Prince electors in the context of "Archbishop of Mainz"

Play Trivia Questions online!

or

Skip to study material about Prince electors in the context of "Archbishop of Mainz"

Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: Prince electors

The prince-electors (German: Kurfürst [ˈkuːɐ̯ˌfʏʁst] , pl. Kurfürsten [ˈkuːɐ̯ˌfʏʁstn̩] , Czech: Kurfiřt, Latin: Princeps Elector) were the members of the Electoral College of the Holy Roman Empire, which elected the Holy Roman Emperor. Usually, half of the electors were archbishops.

From the 13th century onwards, a small group of prince-electors gained the privilege of electing the King of the Romans. The king would then later be crowned Emperor by the pope. Charles V (elected in 1519) was the last emperor to be crowned (1530); his successors assumed the title "Elected Emperor of the Romans" (German: erwählter Römischer Kaiser; Latin: electus Romanorum imperator) upon their coronation as kings.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<
In this Dossier

Prince electors in the context of Electoral College (Holy Roman Empire)

The Electoral College (German: Kur; Latin: Collegium Electorale) of the Holy Roman Empire was the gathering of prince electors for an imperial election, where they voted for the next King of the Romans and future Emperor. The German name of this gathering, Kur, is derived from the Middle High German kur or kure ("election").

Initially all the so-called "great ones of the Empire" (Große des Reiches) were entitled to vote, but by the second half of the 13th century, only the prince electors were entitled to participate in the royal election.

↑ Return to Menu