Editing Prince-elector (section)

== Elections ==
{{Main|Imperial election}}

The electors were originally summoned by the Archbishop of Mainz within one month of an Emperor's death, and met within three months of being summoned. During the ''interregnum'', imperial power was exercised by two [[imperial vicar]]s. Each vicar, in the words of the Golden Bull, was "the administrator of the empire itself, with the power of passing judgments, of presenting to ecclesiastical benefices, of collecting returns and revenues and investing with fiefs, of receiving oaths of fealty for and in the name of the holy empire". The Elector of Saxony was vicar in areas operating under Saxon law ([[Saxony]], [[Westphalia]], [[Electorate of Hanover|Hannover]], and northern Germany), while the Elector Palatine was vicar in the remainder of the Empire ([[Franconia]], [[Swabia]], the [[Rhine]], and southern Germany). The Elector of Bavaria replaced the Elector Palatine in 1623, but when the latter was granted a new electorate in 1648, there was a dispute between the two as to which was vicar. In 1659, both purported to act as vicar, but ultimately, the other vicar recognized the Elector of Bavaria. Later, the two electors made a pact to act as joint vicars, but the Imperial Diet rejected the agreement. In 1711, while the Elector of Bavaria was under the [[ban of the Empire]], the Elector Palatine again acted as vicar, but his cousin was restored to his position upon his restoration three years later.

Finally, in 1745, the two agreed to alternate as vicars, with Bavaria starting first. This arrangement was upheld by the Imperial Diet in 1752. In 1777, the question was settled when the Elector Palatine inherited Bavaria. On many occasions, however, there was no interregnum, as a new king had been elected during the lifetime of the previous Emperor.

[[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]] regularly served as the site of the election from the 14th century on, but elections were also held at [[Cologne]] (1531), [[Regensburg]] (1575 and 1636), and [[Augsburg]] (1653 and 1690). An elector could appear in person or could appoint another elector as his proxy. More often, an electoral suite or embassy was sent to cast the vote; the credentials of such representatives were verified by the Archbishop of Mainz, who presided over the ceremony. The deliberations were held at the city hall, but voting occurred in the cathedral. In Frankfurt, a special electoral chapel, or {{lang|de|Wahlkapelle}}, was used for elections. Under the Golden Bull, a majority of electors sufficed to elect a king, and each elector could cast only one vote. Electors were free to vote for whomsoever they pleased (including themselves), but dynastic considerations played a great part in the choice.

From the 16th century on, electors drafted a {{lang|de|[[Wahlkapitulation]]}}, or electoral capitulation, which was presented to the king-elect. The capitulation may be described as a contract between the princes and the king, the latter conceding rights and powers to the electors and other princes. Once an individual swore to abide by the electoral capitulation, he assumed the office of King of the Romans.

In the 10th and 11th centuries, princes often acted merely to confirm hereditary succession in the [[Ottonian dynasty|Ottonian]] and [[Salian dynasty|Salian dynasties]]. But with the actual formation of the prince-elector class, elections became more open, starting with the election of [[Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor|Lothair III]] in 1125. The [[Hohenstaufen|Staufen]] dynasty managed to get its sons formally elected in their fathers' lifetimes almost as a formality. After those lines ended in extinction, the electors began to elect kings from different families, so that the throne would not once again settle within a single dynasty. All kings elected from 1438 onwards were from among the [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg dynasty]] until 1740, when Austria was inherited by a woman, [[Maria Theresa of Austria|Maria Theresa]], sparking the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] and the short-lived rule of a Bavarian [[Wittelsbach]] emperor. In 1745, Maria Theresa's husband, [[Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I of Lorraine]], was elected emperor. All of his successors were also from the Habsburg-Lorraine family. 

=== High offices ===
<!--This section linked from [[Clemens August of Bavaria]]-->
Each elector held a "High Office of the Empire" ({{lang|de|Reichserzamt}}) analogous to a modern cabinet office position and was a member of the ceremonial [[Imperial Household]]. The three spiritual electors became [[Archchancellor]]s ({{langx|de|Erzkanzler}}, {{langx|la|Archicancellarius}}): the [[Elector of Mainz|Archbishop of Mainz]] became ''Archchancellor of [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]]'', the [[Archbishop of Cologne]] became ''Archchancellor of [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]]'', and the [[Elector of Trier|Archbishop of Trier]] became ''Archchancellor of [[Kingdom of Arles|Burgundy]]''. The secular electors were granted [[heraldic augmentation]]s to their coats of arms reflecting their positions in the Household. These augmentations were displayed in three alternative ways:
* as an [[inescutcheon]] on their coat of arms (as in the case of the Arch-Steward, Treasurer, and Chamberlain);
* as [[Dexter and sinister|dexter]] impalements (as in the case of the Arch-Marshal and Arch-Bannerbearer)
* integrated into the charge within the [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] (as in the case of the Arch-Cupbearer, where the Lion of Bohemia acquired a "simple crown" held in its dexter paw).

{|class="wikitable"
|+Holders of imperial offices and their heraldic augmentations
!Imperial office<br>([[German language|German]], [[Latin language|Latin]]) !! Augmentation !!  Elector
|-
| align="center" | Arch-[[Cupbearer]]<br>(''Erzmundschenk,<br>Archipincerna'') 
| align="center" | [[File:Simple gold crown.svg|40px]]<br>''A simple crown, [[Or (heraldry)|Or]]''<br>{{efn|name=armorial Frederick III|[[File:Armorial Emperor Frederick III.jpg|thumb|none|upright=0.7|Page from an [[armorial]] showing the arms of Emperor Frederick III, ca 1415–1493.]]}}{{efn|name=armorial Maximilian I |[[File:Armorial Emperor Maximilian I.jpg|thumb|none|upright=0.7|Page from an armorial showing arms of Kaiser Maximilian I ca 1508–1519]]}}{{efn|name=Kurrent|[[File:Deutsche Kurrentschrift.svg|thumb|none|upright=0.7|German Kurrent script, in which the armorial sources are written.]]}}
|| [[King of Bohemia]]
|-
|align="center"| Arch-[[Steward (office)|Steward]]<br>(''Erztruchseß'',<br>''Archidapifer'')
|align="center"| [[File:HRE Arch-Steward Arms.svg|40px]]<br>''[[Gules]], an [[Globus cruciger|orb]], [[or (heraldry)|Or]]''
||[[Elector Palatine]] (1356-1623)<br>[[Elector of Bavaria]] (1623–1706)<br>[[Elector Palatine]] (1706–1714)<br>[[Elector of Bavaria]] (1714–1806)
|-
|align="center"|{{anchor|Arch-Marshal}}<!-- [[Arch-Marshal]] redirects here --> Arch-[[Marshal#Ceremonial and protocol|Marshal]]<br>(''Erzmarschall'',<br>''Archimarescallus'')
|align="center"|[[File:HRE Arch-Marshal Arms.svg|40px]]<br>''[[Fess|Per fess]] [[Sable (heraldry)|sable]] and [[argent]], two swords in [[saltire]], gules''
|| [[Elector of Saxony]]
|-
|align="center"|Arch-[[Chamberlain (office)|Chamberlain]]<br>(''Erzkämmerer'',<br>''Archicamerarius'') 
|align="center"|[[File:HRE Arch-Chamberlain Arms (Ancient).svg|40px]] [[File:HRE Arch-Chamberlain Arms (Modern).svg|40px]]<br>{{Fix|text=Please clarify why two  images.}}<br>''[[azure (heraldry)|Azure]], a [[scepter]] [[Pale (heraldry)|palewise]], Or''
|| [[Elector of Brandenburg]]
|-
|align="center"| [[Arch-Treasurer]]<br>(''Erzschatzmeister'',<br>''Archithesaurarius'') 
|align="center"| [[File:HRE Arch-Treasurer Arms.svg|40px]]<br>''Gules, [[Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire|Crown of the Holy Roman Empire]], or''
||[[Elector Palatine]] (1648–1706)<br>[[Elector of Hanover]] (1710–1714)<ref name=Treasurer>The augmentation was borne as an inescutcheon continuously and without interruption by the Electors of Hanover from 1714-1837. There is no evidence that this inescutcheon was ever borne by the Elector Palatine (House of Wittelsbach).</ref><br>[[Elector Palatine]] (1714–1777)<ref name=Treasurer/><br>[[Elector of Hanover]] (1777–1806)<ref name=Treasurer/>
|-
| align="center" | Arch-[[King of Arms|Bannerbearer]]<br>(''Erzbannerträger'',<br>''Archivexillarius'')
| align="center" | [[File:HRE Arch-Bannerbearer Arms.svg|40px]]<br />''Azure, a lance party [[Fess|per fess]], or, and gules bendwise<br>flying to sinister chief a [[Flags of the Holy Roman Empire|banner, or, with the Imperial Eagle]]'' 
||[[Electorate of Hanover|Elector of Hanover]] (1692–1710)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noack |first=Konstantin |url=https://www.grin.com/document/384498 |title=Die neun Kurfürstentümer des Heiligen Römischen Reiches Deutscher Nation |date=2017-12-10 |publisher=GRIN Verlag |isbn=978-3-668-62294-4 |language=de}}</ref><br>[[Electorate of Hanover|Elector of Hanover]] (1714–1777)<br>[[Electorate of Württemberg|Elector of Württemberg]] (1803–1806)<ref>[https://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/hre.htm#Electors “The Holy Roman Empire”, ''Heraldica'']</ref>
|}
[[File:COA family de Kurpfalz.svg|thumb|150px|right|Arms of [[Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria|Maximilian I, Duke of Bavaria and Prince-Elector]], with inescutcheon of the Arch-Steward of the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[File:Royal Hanover Inescutcheon.svg|thumb|150px|right|The ''Lesser coat of arms of the Elector of Hanover'' with inescutcheon of the Arch-Treasurer, borne as an inescutcheon on the royal arms of the United Kingdom by [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]].]]

When the [[Duke of Bavaria]] replaced the Elector Palatine in 1623, he assumed the latter's office of Arch-Steward. When the Count Palatine was granted a new electorate, he assumed the position of Arch-Treasurer of the Empire. When the Duke of Bavaria was banned in 1706, the Elector Palatine returned to the office of Arch-Steward, and in 1710, the Elector of Hanover was promoted to the post of Arch-Treasurer. Matters were complicated by the Duke of Bavaria's restoration in 1714; the Elector of Bavaria resumed the office of Arch-Steward, while the Elector Palatine returned to the post of Arch-Treasurer, and the Elector of Hanover was given the new office of Archbannerbearer. The Electors of Hanover, however, continued to be styled Arch-Treasurers, though the Elector Palatine was the one who actually exercised the office until 1777, when he inherited Bavaria and the Arch-Stewardship. After 1777, no further changes were made to the Imperial Household; new offices were planned for the Electors admitted in 1803, but the Empire was abolished before they could be created. The Duke of Württemberg, however, started to adopt the trappings of the Arch-Bannerbearer.

The electors discharged the ceremonial duties associated with their offices only during coronations, where they bore the crown and regalia of the Empire. Otherwise, they were represented by holders of corresponding "[[Hereditary Offices of the Household]]". The Arch-Butler was represented by the Hereditary Butler ([[Cupbearer]]) (the [[Count of Althann]]), the Arch-Seneschal by the Hereditary [[Steward (office)|Steward]] (the [[House of Waldburg|Count of Waldburg]], who adopted the title into their name as "Truchsess von Waldburg"), the Arch-Chamberlain by the Hereditary [[Chamberlain (office)|Chamberlain]] (the [[Count of Hohenzollern]]), the Arch-Marshal by the Hereditary [[Marshal]] (the [[Count of Pappenheim]]), and the Arch-Treasurer by the Hereditary [[Treasurer]] (the [[Count of Sinzendorf]]). After 1803, the Duke of Württemberg as Arch-Bannerbearer assigned the count of Zeppelin-[[Aschhausen]] as Hereditary Bannerbearer.<br>{{Fix|text=Please clarify why some of these offices do not feature in the table immediately above.}}