Substate | Defunct
1807 CE
to 1813 CE
The Kingdom of Westphalia is a new country of 2.6 million Germans that exists from 1807–1813.
It includes 1,100 square miles (2,800 km2) of territory in Hesse and other parts of present-day Germany.
While formally independent, it is a vassal state of the First French Empire, ruled by Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte.
It is named after Westphalia, but it is a misnomer since the kingdom has little territory in common with that area.
Napoleon imposes the first written constitution in Germany, a French-style central administration, and agricultural reform.
The Kingdom liberates the serfs and gives everyone equal rights and the right to a jury trial.
In 1808, the Kingdom passes Germany's first laws granting Jews equal rights, thereby providing a model for reform in the other German states.
Westphalia is progressive in immediately enacting and enforcing the new reforms, thereby playing a leading role in the evolution of German democracy.
The country is relatively poor but Napoleon demands very heavy new taxes and payments, and conscripts soldiers.
Few of the men who march into Russia with Napoleon in 1812 ever return.
The Kingdom is bankrupt by 1812.
When Napoleon is retreating in the face of Allied advances in 1813, the Kingdom is overrun by the Allies and (in 1815) turned over to Prussian rule.
Most of the reforms, however, remained in place.
