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The '''Diet of Metz''' ({{langx|de|Metzer Hoftag}}) was an [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Diet]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] held in the [[Free imperial city|imperial city]] of Metz from 17 November 1356 to 7 January 1357, with Emperor [[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles IV]] presiding. It is most memorable for the promulgation of the [[Golden Bull of 1356]].
==Background==
[[File:HRR 14Jh.jpg|thumb|Habsburg, Luxembourg and Wittelsbach territories in the Holy Roman Empire, 1273-1378]]
After one hundred years, the [[House of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]] scion Charles IV was the first legitimate [[Holy Roman Emperor]]: while his precursor, the [[House of Wittelsbach|Wittelsbach]] ruler [[Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Louis the Bavarian]] had been crowned without the approval of the Pope, the reign of Charles IV was legitimated through his coronation by [[Pope Innocent VI]] in 1355.<ref>Peter Moraw: ''Karl IV. Lexikon des Mittelalters. Bd. 5''. Sp.973.</ref> Charles central concern was a standard regulation of the electing system of the [[King of Romans]], inspired by the long-time struggle of his predecessor Louis with both the [[Roman Curia]] and the [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]] anti-king [[Frederick the Fair]].
The first part of the Golden Bull, known as the [[Free Imperial City of Nuremberg|Nuremberg]] code of law (German ''Nürnberger Gesetzbuch''), was composed at the Imperial Diet of Nuremberg and promulgated on 10 January 1356. During this diet the city of Metz was announced as the next meeting place for the king and the rulers.<ref>Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller: ''Die Entstehung der „Goldenen Bulle“ zu Nürnberg und Metz 1355 bis 1357''. In: ''Die Kaisermacher. Frankfurt am Main und die Goldene Bulle; 1356 - 1806''; [eine Ausstellung des Instituts für Stadtgeschichte, des Historischen Museums, des Dommuseums und des Museums Judengasse (Dependance des Jüdischen Museums), Frankfurt am Main 30. September 2006 bis 14. Januar 2007]. Aufsätze, Band 2. S.31.</ref> Though located in the western periphery of the Empire, Charles chose the city as the venue instead of traditional gathering places like [[Free Imperial City of Aachen|Aachen]] or [[Free City of Frankfurt|Frankfurt]]. Nevertheless, Metz was one of the largest cities north of the Alps, an important trade centre, and located near the [[Duchy of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]] home territory
==Process==
Due to foreign affairs the beginning of the diet was postponed to the end of the year 1356. An official start date is unknown, but the [[Adventus (ceremony)|adventus]] of the king, celebrated in [[Metz Cathedral]] on November 17, is said to be the starting point.<ref>Michel Margue/Michel Pauly: ''Luxemburg, Metz und das Reich. Die Reichsstadt im Gesichtsfeld Karls IV.''. In: Ulrike Hohensee (Hg.): ''Die Goldene Bulle: Politik – Wahrnehmung – Rezeption''. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin, 2009. S.911-912.</ref> Because of the absence of several [[Prince-elector|electors]] and the [[Dauphin of France|French dauphin]] Prince [[Charles V of France|Charles V]], son of King [[John II of France]], no important decisions were made in the first three weeks. After the arrival of all electors the assembly between December 12 and December 22 concentrated on inner concerns regarding the electoral rights (German ''Kurrecht'') of the [[Kingdom of Bohemia|King of Bohemia]] and the public peace (German: ''[[Landfrieden]]'') in the duchies of [[Lorraine (duchy)|Lorraine]] and [[Duchy of Bar|Bar]].
The arrival of the dauphin on December 22 marks the beginning of negotiations about the state of affair of France in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Poitiers]] in September and the completion of the last chapters of the Golden Bull.<ref>Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller: ''Der Abschluss der Goldenen Bulle zu Metz 1365/57''. In: Friedrich Bernward Fahlbusch und Peter Johanek: ''Studia Luxemburgensia. Festschrift Heinz Stoob zum 70. Geburtstag''. Verlag Fahlbusch/Hölscher/Rieger. Warendorf 1989. S. 150-89.</ref> The Golden Bull was promulgated by Charles on Christmas Day during a festive ceremony.<ref>Martin Kintzinger: ''Karl IV. (1346-1378)''. In: Bernd Schneidmüller und Stefan Weinfurter: ''Die deutschen Herrscher des Mittelalters. Historische Portraits von Heinrich I. bis Maximilian I. (919-1519)''. C.H. Beck, München, 2003. S.427.</ref> The resolutions were solemnly proclaimed during the [[Christmas]] celebrations. After the emperor left Metz on 7 January 1357 the assembly dissolved.
==Code law==
[[File:Goldene Bulle - Komplettansicht.JPG|thumb|Golden Bull of Charles IV]]
The Metz code of law (German ''Metzer Gesetzbuch'') forms the second part of the Golden Bull with its Chapters 24 to 31. Chapter 27 and 30 were headed with a Latin text. The arrangement of chapters is a modern classification.<ref>Wolfgang D. Fritz (Hg.): ''Die Goldene Bulle Kaiser Karls IV. vom Jahre 1356, Text''. (Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Fontes iuris Germanici in usum scholarum separatim editi, 11), Weimar 1972. S.542.</ref> The content of the individual chapters can be summarized as follows:
*24 (Majesty law for the electors)
*25 (Succession of the electorate)
*26 (Repositories of insignia and imperial insignia)
*27 Function of the electors at festive diets (Latin ''De officiis principum electorum in solempnibus curiis imperatorum vel regum Romanorum'')
*28 (Seating order of the Emperor, empress and electors)
*29 (Place of election and coronation site of the German king)
*30 Fiefdom of the electors (Latin ''De iuribus officialium, dum principes feuda sua ab imperatore vel rege Romanorum recipiunt'')
*31 (Education and language teaching of the sons of the electors)<ref>Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller: ''Die Entstehung der „Goldenen Bulle“ zu Nürnberg und Metz 1355 bis 1357''. In: ''Die Kaisermacher. Frankfurt am Main und die Goldene Bulle; 1356 - 1806''; [eine Ausstellung des Instituts für Stadtgeschichte, des Historischen Museums, des Dommuseums und des Museums Judengasse (Dependance des Jüdischen Museums), Frankfurt am Main 30. September 2006 bis 14. Januar 2007]. Aufsätze, Band 2. S.35.; Wolfgang D. Fritz (Hg.): ''Die Goldene Bulle Kaiser Karls IV. vom Jahre 1356, Text''. (Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Fontes iuris Germanici in usum scholarum separatim editi, 11), Weimar 1972. S.623-631.</ref>
== Stories about the feast ==
It is transmitted that during the banquet of proclamation of the Golden Bull, within the area of the current ''place Coislin'' in Metz, Charles IV was served by the seven prince-electors, who carried the dishes to him on horseback. Also, during this meal, the emperor would have changed his tiara three times, successively wearing the crowns of iron, silver and gold.
According to the Metz chronicle known as "de Praillon", the centerpiece of the feast was a whole beef trojan style, roasted on a spit, in which they would have put a pig, itself stuffed with a mutton and in which they packed a goose, in whose belly was a quail, and in the quail an egg!
The opulence of this gargantuan feast is depicted in the work "s''plendeur et richesse de la république messine''" by painter [[Auguste Migette]] (1802-1884).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metz. Savez-vous ce qu'est la fameuse Bulle d'or ? |url=https://www.republicain-lorrain.fr/insolite/2021/01/10/savez-vous-ce-qu-est-la-fameuse-bulle-d-or |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=www.republicain-lorrain.fr |language=FR-fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Du temps de la Bulle d'Or à Metz |url=http://blogerslorrainsengages.unblog.fr/2012/09/22/du-temps-de-la-bulle-d%e2%80%99or-a-metz/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=BLE Archives |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
==Significance==
The diet of Metz was handled as a negligible factor for a long time. In more recent literature Hergemöller emphasises the political heft of the assembly.<ref>Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller: ''Der Abschluss der Goldenen Bulle zu Metz 1365/57''. In: Friedrich Bernward Fahlbusch und Peter Johanek: ''Studia Luxemburgensia. Festschrift Heinz Stoob zum 70. Geburtstag''. Verlag Fahlbusch/Hölscher/Rieger. Warendorf 1989. S. 151-2.</ref> Margue and Pauly point out the importance of the city of Metz for Charles reign and hint at the relevance of this diet as the first official assembly following the rules of the Golden Bull.<ref>Michel Margue/Michel Pauly: ''Luxemburg, Metz und das Reich. Die Reichsstadt im Gesichtsfeld Karls IV''. In: Ulrike Hohensee (Hg.): ''Die Goldene Bulle: Politik – Wahrnehmung – Rezeption''. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin, 2009. S.914-5.</ref>
==Literature==
*Gabriele Annas: ''Hoftag, Gemeiner Tag, Reichstag /2: Verzeichnis deutscher Reichsversammlungen des späten Mittelalters: (1349 bis 1471)''. Vandenhock&Ruprecht, Göttingen 2004. {{ISBN|3525360614}}
*Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller: ''Der Abschluss der Goldenen Bulle zu Metz 1365/57''. In: Friedrich Bernward Fahlbusch und Peter Johanek: ''Studia Luxemburgensia. Festschrift Heinz Stoob zum 70. Geburtstag (Studien zu den Luxemburgern und ihrer Zeit 3)''. Verlag Fahlbusch/Hölscher/Rieger. Warendorf 1989. S. 123-232.
*Ulrike Hohensee: ''Die Goldene Bulle: Politik-Wahrnehmung-Rezeption''. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin, 2009. {{ISBN|9783050042923}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Imperial Diets (Holy Roman Empire)|Metz]]
[[Category:1350s in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:1356 in Europe]]
[[Category:Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor]]
[[Category:History of Metz]]
[[Category:1357 in Europe]]