Imperial Circle

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A map of the Imperial Circles as at the beginning of the 16th century. States that were not part of a circle are shown in white.

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 all the members of the Kreistag would also be a member of the Reichstag as well.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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
• 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

Circles of the Holy Roman Empire after the Imperial Reform
Created in 1500: Bavarian Circle · Franconian Circle · (Lower Rhenish-)Westphalian Circle · Lower Saxon Circle · Swabian Circle · Upper Rhenish Circle Created in 1512: Austrian Circle · Burgundian Circle · Electoral Rhenish Circle · Upper Saxon Circle