Holy Roman Empire (Principia Moderni IV Map Game)

Holy Roman Empire Heiliges Römisches Reich Imperium Romanum Sacrum Timeline: Principia Moderni IV (Map Game) OTL equivalent: Holy Roman Empire
. 962 - Present
Coat of arms
Holy Roman Empire in 1480 (Dark is outside influences in the empire, Light is member influences outside the Empire)
Capital		No official capital, various imperial seats
Largest city		Prague
Other cities		Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt
Official languages		Latin, German, Italian
Regional languages		Czech, Dutch, Frisian, French, Slovene, Sorbian, Polish, Livonian
Religion		Roman Catholic
Government		Elective Monarchy
-	Emperor	Various
-	Royal House	Various
-	Chancellor	Various
Legislature		Imperial Diet
Establishment
-	Otto I is crowned Emperor of the Romans	2 February 962
-	Conrad II assumes crown of Burgundy	9 September 1379
Population
-	1400 estimate	20,000,000
Currency		Various

The Holy Roman Empire (Latin: Imperium Romanum Sacrum, German: Heiliges Römisches Reich, Italian: Sacro Romano Impero, Czech: Svatá říše římská, Slovene: Sveto rimsko cesarstvo, Dutch: Heilige Roomse Rijk, French: Saint-Empire romain germanique, Livonian: Jumāluskli Romas Keīzaja) is a  multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe, including the Kingdom of Germany, the Kingdom of Bohemia, and several other territories.

Created from the nation of East Francia, a primary division of the Frankish Empire, the Holy Roman Empire arose on Christmas Day 800, when Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne as Emperor, reviving the title in Western Europe after more than three centuries. The title passed in a disorganized manner during the decline and fragmentation of the Carolingian dynasty following Charlemagne's death in 814, eventually by 924 falling into complete disuse. In 962 the title would be officially revived with Otto I being crowned emperor, fashioning himself as the successor of Charlemagne and beginning a continuous existence of the empire to the present day.

Electors

1400-Present

• Archbishop of Mainz
• Archbishop of Trier
• Archbishop of Cologne
• Kingdom of Bohemia
• County Palatine of the Rhine
• Duchy of Saxony
• Margraviate of Brandenburg (Note: suspended during the War of the Lions)

Elections

These elections are for electing a King of the Romans/King of Germany. In order to become Emperor you must be crowned by the Pope in Rome. 

Rules Regarding Elections

Here is a list of rules regarding the election of the Holy Roman Emperor.

1. If you control an elector, you control their vote. Note that this has to be within plausible standards.
2. If an elector is not controlled, their vote goes to a mod. However, if they are one of the Archbishops, their vote goes to the pope.
3. If a single nation wins 4 or more votes of the electorate, they win the election.
4. If no nation receives the required 4 or more votes, the following happens
   1. If a nation receives 3 votes, and the other 4 electors do not unanimously choose a nation to become Emperor, the nation with 3 votes wins. Note that the election needs to be a plurality, not a majority.
   2. If the election is tied, and one of them is the former Emperor, the former Emperor is once again re-elected as Emperor.
   3. If the election is tied, and one of them is not the former Emperor, there is no elected Emperor, and each year a new election is held until an Emperor is selected.
5. The Emperor does not necessarily have to be a member of the HRE, however, it is most plausible if they are.
6. The Emperor can only be male.
7. The Emperor can only be the accepted Imperial religion.
8. The Emperor can only be an independent ruler (ie not a vassal)
9. The Emperor can only be a monarch (ie not the ruler of a republic or theocracy)
10. If none of the 4 conditions can be applied to any ruler in the Empire, than the HRE is disbanded and will cease to exist.

1410 Election

If you are playing as an elector, put your vote down here!

• Archbishop of Mainz - Der Papst (NPC, Pope votes): Bohemia
• Archbishop of Trier - Der Papst (NPC, Pope votes): Bohemia
• Archbishop of Cologne: Bohemia
• Kingdom of Bohemia: Bohemia
• County Palatine of the Rhine - NPC: Burgundy
• Duchy of Saxony: Bohemia
• Margraviate of Brandenburg: Bohemia

Winner: Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia

1425 Election

If you are playing as an elector, put your vote down here!

• Archbishop of Mainz - Der Papst (NPC, Pope votes): Bohemia
• Archbishop of Trier - Der Papst (NPC, Pope votes): Bohemia
• Archbishop of Cologne: Bohemia
• Kingdom of Bohemia: Bohemia
• County Palatine of the Rhine - NPC:
• Duchy of Saxony: Bohemia
• Margraviate of Brandenburg:

Winner: Wenceslaus V of Bohemia

1460 Election

If you are playing as an elector, put your vote down here!

• Archbishop of Mainz - Der Papst (NPC, Pope votes): Brandenburg
• Archbishop of Trier - Der Papst (NPC, Pope votes): Brandenburg
• Archbishop of Cologne: Brandenburg
• Kingdom of Bohemia:
• County Palatine of the Rhine - NPC: Austria
• Duchy of Saxony:
• Margraviate of Brandenburg: Brandenburg

Winner:

1485 Elections

If you are playing as an elector, put your vote down here!

•  Archbishop of Mainz - von Henneburg : Brandenburg            Lies are all I have. Lies and vaudeville. 
•  Archbishop of Trier - Der Papst (NPC, Pope votes): Brandenburg Callumthered (talk) 13:04, October 13, 2016 (UTC)
•  Archbishop of Cologne: Brandenburg - NonsensicalJourney
•  Kingdom of Bohemia:
•  County Palatine of the Rhine - NPC: 
•  Duchy of Saxony:
•  Margraviate of Brandenburg: Brandenburg With Blood and Iron (talk) 23:58, October 12, 2016 (UTC)

1526 Elections

If you are playing as an elector, put your vote down here!

•  Archbishop of Mainz - von Henneburg : 
•  Archbishop of Trier - Der Papst (NPC, Pope votes): 
•  Archbishop of Cologne: 
•  Kingdom of Bohemia: For Brandenburg Scraw (mod vote) 23:15, November 27, 2016 (UTC)
•  County Palatine of the Rhine - NPC: For Brandenburg Scraw (mod vote) 23:15, November 27, 2016 (UTC)
•  Duchy of Saxony: Der Papst
•  Margraviate of Brandenburg: For Brandenburg With Blood and Iron (talk) 12:58, November 25, 2016 (UTC)

Special Features

Powers of the Emperor

The Holy Roman Emperor can:

• Join a war where a member of the Holy Roman Empire is threatened, whether internally or externally.
• Bestow Imperial Grace.
• Propose Imperial Reforms.
• Grant Free City Status.
• Revoke/Appoint Electors.
• Demand unlawful territory from another nation, member or not.
  • If declined, the Emperor gains a "Historic Connection to the Attackers" in an algorithm against the nation occupying unlawful territory.
  • If accepted, the Emperor divides the land between the occupying nation(s) and occupied nation(s) as he sees fit.
• Enforce religious unity.

Dismantling the Holy Roman Empire

To fully dismantle the Holy Roman Empire, the imposing side must:

• Occupy the Emperor's capital
• Occupy or control every elector

This option is only available after 1600.

Imperial Reforms

These are reforms only the Holy Roman Emperor can enact. These reforms must be passed at least twenty years apart from each other. Bold reforms mean they have been passed.

• Call for Reichsreform - The Emperor gains a "Historic Connection to the Attackers" on algorithms against non-member states of the Holy Roman Empire with Imperial land. Reforms the Empire to a more centralized model. ~ Passed in 1413
• Institute Reichsregiment - Consolidates the Imperial Diet, reducing legislative complexity. ~ Passed in 1434
• Reform the Hofgericht - Reduces legislative independence by making the Emperor the final legal authority within the Empire.
• Enact Gemeiner Pfennig - Require member states of the Holy Roman Empire to levy a special tax to be paid directly to the Emperor.
• Ewiger Landfriede - Members of the Holy Roman Empire may no longer fight each other. Force member states to solve their disputes in courts of law, rather than on battlefields.
• Proclaim Erbkaisertum - There are no more elections for the Holy Roman Empire, the throne becomes hereditary. Abolishes the elective monarchy.
• Revoke the Privilegia - All members of the Holy Roman Empire are now vassals of the Holy Roman Emperor. Members that do not support this may leave the Empire, however, the Emperor gains a "Historic Connection to the Attackers" on the algorithm, if the Emperor decides to gain these lands back...
• Renovatio Imperii - The Holy Roman Empire is united into one state, under one ruler, one God, one government.

Imperial Diets

Here will be the different Imperial Diets called to order and their issues to be voted on by the Princes.

Rules for Imperial Diets

There are three colleges:

Electoral

Princes

Cities

All the seven electors make up the first college. All princes who are not heads of a free city make up the Prince college. All princes of free cities make up the third and final college. Each college can debate among themselves and vote among themselves. The final results are tallied from the colleges to determine whether something passes or does not. Note: Elector's votes weigh more heavily than Prince votes.

Each ruler of the Holy Roman Empire receives a vote. It is not one vote per estate, but one vote per prince. For example, if Saxony had a personal union over Thuringia, or Austria had the vassalage of Bavaria, the votes would count as one, not two.

Imperial Diet of 1450 -

The Imperial Diet of 1450, called by Emperor Wenceslaus V in the year 1450 in the city of Nuremburg.

Topics of Importance

Emperor's Concerns:

None at the moment

Princely Concerns:

Any prince is allowed to put concerns here, as long as he puts their nation's name next to the concern.

Voting and Discussion

This diet is officially called into order.

Princes in Attendance

List your country here if you are attending this diet.

Bohemia

Italy

Cologne

Essen

Imperial Diet of 1535

The Diet was called by Emperor Friderich

Topics of Importance

Emperro's Concerns:

asd

Princely Concerns:

Maximillian of Austria-Bavaria: The Granting of the Privilegium Venetiae to Veneto.

Maximillian of Austria-Bavaria: The Granting of Electoral Status to Austria Bavaria

Maximillian of Austria-Bavaria: The Return of the Italian Territories to the Empire, the dethronement of Milan and Florence's leaders.

Archbishop-Elector Rhoderich of Cologne: The passing of the "Ewiger Landfriede" imperial reforms, or the general establishment of HRE courts/ a HRE judicial system.

Voting and Discussion

Imperial Courts

• YES
  • Archbishop Aldrich of Cologne votes in favour of the reforms.
  • Emperor Freidrich von Brandenburg votes yes to the reforms and against Austria's proposals. 
• NO

Imperial Diet of 1628

Topics of Importance

Emperors Concerns

Imperial Mobilization Act - a Marshall shall be appointed by the emperor from each Imperial Circle. In times of foreign aggression against the Empire, the Marshall shall be placed in overall command of the armies of the Circles princes (who will retain command of their components under that command). A Marshall shall only call the forces to arms with the expressed approval of the Emperor, and doing so without that consent may result in an Imperial Ban. States of the Empire that refuse to commit their forces to those of their Marshall with be subject to economic isolation until they comply. The cost of mobilizing the armies shall be repaid by the Emperor at the conclusion of hostilities. The Emperor will also offer the ability to loan advisors to modernize the armies of states that wish to accept them.

• Marshalls of the Empire:
  • Prussia and Brandenburg Circles - the King of Prussia
  • Bohemia Circle - the King of Bohemia (Prussia)
  • Burgundy and Netherlands Circles - The King of Burgundy
  • Austrian Circle - the Archduke of Austria
  • Holstein-Hamburg Circle - the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
  • North Rhine Circle - the Archbishop of Cologne
  • South Rhine Circle - the Count Palatine of the Rhine
  • Baden-Württemburg Circle - the Margrave of Baden
  • Swiss Circle - the Head of the Swiss Confederation
  • Bavarian Circle - the Duke of Bavaria
  • Hessian Circle - the Duke of Kassel
  • Thuringia-Saxon Circle - the Elector of Saxony

Princely Concerns

Cologne: Re the Imperial Mobilisation Act - does the ban on each state being unable to call forces to arms without express approval of the emperor apply only during times when a foreign aggressor is attacking the empire, or all the time?

If a Marshal feels he has reason to summon his Circle's forces, even without the threat of a foreign aggressor, he may receive permission from the emperor. But gathering those forces for a petty squabble with a neighboring state, unless that state is a threat to the integrity of the Empire, will likely not be permissed. For example, a Marshall of a Circle feels a neighboring state is involved in plots that will harm the Empires integrity, he may receive permission to raise his Circles forces. -Guy

Voting and Discussion

• Voting on Imperial Mobilization Act:
  • Aye
    • Otto, King of Prussia, Bohemia, and Burgundy, Holy Roman Emperor
  • Nay
    • League of Westphalia
    • Wittelsbachs

Imperial Circles

Imperial Circles were commissioned in 1449 as a means of better protecting the Holy Roman Empire and to reduce legislative and administrative complexity, as well as reducing work loads on the Holy Roman Emperor.

Note: Imperial Circles are a new thing and are currently subject to major changes.

Consistency

Certain nations and provinces of the Holy Roman Empire shall be divided into circles. Each circle shall have a name corresponding to the region it is currently representing. (This does not mean that that nation has a right to all land within the circle that was named for it.) Certain nations may be in more than one circle. This allows them to participate in both circles.

Powers and Legislature

Each nation and province within a circle is represented in the Circle Diets. Each circle shall be established with a Circle Diet. The Circle Diet shall be seated in roughly the largest city in the Diet unless declared otherwise. The Circle Diet shall consist of every Imperial Prince present in the circle. For example, if a Circle consists of two nations, Nation A and Nation B but are both ruled by the same ruler, that ruler represents both nations. As such, he only gets one vote, etc. in the circle.

The Circle Diet convenes at the whim of the Circle Leader, however they always convene once every 30 years as a set meeting (this is the default, and can be changed in the Circle Diet.) The Circle Diet shall immediately elect a Circle Leader upon creation. The Circle Leader will serve a single 20 year term, unless the Circle Leader dies before the term is up, in which point the Circle Diet elects a new one to serve for 20 years.

The Circle Diet can convene and impeach the Circle Leader if necessary. This is the only action in which the Circle Diets are allowed to convene out of standard meeting procedures (30 year meets, Circle Leader election). However, the Circle Leader is not eligible to vote on impeachment proceedings.

The Circle Leader, along with other members of the diet, can call in a new piece of legislation specific to the circle. Voting works as follows. The piece of legislation is proposed. The Circle Diet votes on it. (The Circle Leader does not vote). If it is passed, it goes to the Circle Leader for approval or denial. If approved, the legislation is put into effect. If denied, the legislation can be proposed in another 3 years.

If there is only one prince within a Circle Diet, the Diet is allowed to disobey all normal meeting procedures. As such, the only member of the diet is classified as the Circle Leader, and as also being the only member of the diet, can vote in the diet.

Circle Leader Powers, Obligations, & Other Details

• The Circle Leader can assemble the Circle Diet at any time when he/she is Circle Leader.
• The Circle Leader can deny or pass any piece of legislation.
• The Circle Leader is obligated to defend their circle from foreign invasion.
  • As such, the Circle Leader can ask each member of the Circle Diet to raise a certain amount of men to come to the defense of the Circle.
    • The army raised shall be temporary, and exist only for defense of the Circle. The army shall be named after the Circle it was risen from. (For example, the Army of the Northern Rhine for the army raised from the circle of Nordrhein.)
    • If necessary, the Circle Leader can also consult other Circle Leaders or even the Emperor for support if the incursion is serious enough.
    • Note that the Circle Army is not the same as the Circle Leader's personal army.
• The Circle Leader is responsible for the fiscal responsibilities of his respective Circle.
  • As such, the Circle Leader may be granted emergency powers by the Emperor if a situation becomes too dire in the Circle.
• The Circle Leader can resign if he so wishes.
• The Circle Leader is not obligated to defend the Holy Roman Emperor or any other Circle/Circle Leader except themselves and their circle.
• The Circle Leader is able to administer his circle as he sees fit.
• Other powers may be granted by the Emperor, however, all above powers are fixed, and cannot be taken away.
• The Circle Leader may be given further powers in the Imperial Diet as a whole.
• The Circle Leader may be given further titles.

Circle Restrictions

• The Circles can't choose to not recognize any passed Imperial Reform.
• The Circles can't vote to leave the Holy Roman Empire or not to recognize the elected Holy Roman Emperor.
• The Circle Leader must come to the defense of his circle, no exceptions.
  • If the Circle Leader does not come to the defense of his circle, he is removed from power and the country he is from will not be eligible for re-election as Circle Leader for another 2 elections.
• The Circle Leader can't refuse a direct order from the Holy Roman Emperor.

Circles

This shall detail each of the Circles and their members and capitals. Members and capitals are always subject to change. The Circle Capital shall be where the Circle Leader is seated and where the Circle Diet assembles.

Niederlande (Netherlands)

Members: Burgundy, Geldern, Oldenburg, Brandenburg

Capital: Amsterdam

Circle Leader: N/A

Nordrhein (North Rhine)

Members: Cologne, Oldenburg, Munster, Cleves-Mark, Julich,

Capital: Cologne

Circle Leader: N/A

Holstein-Hamburg

Members: Hamburg, Bremen, Holstein, Hansa, Saxe-Lauenburg, Brunswick-Luneburg, Bruchhausen, Lippe

Capital: Hamburg

Circle Leader: N/A

Brandenburg

Members: Brandenburg, Pomerania, Mecklenburg, Ruppin,

Capital: Berlin

Circle Leader: N/A

Preußen (Prussia)

Members: Brandenburg

Capital: Königsberg

Circle Leader: N/A

Hessen (Hesse)

Members: Thuringia, Nassau, Frankfurt, Paderborn, Brunswick-Gottingen, Hesse

Capital: Frankfurt

Circle Leader: N/A

Thüringen-Sachsen (Thuringia-Saxony)

Members: Magdeburg, Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, Meissen

Capital: Dresden

Circle Leader: N/A

Böhmen (Bohemia)

Members: Bohemia, Brandenburg

Capital: Prague

Circle Leader: N/A

Burgund (Burgundy)

Members: Verdun, Metz, Bar, Lorraine, Strasbourg, Sundgau, Burgundy

Capital: Straßburg

Circle Leader: N/A

Südrhein (South Rhine)

Members: Trier, Pfalz, Mainz, Zweibrucken,

Capital: Mainz

Circle Leader: N/A

Baden-Württemburg (Baden-Wurttemburg)

Members: Baden, Wurttemburg, Breisgau, Furstenburg, Konstanz, Kempten, Augsburg, Burgau

Capital: Stuttgart

Circle Leader: N/A

Bayern (Bavaria)

Members: Bavaria, Bohemia, Wurzburg, Bamburg, Hohenlohe, Oettingen

Capital: München

Circle Leader: N/A

Italien (Italy)

Members: Italy, d'Asti, Ligura, Piombino

Capital: Milan

Circle Leader: N/A

Schweiz (Switzerland)

Members: Swiss Confederation, Basel, Aargau, Freibourg, Wallis, Three Leagues, Montfort, Chur

Capital: Zurich

Circle Leader: N/A

Österreich (Austria)

Members: Austria, Italy, Salzburg, Hungary

Capital: Vienna

Circle Leader: N/A

Circle Leader Elections

Each member of their respective circle gets one vote.

Voting

Niederlande (Netherlands)

Voting:

Nordrhein (North Rhine)

Voting:

Archbishop Dietrich II of Cologne votes for Cologne.

Holstein-Hamburg

Voting:

Prince-Archbishop Gerard III of Bremen votes for Duke Frederick of Brunswick-Lüneberg

Duke Frederick of Brunswick-Lüneberg votes for himself.

Brandenburg

Prince Elector Heinrich III votes Brandenburg for Brandenburg

Voting:

Preußen (Prussia)

Voting:

Hessen (Hesse)

Voting:

Karsten Wettin votes for Thuringen

Thüringen-Sachsen (Thuringia-Saxony)

Karsten Wettin votes for Thuringen

Voting:

Böhmen (Bohemia)

Voting:

Burgund (Burgundy)

Voting:

Südrhein (South Rhine)

Voting:

Baden-Württemburg (Baden-Wurttemburg)

Voting:

Bayern (Bavaria)

Voting:

Italien (Italy)

Voting:

Niccolò Maria votes for Italy.

Schweiz (Switzerland)

Voting:

Österreich (Austria)

Voting:

Niccolò Maria votes for Italy.