The Position of the Counts of Culi as Princes of the Holy Roman Empire

Abstract

After Emperor Fridrich III had bestowed upon them the title of »princes« the counts of Cilli had attained the so- mewhat unique status of princes with no country of their own. Yet their princedom only lasted for a brief period, and the question of the recognition of their title remains unsolved. Investigated are the problems of symbolic and ritual communication and of the perception of social and political positions, prestige, and reputation during the two deca- des in which the counts had been recognized as princes of the Holy Roman Empire. By analyzing intitulations and salutations in various documents, letters, and chronicle entries the author tried to learn about the reactions of the society and politicians of that time to the new rank of the Cilli rulers. Just as interesting as their political ascent to the title of princes is the social structure of both medieval states in which the princes had lived, the Holy Roman Empire and the Hungarian-Croatian Kingdom.