Declaration of Rhens

The Declaration of Rhens, issued in 1338, was a pivotal moment in German history. It addressed the long-standing dispute over the validity of royal elections in the Holy Roman Empire. The declaration, proclaimed by six prince-electors, asserted that an election by a majority vote was sufficient for a king-elect to assume administrative power, without needing papal confirmation.1

This principle was later reaffirmed and codified in the Golden Bull of 1356, promulgated by Emperor Charles IV. The Golden Bull established a formal electoral college of seven princes and solidified the principle of majority rule in elections, aiming to prevent disputed elections and subsequent civil wars that had plagued the empire for decades. The Declaration of Rhens and the Golden Bull significantly reduced papal influence in German imperial elections and strengthened the autonomy of the German princes.1