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Die Ausübung kaiserlicher Gnadengewalt durch den Reichshofrat Untertanensuppliken am Reichshofrat Kaiser Rudolfs II. (1576–1612)

    Thomas Schreiber

Beiträge zur Rechtsgeschichte Österreichs 2 / 2015, pp. 215-230, 2015/12/11

Frühneuzeitliche Supplikationspraxis und monarchische Herrschaft in europäischer Perspektive

doi: 10.1553/BRGOE2015-2s215

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doi:10.1553/BRGOE2015-2s215


Abstract

Based on the analysis of about 700 cases, the article presents first results of a German-Austrian research project on mediate subjects’ petitions handled by the Imperial Aulic Council in the reign of Rudolf II, focusing on conceptual and procedural questions. To get a clearer picture of the variety of the requests (and to avoid conceptual confusion), it is helpful to consider the formal structure of these texts. Whereas in the ‘narratio’ the authors described what made them address the Emperor, the ‘petitio’ details what measures they asked the Emperor to take. Supplicants applying for a favour tended to highlight a special bond to the Empire’s head (e.g. services rendered). On the contrary, supplicants asking for the Emperor’s assistance with regard to a conflict in which they were involved – either because of (economic) claims they could not get satisfied or in the wake of criminal persecution by local authorities – mostly referred to the necessity of the Emperor’s intervention to overcome their difficulties. Moreover, the Imperial Aulic Council’s decisions mirror these distinctions: While next to all applications for a favour were granted, the Council showed more reluctance to interfere with local authorities’ actions, especially in criminal matters.

Keywords: Emperor Rudolf II, grace, Holy Roman Empire, Imperial Aulic Council, petitions, supplications, social history