Reichsexekution

Quick Facts: Who was Reichsexekution?

Subject:

Reichsexekution

Known for:

Imperial or federal intervention against a member state using military force.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

In German history, a Reichsexekution (sometimes "Reich execution" in English) was an imperial or federal intervention against a member state, using military force if necessary. The instrument of the Reichsexekution was constitutionally available to the central governments of the Holy Roman Empire (800–1806), the German Empire of 1848–1849, the German Empire of 1871–1918, the Weimar Republic (1918–1933) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). Under the German Confederation (1815–1866) and the North German Confederation (1867–1871), the same right belonged to the confederal government and is called Bundesexekution. The basis of the Holy Roman Emperor's right to act against an Imperial Estate, by military means if necessary, lay in the imperial reforms enacted by the Diet of Worms in 1495, most importantly the declaration of Eternal Peace within the bounds of the empire. Against those who broke the peace, the emperor could obtain a ruling from the Imperial Chamber Court or the Imperial Aulic Council and then issue a Reichsexekution against the offending estate.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Often, the imperial execution would be delegated to one or several other estates belong to the same Imperial Circle as the offender. When this was insufficient, it fell to the empire as a whole and the Reichsarmee (imperial army) to enforce the verdict of the court, resulting in a full Reichskrieg (imperial war), which may be known as a Reichsexekutionskrieg or Exekutionskrieg. This final escalation required the approval of the Imperial Diet after 1648. There were numerous Reichsexekutionen in the Holy Roman Empire: against the knight Götz von Berlichingen in 1514 against the Anabaptist government of Münster in 1535 against the Schmalkaldic League in 1546, for which see Schmalkaldic War against John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony, in 1566 against the imperial city of Donauwörth in 1607 against Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, and John George I, Elector of Saxony, in 1620 during the Thirty Years' War against the Duchies of Bremen and Verden, which belonged to the Swedish Crown, in 1675, for which see Bremen-Verden Campaign against the imperial city of Hamburg in 1708 against Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, in 1719 against Frederick II, King in Prussia, in 1757, for which see Third Silesian War against the Republic of Liège in 1789 During the German revolutions of 1848–1849, the Frankfurt Parliament created a Provisional Central Government for all Germany. Although the act of parliament did not grant this body the right of Reichsexekution, the Frankfurt Constitution that came into effect on 28 March 1849 did grant it to the imperial government (which never in fact came into being).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In January 1849, the Frankfurt Parliament passed a law banning casinos and other gaming establishments. It was to take effect on 1 May. The Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg demanded compensation for the loss of its lucrative Spielbank Bad Homburg, but this was refused. On 9 March, Hesse-Homburg formally protested the law and on 1 May it had not complied. On 7 May, the provisional government sent a Reichskommissar, Theodor Friedrich Knyn, to Homburg with 700 troops in order to carry out a Reichsexekution.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1495: 1495 Milestone — The basis of the Holy Roman Emperor's right to act against an Imperial Estate, by military means if necessary, lay in the imperial reforms enacted by the Diet of Worms in 1495, most importantly the declaration of Eternal Peace within the bounds of the empire.
2. 1514: 1514 Milestone — There were numerous Reichsexekutionen in the Holy Roman Empire: against the knight Götz von Berlichingen in 1514 against the Anabaptist government of Münster in 1535 against the Schmalkaldic League in 1546, for which see Schmalkaldic War against John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony, in 1566 against the imperial city of Donauwörth in 1607 against Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, and John George I, Elector of Saxony, in 1620 during the Thirty Years' War against the Duchies of Bremen and Verden, which belonged to the Swedish Crown, in 1675, for which see Bremen-Verden Campaign against the imperial city of Hamburg in 1708 against Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, in 1719 against Frederick II, King in Prussia, in 1757, for which see Third Silesian War against the Republic of Liège in 1789 During the German revolutions of 1848–1849, the Frankfurt Parliament created a Provisional Central Government for all Germany.
3. 1648: 1648 Milestone — This final escalation required the approval of the Imperial Diet after 1648.
4. 1806: 1806 Milestone — The instrument of the Reichsexekution was constitutionally available to the central governments of the Holy Roman Empire (800–1806), the German Empire of 1848–1849, the German Empire of 1871–1918, the Weimar Republic (1918–1933) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945).
5. 1815: 1815 Milestone — Under the German Confederation (1815–1866) and the North German Confederation (1867–1871), the same right belonged to the confederal government and is called Bundesexekution.
6. 1849: 1849 Milestone — Although the act of parliament did not grant this body the right of Reichsexekution, the Frankfurt Constitution that came into effect on 28 March 1849 did grant it to the imperial government (which never in fact came into being).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Reichsexekution

True or False: “The right of Reichsexekution was only available to the central government during the German Empire of 1871–1918.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): This right was also constitutionally available during the Holy Roman Empire (800–1806) and the Weimar Republic.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Augustus De Morgan — Historical peer (Born in 1806) (1806): Pioneering logician known for De Morgan's laws and mathematical induction.
• Benito Juárez — Historical peer (Born in 1806) (1806): Pioneering Indigenous President of Mexico, champion of Liberal reforms and the Republic.
• Albert I of Monaco — Historical peer (Born in 1848) (1848): Prince of Monaco, devoted to science, exploration, and modernizing the state.
• Augustus Saint-Gaudens — Historical peer (Born in 1848) (1848): Pioneering American sculptor embodying the ideals of the American Renaissance.
• Albert Gallatin — Historical peer (Died in 1849) (1849): Genevan-American statesman, diplomat, and scholar who helped shape early US finance and policy.
• Alexander Kielland — Historical peer (Born in 1849) (1849): A foundational Norwegian realist writer, celebrated among the 'Four Greats' of literature.
• Abanindranath Tagore — Historical peer (Born in 1871) (1871): Pioneering figure of the Bengal School, modernizing Indian art against Western influence.
• Alexander Scriabin — Historical peer (Born in 1871) (1871): Russian composer and pianist, known for his highly dissonant, mystical, and color-coded musical language.
• Abdul Hamid II — Historical peer (Died in 1918) (1918): Last effective Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, navigating decline and constitutional upheaval.
• Abraham Pais — Historical peer (Born in 1918) (1918): Pioneering physicist and acclaimed science historian of modern physics.

Frequently Asked Questions about Reichsexekution