1519 imperial election

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

1519 imperial election

Role / Field:

The 1519 Imperial Election selected the successor to Maximilian I as Holy Roman Emperor.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

The Imperial Election of 1519 was an imperial election held to select the next Holy Roman Emperor after the death of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. It took place in Frankfurt on 28 June. Charles V was then elected and crowned Holy Roman Emperor the next year. The election followed the death of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor on 12 January 1519.

Key Developments & Impact

The two main candidates were his grandson Charles, King of Spain, and King Francis I of France. Maximilian’s son and Charles’s father, Philip "The Handsome", had died already in 1506. Henry VIII of England, king of England, also presented himself as a candidate albeit with no hereditary claim. Francis I of France also contested the election, relying on his military strength and rivalry with the Habsburgs. Electing an emperor who was also the ruler of a kingdom outside of the empire had not happened since the king of Sicily, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor was elected in 1212 nearly 300 years prior.

Enduring Legacy

France and the empire had not been joined since the days of the Carolingian dynasty. The seven prince-electors called to elect Maximilian's successor were: Albert of Brandenburg, Elector of Mainz Richard von Greiffenklau...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1212: 1212 Milestone — Electing an emperor who was also the ruler of a kingdom outside of the empire had not happened since the king of Sicily, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor was elected in 1212 nearly 300 years prior.
2. 1506: 1506 Milestone — Maximilian’s son and Charles’s father, Philip "The Handsome", had died already in 1506.
3. 1519: 1519 Milestone — The Imperial Election of 1519 was an imperial election held to select the next Holy Roman Emperor after the death of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: 1519 imperial election

True or False: “The 1519 Imperial Election was the first time a ruler of a major kingdom was elected Holy Roman Emperor in nearly 300 years.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The election of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1212, demonstrated that electing a ruler of a kingdom outside the empire was not unprecedented.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Catherine de' Medici — Historical peer (Born in 1519) (1519): Powerful Queen Mother who shaped French politics across multiple reigns.
• Gaspard II de Coligny — Historical peer (Born in 1519) (1519): Leading Huguenot noble and Admiral of France during the French Wars of Religion.
• Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi — Historical peer (Born in 1506) (1506): Imam and General of the Adal Sultanate, known for conquering Abyssinia.
• Andrea Mantegna — Historical peer (Died in 1506) (1506): Master of the Italian Renaissance, known for monumental perspective and sculptural figures.
• Vsevolod the Big Nest — Historical peer (Died in 1212) (1212): Grand Prince of Vladimir from Kievan Rus', credited with the city's ancient glory.

Frequently Asked Questions about 1519 imperial election