Electoral College (Holy Roman Empire)

The Electoral College of the Holy Roman Empire (German: Kurfürstenkollegium or Kurfürstenrat) was the body of electors who elected the King of the Romans, who would then usually be crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

The Holy Roman Emperor was not directly elected by all subjects of the Empire. Instead, the privilege of electing the King of the Romans was granted to a small group of powerful princes known as electors (German: Kurfürsten, singular Kurfürst). The term Kurfürst is first recorded in the 13th century and derives from the German küren, meaning "to choose," and Fürst, meaning "prince."

The composition of the Electoral College varied over time, but it generally included both ecclesiastical and secular rulers. The Golden Bull of 1356 formally codified the number of electors at seven:

• The Archbishops of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne (ecclesiastical electors)
• The King of Bohemia (secular elector)
• The Count Palatine of the Rhine (secular elector)
• The Duke of Saxony (secular elector)
• The Margrave of Brandenburg (secular elector)

This composition remained relatively stable until the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). In 1623, the electoral dignity of the Palatinate was transferred to the Duke of Bavaria. Later, the Palatinate was restored as an eighth electorate in 1648, though Bavaria retained its electoral vote. In 1692, a ninth electorate was created for the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover).

The electors possessed significant power and influence within the Holy Roman Empire. They not only elected the Emperor but also held important advisory roles. Their support was crucial for the Emperor to effectively govern and implement policies. The position of Elector was hereditary within certain families and carried considerable prestige and power.

The power of the Electoral College gradually declined in the later centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, as the Emperor's authority weakened and individual territories gained greater autonomy. The institution was formally dissolved with the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.