Editing Frederick I of Württemberg (section)

===Duke and elector===
On 23 December 1797, Frederick's father, who had succeeded his brother as [[Duke of Württemberg]] two years before, died, and Frederick became Duke of Württemberg as Frederick III. He was not to enjoy his reign undisturbed for long, however. In 1800, the French army occupied Württemberg and the Duke and Duchess fled to [[Vienna]]. In 1801, Duke Frederick ceded the enclave of [[Montbéliard]] to the French Republic, and received [[Ellwangen]] in exchange two years later.

In the ''[[Reichsdeputationshauptschluss]]'', which reorganized the Empire as a result of the French annexation of the west bank of the Rhine, the Duke of Württemberg was raised to the dignity of [[Prince-elector]]. Frederick assumed the title ''Prince-Elector'' ({{langx|de|link=no|[[Kurfürst]]}}) on 25 February 1803, and was thereafter known as the ''[[Elector of Württemberg]]''. The reorganization of the Empire also secured the new Elector control of various ecclesiastical territories and former [[Free imperial city|free cities]], thus greatly increasing the size of his domains.