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Unification of Germany

Unification of Germany. Not!!!!. Before 1500. The region of central Europe was initially unified under Charlemagne back in 800. His kingdom was called the Holy Roman Empire. It did not last after his son’s death in 843.

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Unification of Germany

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  1. Unification of Germany Not!!!!

  2. Before 1500 • The region of central Europe was initially unified under Charlemagne back in 800. • His kingdom was called the Holy Roman Empire. • It did not last after his son’s death in 843. • Successive smaller princes tried to replicate Charlemagne with limited success. • While a united Europe remained a dream, the title of Holy Roman Emperor remained. • By 1500 it really only covered central Europe and parts of Italy.

  3. The Process • The title of HRE was a sought after prize as it offered a lot of informal power through the Pope. • To become the HRE you needed to be elected by both the German princes and the church. • Each member of the council held the prestigious title of Elector. • Initially the council was made up of 6 kings and 3 Arch bishops. • All were in German states.

  4. Table of Electors

  5. HRE Shaken • The Protestant Reformation started within the HRE and quickly divided the small kingdoms. • Initially the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V did little to suppress the dissidents. • By the 1540s the Charles started to move against them. • The challenge to openly defy or comply with the HRE escalated the violence. • Because of his conflict with France, he was too weak to easily suppress the dissident states. • In 1555, a peace was brokered among the states. • Peace of Augsburg • Cuius regio, eius religio = as a ruler, so the religion

  6. German Unification? • The Peace of Augsburg ended the violence, but it also upheld the balance of power. • The HRE was still the top dog. • Since 1452 and until 1806 it was controlled by one family – the Hapsburgs. • Princes’ still had enough power to keep their autonomy. • Under this system, no one saw any need for change.

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