1438 Imperial election

The imperial election of 1438 was an imperial election held to select the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. It took place in Frankfurt on March 18.

Background

The previous Holy Roman Emperor, Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, died on December 9, 1437. His son-in-law Albert II of Germany succeeded him as Jure uxoris king of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia.

The prince-electors convened to elect his successor were:

• Dietrich Schenk von Erbach, elector of Mainz
• Raban of Helmstatt, elector of Trier
• Dietrich II of Moers, elector of Cologne
• Louis IV, Elector Palatine, elector of the Electoral Palatinate
• Frederick II, Elector of Saxony, elector of Saxony
• Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg, elector of Brandenburg

Albert, as king of Bohemia, was entitled to a vote. However, he was in Bohemia suppressing an uprising and was not present at the election.

Elected

Albert was elected.