Observations on the Dead Emperor Collected from Annals and Laws

seem to have regarded common fame in some way, so that, according to the opinion of Ludewig in his commentary on said law, the Elector of Mainz cannot pretend to be ignorant of a very well-known matter. But it is better that death be signified to those concerned by a certain reason, as necessity and decorum demand.

Who should make the death of the Caesar known?

Who should give the notice is not established by law due to various possibilities; however, all understand that this is most appropriate for the August house and the King of the Romans. The author of the Life of Louis the Pious, p. 359: With the father of pious memory deceased, he says, Rampo was sent to Louis by those who were to care for his burial, namely by the children and the palatine nobles, so that he might also know of his death in good time and by no means delay his arrival. Maximilian I, King, made the death of his father known to the Electors and other estates of the empire, as noted by Fugger in the Austrian Honor-Mirror to the year 1493, p. 1074, where he exhibits letters given to the city of Augsburg as a sample, to which the city of Speyer received letters that were exactly the same. See Lehmann, Chronicles of Speyer, Book VII, ch. 122. From letters which Londorp, Vol. I, Public Acts, Book 4, ch. 2 produces, we know that those who were of the secret councils to the Caesar opened the notice of Emperor Matthias's final fate to the Elector of Mainz. The death of Joseph was indicated to the Elector of Mainz by his widow. See Vitriarius and Pfeffinger, Illustrations, Vol. I, addenda, p. 2. When Charles VI, of immortal memory, had finished his day, we remember that his daughter, the heiress of the kingdoms, declared it in the usual manner. But there is no doubt that the chancellor of the Caesarean court or the Vice-Chancellor of the Empire could also inform the Elector of Mainz of the death of the Augustus. Recently, the Austrian envoys at the Diet of Regensburg revealed the departure of the supreme Prince to the remaining envoys; thereafter, shortly after, each explained their piety toward the best father of the fatherland according to the custom of their own religion.

Within a year after the Emperor has died, the investiture of certain fiefs should be requested from the imperial vicars.

Moreover, the day of the Emperor's death is to be noted also because, if the power of the imperial vicars lasts for the space of a year, the investiture of certain fiefs must be sought from them, not to be renewed by the new Emperor, according to the Aurea Bulla, Ch. V §. 1; the Capitulation of Charles VI, art. XI §. when also an Elector, etc.