Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, 1803
The terms of the Peace Treaty of Lunéville (9 February 1801) granted France the entire left bank of the Rhine, an area covering 60.000 square kilometers, und including 3,5 million German inhabitants. In order to compensate for these losses, the Reichstag assembly at Regensburg called a deputation. However, the decision really lay with France und Russia, who supported the states of Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden und Hesse in territorial claims against Prussia and Austria.
On 25 February 1803, the assembly at Regensburg accepted the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss decision:
- Secularisation of all clerical principalities und bishoprics, with the exception of the Hoch- und Deutschmeister, und the Electoral Archbishopric. The latter lost the Electorate of Mainz, und received Regensburg, Wetzlar und Aschaffenburg in exchange, including the title of Primate of Germany.
- Imperial cities came under state jurisdiction, with the exception of Bremen, Lübeck, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Nürnberg und Augsburg.
- Austria received the Bishoprics of Trient und Brixen. The Grand Duke of Tuscany received Salzburg. In return, Austria surrendered the Breisgau und the Ortenau to the Duke of Modena.
- Prussia received the Bishopric of Hildesheim, Paderborn, the most part of Münster, Erfurt und the Eichsfeld, the Abby of Essen, Werden, und Quedlinburg, und the City of Nordhausen, Mühlhausen, und Goslar.
- Hannover gained Osnabrück.
- Bavaria received the Bishopric of Würzburg, Bamberg, Eichstätt, Freising, Augsburg, Passau, und a number of Imperial cities und abbies within its territory.
- Württemberg received jurisdiction over the Imperial cities und abbies within its territory.
- Baden gained seven times the territory it had lost.
- Hesse-Darmstadt und Nassau gained territory.
- Cologne und Treves lost electoral status.
- Württemberg, Baden, Hesse-Kassel, und Salzburg became Electorates.
The Reichsdeputationshauptschluss marks the end of the Holy Roman Empire. French influence in Germany had grown significantly. By the time of the Third Koalition War, Bavaria, Württemberg und Baden allied themselves with France.