Reichstag (institution)

:This page is about the German legislature. For others of the same name, see Reichstag (building).

The Reichstag in the Holy Roman Empire

While the Holy Roman Empire lasted (formally until 1806), the Reichstag never was a parliament in today's sense; instead, it was the assembly of the various leaders that Empire was comprised of. More precisely, it was the convention of the Reichsstände (imperial states), those legal entities that, according to Feudal law, had no authority above them besides the Emperor himself (see Holy Roman Empire for details).

Related Topics:
Holy Roman Empire - 1806 - Reichsstände - Feudal law

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The precise role and function changed over the centuries, as did the Empire itself, while the states gained more and more control at the expense of the imperial power. Initially, there was neither a fixed time nor location for the Reichstag. It started as a convention of the dukes of the old Germanic tribes that formed the Frankish kingdom when important decisions had to be made, probably based on the old Germanic law that each leader relied on the support of his leading men. For example, already under Charlemagne, the Reichstag in Aachen in 802/803 officially declared the laws of the Saxons and other tribes. The Reichstag of 919 in Fritzlar elected the first Saxon prince, Henry the Fowler, king of the Germans (Henry I), thus overcoming the longstanding rivalry between Franks and Saxons and laying the foundation for the German Empire. In 1158, the Reichstag in Roncaglia finalized four laws that would significantly alter the (never formally written) constitution of the Empire, marking the beginning of the steady decline of the central power in favor of the local dukes. In 1356, the Golden Bull cemented the concept of Landesherrschaft, the largely independent rule of the dukes over their respective territories.

Related Topics:
Frankish kingdom - Charlemagne - Aachen - 802 - 803 - Saxons - Fritzlar - Henry the Fowler - Henry I - Roncaglia - Constitution - Golden Bull

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, until the late 15th century, the Reichstag was not actually formalized as an institution. Instead, the dukes would irregularly convene at the court of the king; these assemblies were usually referred to as Hoftage (from German Hof = "court"). Only beginning in 1489 was the Reichstag called as such, formally divided into several collegia, initially being the Kurfürsten (Electors) and other dukes. Later, those cities that were reichsunmittelbar, that is, oligarchic republics independent of a local ruler, formally only responsible to the Emperor himself, managed to be accepted as a third party.

Related Topics:
15th century - Kurfürsten - Reichsunmittelbar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Several attempts to "reform" the Empire to end its slow disintegration, starting with the Reichstag in 1495, did not have much effect. In contrast, this process was quite concluded with 1648's Peace of Westphalia, which formally bound the Emperor to all decisions made by the Reichstag, in effect depriving him of his few remaining powers. From then to its end in 1806, the Reich was merely a loose collection of largely independent states.

Related Topics:
1648 - Peace of Westphalia - 1806

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Probably most well known are the Reichstage in Worms of 1495, where the Imperial Reform was concluded, another in 1521, where Martin Luther was banned (see Edict of Worms), and several in Nuremberg; see Diet of Worms and Diet of Nuremberg for details.

Related Topics:
Worms - 1495 - Imperial Reform - 1521 - Martin Luther - Edict of Worms - Nuremberg - Diet of Worms - Diet of Nuremberg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Only with the induction of the Immerwährender Reichstag in 1663 did the Reichstag permanently convene in a fixed location, the city of Regensburg.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A list of the meeting places of various sessions of the Reichstag is in the German Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For a list of members of the Reichstag as of 1792, near the end of the Empire, refer to List of Reichstag participants (1792).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~