display
Charles IV (1316–1378), Roman-German King since 1346 and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire since 1355, stands on the threshold between the Middle Ages and modern times.
On the one hand, still fully connected to the traditional courtly traditions, he laid the foundation for a new era.
One of his most important measures was the granting of the Golden Bull, the first part of which was announced on January 10, 1356 in Nuremberg;
the second part followed on December 25th in Metz.
As the son of King John of Bohemia from the Luxembourg dynasty, Charles was initially baptized in the name of Wenceslaus before he was given the name of Charlemagne by his friendly court in Paris.
After his blind father and France's knights had fallen from the English archers in the Battle of Crecy in 1346, he was his successor in Prague and in the same year was elected anti-king against Ludwig IV of Wittelsbach by some of the princes.
Since he died shortly afterwards, Karl was able to take power without much conflict.
It was overshadowed by disasters.
A ship brought the plague from the Crimea to Europe.
About a third of the population of the Reich should fall victim to the epidemic.
At the same time, the beginning of the Little Ice Age led to crop failures and hunger crises.
Feuds and pogroms shook the empire.
display
In order to prevent the election of opposing kings, who had repeatedly undermined the stability of the empire in the past, after his return from the imperial coronation from Rome, Charles negotiated a "Basic Law" with the imperial princes, which would finally establish and formalize the electoral process.
Its most important message was the limitation of the electoral college to seven electors: the Archbishops of Mainz, Trier and Cologne, the King of Bohemia, the Count Palatine on the Rhine, the Duke of Saxony and the Margrave of Brandenburg.
The gold seal gave the certificate its name
Source: picture alliance / dpa
For the validity of an election that was to take place in Frankfurt am Main, the participation of at least four electors was required; a simple majority was sufficient.
Aachen was set as the coronation site.
It was later moved to Frankfurt, just as the number of electorates increased after the Thirty Years' War.
This golden bull, named after the golden seals that were attached to the certificate, proved to be extremely powerful.
Until the end of the Old Kingdom in 1806, its rulers were chosen and introduced according to the procedure she described.
It has been on the Unesco World Document Heritage List since 2013.
You can also find “World History” on Facebook.
We look forward to a like.