The formation of the ´Reichshofrat´ (Charles V, Ferdinand I)

The aim of the research project `The formation of the Reichshofrat (Charles V, Ferdinand I)` is to study comprehensively for the first time the history of the Hofrat owned by both the emperor and the Statthalter (deputy) of the emperor, who later became the Roman King. The intended period of investigation is from 1519 (the coming into power of Emperor Charles V) to 1564 (the death of Emperor Ferdinand I). In the first place, the project will contribute to the history of the Reichshofrat (Imperial Aulic Council). This institution established over the period of time focused on by the research project as a specific council of the emperor to carry out certain judicial and administrative tasks, whereas previous efforts to set up a similar council undertaken by Emperor Maximilian I (1497/98, 1518) did not take full effect. Thus, the time-span investigated by the research project has to be seen as a decisive phase in the history of the Reichshofrat, which was not only one of the two supreme courts in the Heiliges Römisches Reich deutscher Nation (Holy Roman Empire) but also one of Europe`s important supreme courts. Despite its importance, there is very little knowledge about that phase up to now. This is due to the fact that previous research has concentrated on the history of the Reichshofrat later than 1559, the year of the first emergence of the term `Reichshofrat`. Nevertheless, it is clear that the Reichshofrat was not founded in 1559. On the contrary, it already took shape during Charles` and Ferdinands` reigns. The main concern of the project will be to examine the daily work of the Hofrat/Reichshofrat. Contrary to the legal side - court regulations and instructions for the court offices, for example - this aspect of the Hofrat has almost been fully neglected. The project will address not only its judicial, but also its administrative tasks - in the field of fiefs and privileges and the so called Gnadensachen (grace matters), for example. In addition, the project will research the members of the Hofrats, whose names have only been partly known up to now. By examining the composition and the work of the imperial and royal Hofrat, the research project also intends to contribute to the history of the central authority of the Reich and its exercise of power, and to the history of the reign of the Habsburg brothers Charles and Ferdinand. First and foremost the project will exploit the records of the archives of the Reichshofrat. As recent research has shown, these up to now only sporadically consulted documents provide rich and highly valuable information about the period of time at stake. Second, source material from other archives of the central authority and from the archives of some of the parties involved will be taken into account.

The aim of the research project `The formation of the Reichshofrat (Charles V, Ferdinand I)` is to study comprehensively for the first time the history of the Hofrat owned by both the emperor and the Statthalter (deputy) of the emperor, who later became the Roman King. The intended period of investigation is from 1519 (the coming into power of Emperor Charles V) to 1564 (the death of Emperor Ferdinand I). In the first place, the project will contribute to the history of the Reichshofrat (Imperial Aulic Council). This institution established over the period of time focused on by the research project as a specific council of the emperor to carry out certain judicial and administrative tasks, whereas previous efforts to set up a similar council undertaken by Emperor Maximilian I (1497/98, 1518) did not take full effect. Thus, the time-span investigated by the research project has to be seen as a decisive phase in the history of the Reichshofrat, which was not only one of the two supreme courts in the Heiliges Römisches Reich deutscher Nation (Holy Roman Empire) but also one of Europe`s important supreme courts. Despite its importance, there is very little knowledge about that phase up to now. This is due to the fact that previous research has concentrated on the history of the Reichshofrat later than 1559, the year of the first emergence of the term `Reichshofrat`. Nevertheless, it is clear that the Reichshofrat was not founded in 1559. On the contrary, it already took shape during Charles` and Ferdinands` reigns. The main concern of the project will be to examine the daily work of the Hofrat/Reichshofrat. Contrary to the legal side - court regulations and instructions for the court offices, for example - this aspect of the Hofrat has almost been fully neglected. The project will address not only its judicial, but also its administrative tasks - in the field of fiefs and privileges and the so called Gnadensachen (grace matters), for example. In addition, the project will research the members of the Hofrats, whose names have only been partly known up to now. By examining the composition and the work of the imperial and royal Hofrat, the research project also intends to contribute to the history of the central authority of the Reich and its exercise of power, and to the history of the reign of the Habsburg brothers Charles and Ferdinand. First and foremost the project will exploit the records of the archives of the Reichshofrat. As recent research has shown, these up to now only sporadically consulted documents provide rich and highly valuable information about the period of time at stake. Second, source material from other archives of the central authority and from the archives of some of the parties involved will be taken into account.