Museum and Research Center for the Imperial Chamber Court (Reichskammergericht)
I. Description
The Reichskammergericht or Imperial Chamber Court was created under Maximilian I. in the course of the Imperial Reform and establishment of the „Perpetual Peace“ in 1495 as the highest court of the Holy Roman Empire German Nation. The Court’s task was to develop a regulated procedure for the settlement of disputes by judicial means rather than by feud, force or ransom and thus to steer legal disputes onto a peaceful track. After holding court in various south and southwest German cities, the Court had its seat in Speyer from 1527 until that city’s destruction in 1689. Thereafter the Court moved its seat to Wetzlar, where it remained until the end of the Old Empire in1806. Over the course of the 19th century the significance of the Court was largely forgotten. This has changed significantly, however, since the 1960s.
In 1985 interested parties from the judiciary, the scholarly community and local politics founded the Society for Imperial Chamber Court Research (Gesellschaft für Reichskammergerichtsforschung e.V.) in Wetzlar, which set itself the task of establishing a museum and a research center. The work of the Society is supported by a scholarly council.
A mere two years later, in 1987, it was possible to open the museum, which is housed in a three-story Chamber palace built by Franz von Papius. The building is very well suited for museum presentations and, as a specialized historical musuem, draws on the considerable wealth of its own collections and on long-term loans. Using original pictures, furniture, sculpture and contemporary printed works as well as graphic depictions and text commentary, the museum presents not only the Court’s development, mode of operation, difficulties and obstacles but also its accomplishments and influence throughout the full span of its existence. The Court’s role in cooperation with other Imperial organs and its significance for the development of the Imperial literature as well as for the social and military history of the Empire are also presented. A slide show providing a general introduction to the Court is available in several languages.
The research center is located in the same building. A database of procedural files available for more than 80,000 cases is in the process of being developed. The database will make possible for the first time a thorough study of the foundation of the Court’s work and the history of the reception of Imperial Chamber Court jurisprudence. Methodologically the database is based on a systematic evaluation of targeted test samples from the file collections of the 17th and 18th centuries. Another research focus is the court personnel, especially the lawyers. In addition, an historical photographic archive dealing with law and the Court, with preferred emphasis on the period of the Imperial Chamber Court, will be acquired and developed. The archive should serve to help visualize and document specifics of legal history. The research center views itself as the coordinating body for all researchers interested in the Imperial Courts. A seminar room is available for conferences and has often been used for international and interdisciplinary colloquia.
Contact:
Gesellschaft für Reichskammergerichtsforschung e.V.
Hofstatt 19
D-35578 Wetzlar
Membership fee: Euro 25,00 per year
Chair: Ralph Gatzka
Chair of the Scholarly Council: Prof. Dr. Anette Baumann
Recording Secretary: Mr. Kneip, phone +49(0)-6441-994161
E-Mail: forschungsstelle [AT] reichskammergericht [DOT] de und info [AT] reichskammergericht [DOT] de
The Museum and Research Center enjoy a close cooperation with the Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv Wien.
The Museum and Research Center enjoy a close cooperation with the Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv Wien. http://www.oesta.gv.at