Extensive Definition
An Electress (, lang-la electrix) was the consort of an
Elector of
the Holy
Roman Empire, one of the Empire's greatest princes.
The Golden
Bull of 1356 established by Emperor
Charles IV settled the number of Electors at seven. However,
three of these were Roman Catholic archbishops, and so had no
formal consorts; while of the four secular Electors, one was
King of Bohemia, and his consort was always known by the more
prestigious title of "Queen
of Bohemia". The consorts usually referred to as Electresses,
therefore, were:
- The Electress of the Palatinate, or Electress Palatine;
- The Electress of Brandenburg;
- The Electress of Saxony.
To these were added, in 1623 and 1692
respectively:
In the final years of the Empire, several
Electors were added, who however only held their offices for less
than three years before the Empire's final dissolution. The
consorts of these last Electors were:
- The Electress of Württemberg;
- The Electress of Hesse-Cassel.
There was also an Elector of Baden,
but the only ruler to use this title was married morganatically and
so his spouse did not share his title.
The rulers of Hesse-Cassel continued to use the
title of "Elector" until the annexation of the principality by
Prussia
in 1866.
Persons using or entitled to use the title of
"Electress" are listed below. Spouses of Electors in morganatic or unequal
marriages are given in a separate table at the bottom of the
page.