ref group="note">Mundschenk, the historical German word that can be translated as either Butler or Cupbearer, as both words in its earliest forms are interchangeably the same role tasked with duties related to drinks.</ref> (the [[Althann|Count of Althann]]), the Arch-Seneschal/[[Steward (office)|Steward]] by the Hereditary Truchsess<ref group="note">Truchseß, the historical German word that can be translated as either Seneschal or Steward, as both words in its earliest forms are interchangeably the same role tasked with duties related to food.</ref> (the [[House of Waldburg|Count of Waldburg]], who adopted the title into their name as "Truchsess von Waldburg"), the Arch-Chamberlain by the Hereditary [[Chamberlain (office)|Chamberlain]] (the [[Count of Hohenzollern]]), the Arch-Marshal by the Hereditary [[Marshal]] (the [[Pappenheim (state)|Count of Pappenheim]]), and the Arch-Treasurer by the Hereditary [[Treasurer]] (the [[Count of Sinzendorf]]). After 1803, the Duke of Württemberg as Arch-Bannerbearer assigned the count of Zeppelin-[[Aschhausen]] as Hereditary Bannerbearer.

== History ==
[[File:Philipp Veit 008.jpg|thumb|Coats of arms representing the seven original electors with the figure of [[Germania (personification)|Germania]]. Original colours were vivid. Germania's gown was gold, not beige, and the blue-grey was purple. Also, the browns were painted as vivid red and the muted grey in Saxony's arms was a brilliant green.]]

The German practice of electing [[monarch]]s began when ancient [[Germanic peoples|Germanic tribes]] formed ''ad hoc'' coalitions and elected the leaders thereof. Elections were irregularly held by the [[Franks]], whose [[successor state]]s include [[France]] and the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. The [[List of French monarchs|French monarchy]] eventually became [[Heredity|hereditary]], but the Holy Roman Emperors remained elective. While all free men originally exercised the right to vote in such elections, suffrage eventually came to be limited to the leading men of the realm. In the election of [[Lothar II, Holy Roman Emperor|Lothar III]] in 1125, a small number of eminent [[nobility|noble]]s chose the monarch and then submitted him to the remaining magnates for their approbation.

Soon, the right to choose the monarch was settled on an exclusive group of princes, and the procedure of seeking the approval of the remaining nobles was abandoned. The college of electors was mentioned in 1152 and again in 1198. The composition of electors at that time is unclear, but appears to have included bishops and the [[duke]]s of the [[Stem duchy|stem duchies]].

=== 1257 to Thirty Years' War ===

The electoral college is known to have existed by 1152, but its composition is unknown. A letter written by [[Pope Urban IV]] in 1265 suggests that by "[[time immemorial|immemorial custom]]", seven princes had the right to elect the King and future Emperor. The pope wrote that the seven electors were those who had just voted in the election of 1257, which resulted in the election of two kings.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bryce |first1=James |title=The Holy Roman Empire |date=1866 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |page=252 |edition=Revised}}</ref>

* Three ecclesiastical Electors:
** The [[Archbishopric of Mainz|Archbishop of Mainz]]
** The [[Electorate of Trier|Archbishop of Trier]]
** The [[Electorate of Cologne|Archbishop of Cologne]]
* Four secular Electors:
** The [[King of Bohemia]]
** The [[Electorate of the Palatinate|Count Palatine of the Rhine]]
** The [[Electorate of Saxony|Duke of Saxony]]
** The [[Margraviate of Brandenburg|Margrave of Brandenburg]]

The three Archbishops oversaw the most venerable and powerful [[Episcopal see|see]]s in Germany. After 1214, the Palatinate and Bavaria were held by the same individual, but in 1253, they were divided between two members of the [[House of Wittelsbach]]. The other electors refused to allow two princes from the same dynasty to have electoral rights, so a heated rivalry arose between the Count Palatine and the Duke of Bavaria over who should hold the Wittelsbach seat.

Meanwhile, the King of Bohemia, who held the ancient imperial office of Arch-Cupbearer, asserted his right to participate in elections. Sometimes he was challenged on the grounds that his kingdom was not German, though usually he was recognized, instead of Bavaria, which, after all, was just a younger line of Wittelsbachs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolf |first=Armin |date=2020-04-23 |title=Electors |url=https://www.historisches-lexikon-bayerns.de/Lexikon/EN:Electors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105094712/https://www.historisches-lexikon-bayerns.de/Lexikon/EN:Electors |archive-date=2021-11-05 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Historisches Lexikon Bayerns}}</ref>

The [[Declaration of Rhense]] issued in 1338 had the effect that election by the majority of the electors automatically conferred the royal title and rule over the empire, without papal confirmation. The [[Golden Bull of 1356]] finally resolved the disputes among the electors. Under it, the Archbishops of [[Archbishop of Mainz|Mainz]], [[Archbishop of Trier|Trier]], and [[Archbishop of Cologne|Cologne]], as well as the [[King of Bohemia]], the [[Count Palatine of the Rhine]], the [[Duke of Saxony]], and the [[Margrave of Brandenburg]] held the right to elect the King.

The college's composition remained unchanged until the 17th century, although the office of Prince-elector from Saxony was transferred from the senior ([[Ernestine Wettins|Ernestine]]) to the junior ([[Albertine Wettins|Albertine]]) branch of the Wettin family in 1547, in the aftermath of the [[Schmalkaldic War]].

=== Thirty Years' War to Napoleon ===

In 1623, the Elector Palatine, [[Frederick V, Elector Palatine|Frederick V]], came under the [[imperial ban]] after participating in the [[Thirty Years' War#The Bohemian Revolt|Bohemian Revolt]] (a part of the [[Thirty Years' War]]). The Elector Palatine's seat was conferred on the Duke of Bavaria, the head of a junior branch of his family. Originally, the Duke held the electoral dignity personally, but it was later made hereditary along with the duchy. When the Thirty Years' War concluded with the [[Peace of Westphalia]] in 1648, a new electoral post was created for the Count Palatine of the Rhine. Since the Elector of Bavaria retained his seat, the number of electors increased to eight; the two Wittelsbach lines were now sufficiently estranged so as not to pose a combined potential threat.

In 1685, the religious composition of the College of Electors was disrupted when a Catholic branch of the Wittelsbach family inherited the Palatinate. A new Protestant electoral post was created in 1692 for the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, who became known as the Elector of Hanover (the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Diet]] officially confirmed the creation in 1708). The Elector of Saxony converted to Catholicism in 1697 so that he could become King of Poland, but no additional Protestant electors were created. Although the Elector of Saxony was personally Catholic, that electoral post remained officially Protestant, and the Elector even remained the leader of the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)#Religious bodies|Protestant body in the Reichstag]].

In 1706, the Elector of Bavaria and Archbishop of Cologne were [[Imperial ban|outlawed]] during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], but both were restored in 1714 after the [[Treaty of Baden (1714)|Peace of Baden]]. In 1777, the number of electors was reduced to eight when the Elector Palatine inherited Bavaria.

In 1788, the ruling family of [[Savoyard state|Savoy]] pushed to receive an electoral title. Their ambition was backed by Brandenburg-Prussia. Nonetheless, the French Revolution and subsequent Coalition Wars soon rendered this a moot point.{{sfn|Wilson|2016|p=227}}

Many changes to the composition of the college were necessitated by [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]]'s aggression during the early 19th century. The [[Treaty of Lunéville]] (1801), which ceded territory on the [[Rhine]]'s left bank to [[France]], led to the abolition of the archbishoprics of Trier and Cologne, and the transfer of the remaining spiritual Elector from Mainz to [[Principality of Regensburg|Regensburg]]. In 1803, new electoral posts were created for the [[Duchy of Württemberg|Duke of Württemberg]], the [[Margraviate of Baden|Margrave of Baden]], the [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel|Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel]], and the [[Duchy of Salzburg|Duke of Salzburg]], bringing the total number of electors to ten. When [[Austria]] annexed Salzburg under the [[Treaty of Pressburg (1805)]], the Duke of Salzburg moved to the [[Grand Duchy of Würzburg]] and retained his electoral office. One last push to replace Hanover with the [[Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]] was made by Prussia during the re-negotiations of the [[Treaty of Schönbrunn (1805)]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.de/books?id=rmMPAAAAQAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA477|page=477|title=Neuere Geschichte der Deutschen von der Reformation bis zur Bundes-Acte|volume=12: Leopold II. und Franz II. bis 1815|author=Karl Adolf Menzel|author-link=:de:Karl Adolf Menzel|year=1848|lang=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.de/books?id=vKOXPxAU0BIC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA92|page=92|title=Der deutsche Ausgleich mit dem Staate Österreich|author=Karl Hron|year=1899|lang=de}}</ref> None of the new electors, however, had an opportunity to cast votes, as the Holy Roman Empire was abolished in 1806, and the new electoral posts were never confirmed by the Emperor.

=== After the Empire ===

After the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire in August 1806, the Electors continued to reign over their territories, many of them taking higher or alternative titles. The Electors of Bavaria, Württemberg, and Saxony styled themselves Kings, while the Electors of Baden, [[Principality of Regensburg|Regensburg]], and [[Grand Duchy of Würzburg|Würzburg]] became [[Grand duke|Grand Dukes]]. The Elector of Hesse-Kassel, however, retained the meaningless title "[[Electorate of Hesse|Elector of Hesse]]", thus distinguishing himself from other Hessian princes (the [[Grand Duchy of Hesse|Grand Duke of Hesse(-Darmstadt)]] and the Landgrave of [[Hesse-Homburg]]). Napoleon soon exiled him and Kassel was annexed to the [[Kingdom of Westphalia]], a new creation. The King of Great Britain remained at war with Napoleon and continued to style himself Elector of Hanover, while the Hanoverian government continued to operate in London.

The [[Congress of Vienna]] accepted the Electors of Bavaria, Württemberg, and Saxony as Kings, along with the newly created Grand Duke of Baden. The Elector of Hanover finally joined his fellow Electors by declaring himself the [[King of Hanover]]. The restored Elector of Hesse tried to be recognized as the King of the [[Chatti]]. The European powers refused to acknowledge this title at the [[Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818)]], however, and instead listed him with the Grand Dukes as a "Royal Highness".<ref name="satow1932">{{cite book |last1=Satow |first1=Ernest Mason |title=A Guide to Diplomatic Practice |url=https://archive.org/details/guidetodiplomati00satouoft |date=1932 |publisher=Longmans |location=London}}</ref> Believing the title of Prince-Elector to be superior in dignity to that of Grand Duke, the Elector of Hesse-Kassel chose to remain an Elector, even though there was no longer a Holy Roman Emperor to elect. Hesse-Kassel remained the only "Electorate" in Germany until 1866, when the country backed the losing side in the [[Austro-Prussian War]] and was absorbed into Prussia.

== Marks of office ==
===Electoral arms===
[[File:Wapen 1545 Kaiserwappen des Heiligen Römischen Reichs Polychromie.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|Coats of arms of prince electors surround the Holy Roman Emperor's; from flags book of [[Jacob Köbel]] (163#+1545). Left to right: Cologne, Bohemia, Brandenburg, Saxony, the Palatinate, Trier, Mainz]]
Below are the State arms of each Imperial Elector. Emblems of [[#High offices|Imperial High Offices]] are shown on the appropriate arms.
[[File:Maximilian I HStAS B 515.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|The emperor [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian]] surrounded by shields of princes-electors]]

Three Electors Spiritual (Archbishops): all three were annexed by various powers through [[German mediatisation|German Mediatisation]] of 1803.

<gallery widths="100" heights="100" perrow="4">
File:Mainz Arms.svg|[[Electorate of Mainz|Mainz]]
File:Trier Arms.svg|[[Electorate of Trier|Trier]]
File:Coat of Arms of Electorate of Cologne.svg|[[Electorate of Cologne|Cologne]]  
</gallery>

Four Electors Secular:

<gallery widths="100" heights="100" perrow="4">
File:Arch Cupbearer Holding Augment.png|alt=Kingdom of Bohemia.  The white lion bears in his right paw a simple crown, the emblem of the office of Arch Cupbearer.  Restored directly from Medieval, hand-drawn armorials.|[[Kingdom of Bohemia]]. The white lion bears in his right paw a simple crown, the device of the office of  Arch Cupbearer. Restored directly from Medieval, hand-drawn [[armorial]]s.{{efn|name=armorial Frederick III}}{{efn|name=armorial Maximilian I}}{{efn|name=Kurrent}}
File:Arms of the Electoral Palatinate (Variant 1).svg|[[Electoral Palatine|The Palatinate]] was an electorate until 1777, when the Elector acceded to Bavaria. The office of [[Arch-Treasurer]] transferred to Hanover.
File:Blason Jean-Georges IV de Saxe.svg|[[Electorate of Saxony|Saxony]]
File:Arms of Brandenburg.svg|[[Margraviate of Brandenburg|Brandenburg]]  
</gallery>

Electors added in the 17th century:

<gallery widths="100px" heights="100px" perrow="4">
File:Arms of Charles VII Albert, Holy Roman Emperor.svg|[[Electorate of Bavaria|Bavaria]] was granted electoral dignity by [[Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand II]] in 1623, removing the dignity from the Count Palatine of the Rhine.
Royal Hanover Inescutcheon.svg|[[Electorate of Hanover|Hanover]] (Brunswick-Lüneburg), made an elector by [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor|Leopold I]] in 1692 as a reward for aid given in the [[War of the Grand Alliance]]. Later, the ceremonial office of Chief Treasurer was transferred here from the Palatinate.
</gallery>

====Napoleonic additions====

As Napoleon waged war on Europe, between 1803 and 1806, the following changes to the Constitution of the Holy Roman Empire were attempted until the Empire's collapse. The arch-chancellor of Germany and archbishop elector of Mainz continued to be an elector, but as the prince of Regensburg, which took over Mainz's arch-episcopal status. The prince of Württemberg received the formerly defunct office of Arch-Bannerbearer, while the other new electors were not given augments or high office in the imperial household, though new offices were planned.<ref name="heraldica">{{Cite web |title=the Holy Roman Empire |url=https://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/hre.htm#Electors |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Heraldica}}</ref>

<gallery widths="100" heights="100" perrow="6">
File:Augmented arms of electoral Württemberg.png|In 1777, the number of Electors dropped from nine to eight, until 1803, when [[Electorate of Württemberg|Württemberg]] was raised to an electorate by [[Reichsdeputationshauptschluss|the Imperial diet]], while the prince himself was elevated from Standard-Bearer ({{lang|de|Bannerherr}}) to Arch-Standardbearer.<ref name="heraldica" />
File:Arms_of_the_house_of_Hesse-Kassel_(3).svg|[[Electorate of Hesse|Hesse-Cassel]] was added in 1803.
File:Wappen Regensburg.svg|[[Electorate of Regensburg|Principality of Regensburg]], ruled by the [[Karl Theodor Anton Maria von Dalberg|former prince-archbishop of Mainz]] was added in 1803, after the annexation of [[Electorate of Mainz|Mainz]] by the French.
File:Kursalzburg.png|[[Electorate of Salzburg|Grand Duchy of Salzburg]] was added in 1803. After it was [[German mediatization|mediatized]] [[Peace of Pressburg (1805)|to Austria]] in 1805, its electoral vote was transferred to [[Grand Duchy of Würzburg|Würzburg]]. Salzburg and Würzburg were ruled by the same person, [[Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Ferdinand III]].
File:Wappen Großherzogtum Würzburg.svg|[[Electorate of Würzburg|Duchy of Würzburg]] was added in 1805.
File:Coat of arms of Baden.svg|[[Electorate of Baden|Margraviate of Baden]] was added in 1803.  
</gallery>

== Timeline of electors ==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center"
!
!Ecclesiastical elector
!Ecclesiastical elector
!Ecclesiastical elector
!Elector of the [[Stem duchy#Holy Roman Empire|Saxons]]<ref name=":0" group="note">based on the original [[Stem duchy|stem duchies]] of the Holy Roman Empire</ref>
{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
!Elector of the [[Stem duchy#Holy Roman Empire|Swabians]]<ref name=":0" group="note" />
{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
!Elector of the 
[[Stem duchy#Holy Roman Empire|Bavarians]]<ref name=":0" group="note" />
{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
!Elector of the [[Stem duchy#Holy Roman Empire|Franconians]]<ref name=":0" group="note" />
{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
!Eighth elector
!Ninth elector
!Tenth elector
|-
|Pre-1059
| rowspan="5" |Prior history of ecclesiastical electors unclear
| rowspan="4" |Prior history of ecclesiastical electors unclear
| rowspan="2" |Prior history of ecclesiastical electors unclear
| rowspan="7" |[[File:Arms_of_the_house_of_Anhalt_(ancient).svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Duchy of Saxony]]
| rowspan="6" |[[File:Arms_of_Swabia.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Duchy of Swabia]]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Bavaria_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Duchy of Bavaria]]
|[[File:Frankenrechen.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Duchy of Franconia]]
| rowspan="10" |None
| rowspan="11" |None
| rowspan="15" |None
|-
|1059–1189
| rowspan="7" |[[File:Arms_of_the_Palatinate_(Old).svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electoral Palatinate|County Palatine of the Rhine]] – The Palatinate
|-
|1189–1214
| rowspan="13" |[[File:Wappen_Erzbistum_Trier.png|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Trier|Archbishopric of Trier]]
|-
|1214–1238
| rowspan="12" |[[File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_House_of_Luxembourg-Bohemia.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Kingdom of Bohemia]]
|-
|1238–1251
| rowspan="8" |[[File:Wappen_Erzbistum_Köln.png|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Cologne|Archbishopric of Cologne]]
|-
|1251–1257 or 1268
| rowspan="10" |[[File:Wappen_Erzbistum_Mainz.png|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Mainz|Archbishopric of Mainz]]
|-
|1257 or 1268–1296
| rowspan="9" |[[File:Arms_of_Brandenburg.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Margraviate of Brandenburg]]
|-
|1296–1621
| rowspan="8" |[[File:Armoiries_Saxe2.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg]] – [[Electorate of Saxony]]
|-
|1621–1623
|[[Imperial ban]] due to [[Thirty Years' War]]
|-
|1621–1648
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Bavaria_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Duchy of Bavaria]] – [[Electorate of Bavaria]]
|-
|1648–1692
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Arms_of_the_Palatinate_(Old).svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electoral Palatinate|County Palatine of the Rhine]] – The Palatinate
|-
|1692–1706
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Coat_of_arms_of_Lower_Saxony.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg]] – [[Electorate of Hanover]]
|-
|1706–1714
|[[Imperial ban]] due to [[War of the Spanish Succession]]
|Imperial ban due to [[War of the Spanish Succession]]
|-
|1714–1777
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Wappen_Erzbistum_Köln.png|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Cologne|Archbishopric of Cologne]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Bavaria_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Bavaria]]
|-
|1777–1801
|None
(Merged into [[Duchy of Bavaria]])
|-
! colspan="11" style="background:#BBFFFF;" |[[Treaty of Lunéville]]
|-
|1801–1803
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Wappen_Bistum_Regensburg.png|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Principality of Regensburg|Archbishopric of Regensburg]]
|None
|None
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Armoiries_Saxe2.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Saxony]]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Arms_of_Brandenburg.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Margraviate of Brandenburg]]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_House_of_Luxembourg-Bohemia.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Kingdom of Bohemia]]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Bavaria_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Bavaria]]
|None
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Coat_of_arms_of_Lower_Saxony.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Hanover]]
|None
|-
|1803–1805
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Arms_of_the_house_of_Hesse.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel]] – [[Electorate of Hesse]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Wappen_Baden,_Markgrafschaft.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Margraviate of Baden]] – [[Electorate of Baden]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Wuerttemberg_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Duchy of Württemberg]] – [[Electorate of Württemberg]]
|[[File:Salzburg_Wappen_(shield).svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Salzburg]]
|-
|1805–1806
|[[File:Wurzburg-stift.PNG|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Grand Duchy of Würzburg|Electorate of Würzburg]]
|-
! colspan="11" style="background:#BBFFFF;" |[[Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire]]
|-
! colspan="11" style="background:#BBFFFF;" |[[Congress of Vienna]] (1814–1815)
|-
|Successor states
|[[File:Bavaria_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]]Fully subsumed into [[Kingdom of Bavaria]]
|[[File:Arms_of_the_house_of_Hesse.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Electorate of Hesse]]
|[[File:Wappen_Baden,_Markgrafschaft.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Grand Duchy of Baden]]
|[[File:Armoiries_Saxe2.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Kingdom of Saxony]]
|[[File:Arms_of_East_Prussia.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]]Fully subsumed into [[Kingdom of Prussia]]
|[[File:Habsburg-Lorraine_Tripartite_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Cisleithania|Crown Land]] of the [[Austrian Empire]]
|[[File:Bavaria_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Kingdom of Bavaria]]
|[[File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Kingdom_of_Wurtemberg.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Kingdom of Württemberg]]
|[[File:Coat_of_arms_of_Lower_Saxony.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]][[Kingdom of Hanover]]
|[[File:Bavaria_Arms.svg|center|frameless|115x115px]]Fully subsumed into [[Kingdom of Bavaria]]
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Holy Roman Empire}}
* [[Elective monarchy]]
* [[Electoral Palace (disambiguation)]]
* [[Electress]]
* [[Imperial election]]

== References ==
{{notelist|15em}}

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* Bryce, J. (1887). ''The Holy Roman Empire'', 8th ed. New York: Macmillan.
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Electors|volume=9|pages=173–175}}
* {{1728|title=Elector |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A4C5AV6Q7LZ5DY8E/pages/AINHCTHET2XNQV8J?view=one}}
* {{Cite book|last=Wilson|first=Peter H.|title=Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire|year=2016|location=Cambridge|publisher=Harvard University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=opmtCwAAQBAJ&pg=PR3}}

=== Notes ===
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040603023653/http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/golden.htm The Avalon Project. (2003). "The Golden Bull of the Emperor Charles IV 1356 A.D."]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040604170137/http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/reichsstande.htm Oestreich, G. and Holzer, E. (1973). " Übersicht über die Reichsstände." In Gebhardt, Bruno. ''{{lang|de|Handbuch der Deutschen Geschichte}}'', 9th ed. (Vol. 2, pp. 769–784). Stuttgart: Ernst Ketler Verlag.]
* [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/royalstyle.htm Velde, F. R. (2003). "Royal Styles."]
* [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/hre.htm Velde, F. R. (2004). "The Holy Roman Empire."]
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Electors, German Imperial |year=1905 |short=x}}
* [https://www.historisches-lexikon-bayerns.de/Lexikon/EN:Electors Armin Wolf, Electors, published 9 May 2011, English version published 26 February 2020; in: Historisches Lexikon Bayerns]

{{Electors of the Holy Roman Empire after 1356}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1125 establishments in Europe]]
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[[Category:1806 disestablishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
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