Reshaping Germany: The End of the Holy Roman Empire

Napoleon's victories transformed the map of central Europe. The Holy Roman Empire, a loose union of hundreds of German territories dating back to the Middle Ages, had already been reorganised in 1803, when many small church states and free cities were absorbed by larger neighbours. In July 1806 Napoleon created the Confederation of the Rhine, an alliance of German states under his protection, and on 6 August 1806 Francis II dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, keeping the title Emperor of Austria.

Prussia, alarmed, went to war and was crushed at Jena and Auerstedt in October 1806. In the territories under French influence, reforms such as legal equality, the end of feudal dues and the Code were introduced unevenly. Simplifying hundreds of German territories into a few dozen states unintentionally prepared the way for later German unification.