Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV promulgates the Golden Bull signed in Nürnberg in 1356, thereby providing Germany with a new legal framework to achieve sorely needed stabilization after a century of fragmentation in Central Europe over princely rights in the election of emperors,.

In regularizing elections by naming seven electors, Karl’s decree formally acknowledges the principle of elective monarchy.

The king of Bohemia receives first place among the empire’s electors, who also include the duke of Saxony, the margrave of Brandenburg, the count palatine of the Rhine, and the archbishops of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne.

Serving as a constitution for the Holy Roman Empire, the Golden Bull defines the electors’ ceremonial functions, prescribes their judicial powers, and regulates succession in their principalities.

The papacy, assigned no role, is thus de facto excluded from a voice in imperial elections.