Discover

An 'Imperial Circle' (in German ''Reichskreis'', plural ''Reichskreise'') was a regional grouping of states of the Holy Roman Empire, primarily for the purpose of organizing a common defense and of collecting imperial taxes, but also as a means of organization within the ''Reichstag'' (Imperial Diet).
Each circle had a ''Kreistag'' (Circle Diet), although not every member of the ''Kreistag'' would also be a member of the ''Reichstag'' as well.

Contents

Formation of the circles

States outside the circles

Formation of the circles

Initially six circles were created in 1500 as part of the ''Reichsreform'' (Imperial Reform):

★ the Bavarian Circle

★ the Swabian Circle

★ the Upper Rhenish Circle

★ the (Lower Rhenish-)Westphalian Circle

★ the Franconian Circle

★ the Lower Saxon Circle
A further four circles were created in 1512:

★ the Burgundian Circle

★ the Austrian Circle

★ the Upper Saxon Circle

★ the Electoral Rhenish Circle
These ten circles remained largely unchanged until the early 1790s, when the Wars of the French Revolution brought about significant changes to the political map of the Empire.

States outside the circles

A number of states were left outside of any circle:

★ The lands of the Bohemian crown (Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Upper and Lower Lusatia)

★ The territories of the Swiss Confederation, which while nominally subject to the Empire, had established quasi-independence in 1499

★ The various territories of northern Italy, which were also virtually independent

★ A small number of minor states, such as the County of Montbéliard (Mömpelgard) and the Lordship of Schmalkalden