The Holy Roman Empire IV
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Imperial Institutions
The Estates of the Realm ("Reichstag")
The Reichstag is an assembly of the rulers of all states within the Empire. The different categories of members sit on different benches:
o Spiritual Lords
o Temporal Lords
o Imperial Cities.
Each bench has one vote. When member states of the Empire talk to each other at Reichstag sessions, that is usually a good sign for the peace and quiet of the Realm (you will see occasional messages about such contacts). The Reichstag will also have a say in the creation of additional Imperial institutions. It also determines replacements for Electors that have lost their title, or have been annexed.
The Electors ("Kurfürsten")
The Electors choose the Emperor. This gives them a position of power in the Empire, even if they rule over a very small country. As power-brokers within the Realm, they have an interest in maintaining both the Empire, and their privileges and rights within it.
If they perceive an Emperor as too weak to protect their rights, or too strong to respect them, they might begin coalescing around a rival for the crown. If they are pleased with the Emperor, they will be quite loyal to his country, and will be likely to vote for the heir of the present Emperor.
Since the Electors are so powerful, the question arises: who determines who gets to be an Elector? Ordinarily, this is the privilege of the Reichstag. This selection process is a long and arduous negotiation between different regional interests and rulers with strong egos. The constitution of the Empire provides that there must always be seven electors: three archbishops (spiritual electors) and four Princes (temporal electors). Republics need not apply. If an Elector's country is annexed, or if the Emperor removes an Elector from office as punishment for stealing a province, the remaining Electors will make sure that a suitable replacement is found, so that there will always be three spiritual and four temporal electors.
A strong Emperor may be able to expand the number of Electors, appointing up to two additional ones - loyal supporters of his own noble house. He may also be able to take over from the Reichstag the function of appointing a replacement elector. If he chooses to exercise this power, he will, however, damage his standing as a protector of the ancient rights of the Estates of the Realm. Therefore, he might choose not to interfere, and to keep the Reichstag in charge of handling the appointment of Electors.
If the Emperor wants to reform the Empire, by creating strong central institutions that can bind the member states more closely to each other, he needs the support of Electors. Only an Emperor who has managed to make the crown hereditary will be able to dismiss the electoral college, entirely.
Reich Court ("Reichskammergericht")
Establishing such a Chamber will strengthen the rule of law in the Empire.
If this Court is established, it will be set up in the City of Wetzlar (Nassau). This will be indicated by a crown icon in the province window of Nassau.
Effects:
¢ boosts Imperial Power over time
¢ makes it less likely for Imperial Circuits to be established
¢ speeds up court cases that are brought over provinces stolen
¢ may dampen an Emperor's influence, when it gets very strong
¢ may invalidate Imperial edicts
¢ may invalidate an attempt to make the Emperor's title hereditary
Conditions:
" Must be "Symbolic Leader" or better.
" Must have relations above 150 with one member from each bench of the Reichstag:
o one theocratic Elector
o one secular Elector
o one Imperial City
Criminal Code ("Reichsgesetzbuch")
A unified Code of Law will further bolster the trust placed in the Empire by members.
Effects:
¢ lower stability costs for all member states
¢ Emperor may receive popular support for his policies
¢ will improve relations between the Emperor and the most commercially active member states within and without the Empire
¢ may create problems if friends of the Emperor's run into trouble with the law
Conditions:
" Must be "Symbolic Leader" or better.
" Must have established a Reich Court
" Must have relations above 150 with one member from each bench of the Reichstag:
o one theocratic Elector
o one secular Elector
o one Imperial City
Imperial Tax ("Reichspfennig")
A tax on all adult male subjects within the Empire, levied directly by the Emperor.
Effects:
¢ annual payment to the Emperor (50-200 ducats, depending on his Degree of Authority)
¢ members will receive 20% lower direct (annual) tax income
¢ strengthens Electors' resistance to the Emperor
Conditions:
" Must be "Strong Leader" or better.
" Must be allied with one member from each bench of the Reichstag (and needs relations of 120 or higher with that ally):
o one theocratic Elector
o one secular Elector
o one Imperial City
Hereditary Imperial Title
The highest degree of centralization, this will give the Emperor almost as much power as the Kings of Spain, France, or England.
Effects:
¢ The Emperor will always be succeeded by his heir
¢ There will be no more regency councils for the Emperor's country
¢ The Demesne will de-facto become part of the Emperor's country (no cores, though)
¢ Electors will be abolished
¢ blocks formation of Germany by another country
¢ Makes it more likely to be subject to a popular revolution
Conditions:
" Must be "Powerful Leader"
" Must have vassalized and be allied with all Electors OR must have eliminated all electors
Imperial Circuits ("Reichskreise")
Administrative divisions that take over Imperial functions, under the control of a powerful local country, or the local elector ("Convener").
These Circuits may be established individually, at different times. Their full effect is strongest, when every possible Circuit has been created. There can be one circuit for each German culture group.
Effects:
¢ strongly improves relations between members
¢ will lead to continuous loss of Imperial Power
¢ may block the addition of provinces to the Imperial Demesne in that Circuit
¢ Convener may take over the Imperial function of demanding that aggressors return a province within his Circuit
¢ makes it much more difficult for the Emperor to claim a hereditary title
¢ Convener may form Germany (if he is in the Germanic culture group)
Conditions:
" Emperor must be "Strong Leader" or "Powerful Leader"
" Capital and one additional province owned must be in the potential circuit
" Cannot be Emperor
" Must have good relations with neighbors who share the same culture
" Must not have a neighbor who shares the same culture and is an elector
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