The Seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire

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by Simeon Netchev
published on 02 June 2025

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The Seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire — This infographic showcases the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire - a group of seven powerful princes and archbishops who held the exclusive right to elect the emperor. The Holy Roman Empire, a fragmented but enduring Central European realm (962–1806), relied on this elite electoral body to maintain a semblance of unity amid its decentralized structure.

Their role was formally defined in the Golden Bull of 1356, issued by Emperor Charles IV, which codified long-standing customs into law. It designated three ecclesiastical electors (the Archbishops of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne) and four secular princes (the King of Bohemia, the Count Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxony, and the Margrave of Brandenburg). These were chosen for their territorial power and strategic influence across the empire.

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About the Author

Simeon Netchev

Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history teacher, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. He believes every image should tell a story and invite interaction, while every map should lead on a journey — blending imagination with e

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APA Style

Netchev, S. (2025, June 02). The Seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20526/the-seven-electors-of-the-holy-roman-empire/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified June 02, 2025. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20526/the-seven-electors-of-the-holy-roman-empire/.

MLA Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Seven Electors of the Holy Roman Empire." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 02 Jun 2025, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20526/the-seven-electors-of-the-holy-roman-empire/. Web. 09 Jul 2025.