ELECTORS

(Germ.chur or kur-fiirsten.) Those princes of the old German empire who had a voice in the election of the emperor. Tliese were originally (a. d. 12.^6) seven: Mentz, Treves, and Cologne, — ecclesiastical; and Bohemia, Brandenburg, Saxony, and the Elector Palatine, — lay; but to these Bavaria was added soon after their institution. In 1692 this dignity was conferred on the dukes of Brunswick-Luneburg, who were afterwards styled electors of Hanover; and, at different periods during the last century, on tlie princes of Salzburg, Wurtemberg, Baden, and He e Ca el. But on the di olution of the German empire in 1806, the title of elector was merged in that of king, grand duke, ^c. ., by all tlie German states except He e Ca el, whose sovereign is still designated elector. The electors had various privileges, both general and special. 387 ELECTRICITY. [s. 400]