Principality of Erfurt

The Principality of Erfurt existed from 1806 to 1814 and consisted of Erfurt and the surrounding countryside including the county Blank grove. It reported directly to the French Emperor.

History

The Principality of Erfurt, together with the county Blankenhain after the defeat of Prussia in the twin battles of Jena and Auerstedt as imperial state domain ( domaine reservé à l' empereur ) under the name of province Erfurt directly Napoléon Bonaparte assumed, while the surrounding Thuringian States joined the Confederation of the Rhine.

Erfurt was managed by a civil and a military senate, the (later " director " ) were subject to the Imperial French governor. This had its seat in the kurmainzischen Lieutenancy.

1808 was Napoleon in the French enclave stage the Congress of Erfurt.

As of October 25, 1813 Erfurt was besieged after the Battle of Leipzig by Prussian, Austrian and Russian organizations. In January 1814, the Prussians moved as agreed in the city of Erfurt, in May they also took over without a fight the citadels Peter Berg and Cyriaksburg. At the Congress of Vienna it was awarded in 1815 Prussia, but the Erfurt land area and the Blankenhainer area of Saxe-Weimar -Eisenach ceded. Erfurt itself became capital of the newly created administrative district of Erfurt in the province of Saxony.