The institutions of the Holy Roman Empire,…

The institutions of the Holy Roman Empire, on the eve of the Protestant Reformation, are widely thought to be in need of improvement.

The Habsburg emperors Frederick III (r. 1440- 93) and his son Maximilian I (r. 1493-1519) both cooperate with individual local rulers to enact changes.

However, the imperial and local parties have different aims, the former wishing to strengthen the empire, the latter aiming to secure greater independence by formalizing their rights and ensuring regular procedures for the conduct of public business.

In 1489 the procedures of the imperial diet, the Reichstag, in which representatives of all states within the empire meet, are reorganized.

One of the reforms allows participation in the diet by representatives of the towns.

In 1495 Maximilian declares an empire-wide peace and makes arrangements to reduce the lawlessness and violence that often marks relations among local rulers.