The Roman Empire

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

A PROFITABLE instruction concerning the Tables of GERMANIE. (Book Germany)

The Emperour is the head of the Empire.

And he hath three States under him, who meete together to consult and conclude of all the affaires of the Empire, namely the seaven Electors, who were first instituted about the yeare of our Lord 1273 by Pope Gregorie the tenth, and were confirmed by the Emperou• Charles the fifth, as Onuphrius sheweth in Comitijs Imperatorijs, and Iohn A•ventine Lib. 5. of his history of Bavaria. These have power to elect and chuse the Emperour. The second State is the Ecclesiasticall and saecular Princes. The third is the free Citties.

The first member therefore of the Empire is the seaven Electors.

• THe Archbishop of Moguntinum, Arch-chancellor of the Romaine Empire through Germanie.
• The Archbishop of Trevers, Arch-chancellor of the Romaine Empire through France, and the Kingdome of Arelatum.
• The Archbishop of Collen, Archchancellor of the Romaine Empire through Italy.
• The King of Bohemia chiefe pantler of the Romaine Empire.
• The Count Palatine of Rhene, the chiefe cupbearer of the Romaine Empire.
• The Duke of Saxonie, chiefe Marshall of the Romaine Empire.
• The Marquesse of Brandenburg, chiefe Chamberlaine of the Romaine Empire.

The second member is the Princes and Nobles.

I will set downe the common names of places as they are in the Tables, and the number of the Circles in which they are afterward mentioned, that so they may be more easily found in the Tables.

• The Biships of Magdeburg 9
• Saltzburg 2
• B•s•n•on 5
• Bremon 9
• ...Halb•rstat in the ninth Circle.
• •erden 7
• Munster 7
• Osonbrug 7
• ••ssaw 2
• Frisingen 2
• ...Kempse
• Gur•k or Gorit• 3
• Seckaw 3
• Havandt 5
• Basel 5
• Sitten or Wallis 5
• Regensburg 2
• Maissen 8
• Naumburg 8
• Minden 7
• Lubeck 8.9
• Vtricht 7
• Camin 8
• Swerin 9
• Geneve 5
• Camerick 7
• Verdun 5
• Losan 5
• Metz 5
• Toul 5
• Luyck 5
• Trent 7
• Brixen 3
• M•rspurg 3
• Labach 8
• Vienna 3
• Brandenburg 8
• Ratzenburg 9
• Schl•swick 9
• Havelburg 8

The secular Princes and Nobles are:

• The Duke of Bavaria 2
• The Arch Duke of Austria 3
• The Duke of Saxonie 8
• The Duke of Burgundie 10
• The Palatine of Bavaria 2
• The Duke of Cleveland 7
• The Marquesse of Brandenburg 8.1
• The Duke of Lunenburg 9
• The Duke of Pomeren 9

• The Duke of Mekelenburg 9
• D. Lawenburg 9
• D. Holsten 9
• D. Lotringen. 5
• The Landgrave of Hessen 5
• D. Wirtenberg 5
• D. Zweibrug 4
• D. Spanheym 5
• The Marquesse of Baden 4.5.7
• The Landgrave of Lutchtenburg. 2
• The Prince of Anhalt 8
• The Earle of Hennenberg 1
• ...The Burgrave of Meissen.

The French Princes are.

• ...Duke Meiss or Massa
• ...D. Savoy
• ...D. Chalon

The Clergie are

• The Prior and Abbot of Fuld. 5
• Pr. Ab. Hiersfeldt 5
• Pr. Ab. Kemten 4
• Ab. Retchenaw 4
• Pr. Praepos. Wissenburg 5
• Pr. Ab. S. Galli 4
• Pr. Ab. Salfeldt 8
• ...Pr. Praepos. Elwangen
• Teutsch ordens Maister 3
• Iohans ordens Maister 5
• Ab. Waingarten 4
• Ab. Salmanswercher 4
• Ab. Krutzlingen. 4
• P. Ab. Murpach. 5
• Ab. Walkenriedt 8
• Ab. Schuttem. 4
• Ab. Weissenow or Minderaw. 4
• Ab. S. Blasi. 4
• Ab. Maulprun. 4
• Pr. Ab. Corbey 7
• Ab Schussenriedt 4
• Ab. Rittershausen 8
• Ab. Steinam Reyn 4
• Pr. Ab. Scarfhauson; 4
• Ab. Kempeseck 2
• Ab. Waldsachsen 2
• Ab. Finsidoln 4
• Ab, Rokenburg. 4
• Ab. Ochsenhausen 4
• Praepos, Seltz. 6
• Ab. S. Gilgen 1
• ...Ab. Nuenburch
• Ab. S. Maximinus neere Triers 6
• ...Ab. Heneldshansen
• ...Ab. S. Iohans zu Curtel
• Ab. Gengenbach 4
• Ab. Koningsbrun 4
• Ab. Rodt, otherwise Roden 2
• Ab. Markthal 4
• ...Ab. Rockerhausen
• Ab. S. Peter in Schworztwald. 4
• Praepos. Odenheim 5
• Pr. Ab. Stablo. 7
• Ab. Disidiense 4
• ...Ab. Berkenhausen
• Ab. Elchingen 4
• ...Ab. Hentzlingen
• ...Ab. Vrssevis
• ...Ab. Planckenburg
• ...Ab. Yssin
• Ab. Pfessers 4
• Ab. S. Iohn in Thurtal. 4
• Ab. Peterhausen 4
• Ab. Pruim, 5
• Praepos. Camberg. 1
• Ab. Reishaim 2
• Ab. S. Heimeram at Ratisbon 2
• Praepos. Berchtolsgadon 2
• Ab. S. Gegory at Munster 5
• A. Muncherode 4
• Ab. S. Cornelis at Munster 7
• Ab. Werden. 7
• Ab. Aursperg. 4
• Ab. Yrse. 4
• Ab. Brun. 4
• Ab. Echtermaken 7
• Ab. Hervorden 7

The Abbatesses.

• Of Quedelnburch 8
• Essen. 7
• Alt Munster to Regensburg 2
• Pr. Ober Munster to Regensburg. 2
• Kauffingen 5
• Lindaw. 4

• Pr. Gernrode. 8
• Buchaw. 4
• Rotenmunster 4
• H•ppach. 4
• Gutenzel 4
• Beundt. 4
• Baley Coblentz. 6
• Baley Elsas 4
• Baley Osterich 3
• Baley In der Etsch. 3

The Earles Barons and Lords.

• The Earle of Helfenstein 4
• Earle Kirchberg 4
• H. Tussen 4
• Ea• Wisenstaig 4
• E. Lauffen. 4
• E. Montfort. 4
• E. Furstenberg 4
• •. Z•mmeren 4
• B. Gund••singen 4
• H. Stutgart 4
• H. Iustingen 4
• ...H. S•he•stingen
• M••••ke. Eberstein 4
• B. Geroit Zeck 4
• B. Ober Hewen 4
• F. Otingen 4
• B. Rapoltstain 5
• H. R•poltzkir•ken 5
• B. Starssen 2.4
• H. Hohen Rechperg 5
• ...H. Berletzicke
• ...H. Hohen Konigsperg
• ...H. Hohenfeldt and Tipoltzkirch
• E. Sultz. 4
• F. Hogen Zollem 4
• ...H. Braides.
• B. Sonnenberg. 4
• E. Castel 1
• E. Vertheim 1
• E. Rheineck. 1
• E. Hohenloe. 1
• H. Reichelsperg 1
• H. Limburg. 1
• E. Erpach 1
• E. Leiningen 5
• E. Falckstein 5
• E. Hanaw 5
• E. Luchtenberg 5
• E. Nassaw, Breda, and Dillenborg 10.7
• E. Wisbaden and Iltzstain 5
• E. Sarbrucken. 5
• E. Waldtpurg. 4
• E. Nassaw in Weilpurg 5
• E. Belstein 6
• E. Koningstein and Epstein 5
• E. Eisenberg the higher 5
• E. Eisenberg the lower. 6
• ...E. Mersen
• ...E. Budinghen
• E. Wirnenburg 7
• E. Solms 5
• B. Vinnenburg or Vanenberg 7
• E. Arnsberg. 7
• E. Of Rhene 5
• H. Falckenstein 4
• H. Kunseck. 4
• H. Kunseckerberg 4
• Count Horne 10
• Count Seyn 7
• ...Co. Vintzlingen
• ...Co. Reyen.
• Co. Bitsch. 5
• Co. Salm 5
• Co. Veldentz 5
• Co. Dengen 4
• Co. Rappin 4
• Co. Hardech. 3
• Co. Hohenstein 8
• Co. Wolkenstein 3
• Co. Schaumburg and Giengen. 7.3
• Co. Dierenberg, and Someraw. 7
• Co. Mansfeilt 8
• Co. Stolberg 8
• Co. Buchlingen 8
• Co. Barbey and Mullingen 8
• Co. Gleichen. 1.8
• ...Co. Schwartzenburg
• ...Co. Suenberg, or schonberg.
• ...Co. Iude H. im Ruech.
• ...H. Geraw.
• Co. Ples. 5
• Co. Plawen 8
• Co. Weda and Ringelberg 7
• ...H. Reichenstein.
• ...Co. Olnbrug.
• Co. Lebenstain 4
• ...Co. Regenstain
• ...Co. West frieslandt.
• Co. Ostfrieslandt 7
• Co, Van der Lippe 7
• Co. Oldenburg 7
• Co. Delmenhorst 9
• Co. Hoya. 7
• Co. Westenburg 5
• H. Muntzenburg 5
• ...Co. Lemgow
• Co. Waldeck 5
• ...H. Lostenstein.
• Co. Diepholt. 7
• Co. Steinfort 7
• Co. Benthem. 7
• Co. Brunchorst 7
• ...Co. Witgenstein
• ...Co. Spigelberg
• ...Co. Biversdorff
• H. Ridberg. 7
• Co. Teckelnborg 7
• ...H. Linge.
• Co. Dortmund 7
• ...Co. Winsdorff
• Co. Ortenberg. 2
• ...Co. Rippershode•
• Co. Hagen 2
• Co. Hoonfels 2
• Co. Lecseneck 8
• Bo. Bergen. 10
• C. Degenburg 2
• ...B. Obersultzberg
• ...H. Somiriss
• Co. Manderscheid 7
• Co. Reiferscheidi 6
• Co. Egmont and Isselstein 10
• H. Bergen and Waelhelm 10
• H. Haber, alias Havere. 5
• H. Wildenfelfs, or Widerfels. 8
• B. Tautenberg. 8
• Co. Tubingen. 4
• Co. Blanckenberg or Blammont 5
• Co. Kirchingen, Krehanges 5
• H. Senster 3
• H. Roggendorff 3
• ...H. Alendorff.
• ...H. Kunigfuckerbeg
• H. Morspurg and Befort 5
• ...H. Brandenstein and Rans•
• ...H. Wolfsteine
• ...H. Permont
• ...H. Fronsbek
• ...H. Flackenstein
• ...H. Witten
• ...Ritt. Fridberg
• ...Ritt. Gleichausen.

In this second member, some doe want numbers, because they are not mentioned afterward in the Circles. Pr. signifies Princes, Ghe. Fursten, a Praelate, D. Dukes, Co. Countes. H. Heerschafften, Lords, B. Barons.

The third member of the Empire is of the free Citties.

• ...Rheinische Banck.
• Coln 6.8
• Aken 7
• Worms 5
• Spier 5
• Turckheim 5
• Hag••aw 5
• Weissenberg 5
• Straesburg 5
• Ober Ebenhaim 5
• Roshaim 5
• Schletstat 5
• Colmar 5
• Altach 5
• Basel 5
• Kaisersberg 5
• Mulhausen in Suntgow 5
• S. Gregoris Munster 5
• Metz 5
• Toul 5
• Verdun 5
• Landaw 5
• Kaufmans Sarbruck 5
• Besancon 5
• Camerick 7
• Franckfort 5
• Fridberg in Wederaw 5
• ...

• Gelnhausen 6
• Wetzlar. 5
• Aleu. 4
• Lubeck 9
• Hamborg 9
• Dortmund 7
• Mulhusen in Duringon 9
• Northansen. 9
• Gosler 9
• Gottingen 9
• Brakel 7
• Wartburg 7
• Lemgow 7
• Duysburg 7
• Dantzick 8
• ...Elbinghen
• ...Schwabishche Banck.
• Regensburg 2
• Nurenberg 1
• Rottenburg an der Tauber 1
• Weissenburg an Nortgaw 2
• Donawerd 4
• Washaim 1
• Schweinfurt 1
• Wimpsen 4
• Hailbrun 4
• Hal in Schwaben 4
• Norlingen 4
• Dinkelspuel 4
• Vlm 4
• Ausptrg 4
• Gengen 4
• Bopfingen 4
• Gemunt in Schwaben 4
• Eslingen 4
• Reutlingen 4
• Weyl 4
• Pfullendorff 4
• Kauffbeurum 4
• ...Northausen
• Vberlingen 4
• Wangen 4
• Ysui 4
• Lewkirch 4
• Memmingen 4
• Kempten 4
• Buchorn 4
• Ravenrsburg 4
• Bibrach 4
• Lindaw 4
• Costintz 4
• Rotweil 4
• Offenburgk 4
• Gengenbach 4
• Zel in Hamesbach 4
• Schaffhausen 4
• S. Gal 4
• Buchaw am Federsee 4

Besides these severall members, for the avoyding of schismes in the Empire, and for the mutuall defence, and common preservation of peace among the Princes of Germanie, the Provinces of the Empire are divided into certaine Countries, which they call Circuits, and in them there are particular Counsells appointed, which belong to severall Circuits. First, 6 were instituted in the yeare 1500 at Augusta, and afterward 10 in the yeare 1522 at Norimberg. But every Circuite chuseth out of themselves a secular Praefect, who is either a Prince, a Count, a Baron, or one of the chiefe of the Nobles, to whom foure Counsellers chosen out of the same body, being honest, and wise men, are joyned as assistants. I will heere onely reckon up the Circuits, but in the Tables I will describe their Princes, and their parts.

The first Circle is of Franconia, and it shall be described in the Table of Franconia.

The second is of Bavaria, and it shall be unfolded in the Table thereof.

The third is of Austria, and it shall be declared in the Table of Austria.

The fourth is of Suevia, in the table of Wirtenberg.

The fifth is in the Circuite of Rhene, and it shall be unfolded in the Table of the lower Alsatia.

The sixth is of the foure Electors of Rhene, in the Table of the Palatmate.

The seaventh is of Lower Germanie, in the first Table of Westphalia.

The eight is of lower Saxonie, in the same table.

The ninth of lower Saxonie in the same table.

The tenth of Burgundie, in the table of higher Burgundie.

The Emperiall Chamber▪

Besides these Councells in the Circuits, for the deciding of more weighty businesse which happen in the Empire, there is an Emperiall chamber instituted at Spires, in which there is a Prince for the Praesident, or at least an Earle, or some secular man that is thought fit for this office. He hath also two Barones or Earles to be his assistants, two Lawyers, and two Noble men, which have haereditary Lands, & Mannors in the Empire; so that in all he hath sixe assistants. Moreover he hath one of the Electors, and two out of every Circuite, the one halfe whereof is chosen out of the Lawyers, and the other halfe out of the Gentry.

A Catalogue of the Tables in Germanie.

• 1. Germanie in generall.
• 2. West Friesland.
• 3. The County of Embden.
• 4. The first Table of Westphalia.
• 5. The second Table.
• 6. The Bishopricke of Munster.
• 7. The third Table of Westphalia.
• 8. The Archbishopricke of Colen
• 9. the fourth Table of Westphalia.
• 10. The Diocaese of Leodium.
• 11. The Countie of Muers and Cleveland.
• 12. Waldecke.
• 13. The Palatinate of Rhene.
• 14. Wirtenberg.
• 15. Alsatia the Lower.
• 16. Alsatia the higher.
• 17. Saxonie the Lower.
• 18. Brunswijck.
• 19. Hassia.
• 20. Nassovia.
• 21. Thuringia.
• 22. Franconia.
• 23. The Dukedome of Bavaria.
• 24. The Palatinate of Bavaria, the bounds whereof Northward, See in the Table of Franconia.
• 25. Saxonie the higher.
• 26. Brandenburg.
• 27. Pomerania.
• 28. The Islands of Rugia.
• 29. Bohemia.
• 30. Moravia.
• 31. Austria.
• 32. Saltzburg.
• 33. Polonia and Silesia.
• 34. Polonia.
• 35. Hungarie