The imperial election of 1612 was an imperial election held to select the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. It took place in Frankfurt on 13 June.
Background The previous Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, died on 20 January. The prince-electors convened to replace him were:
Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg, elector of Mainz Lothar von Metternich, elector of Trier Ferdinand of Bavaria, elector of Cologne Matthias, king of Bohemia Frederick V, elector of the Electoral Palatinate John George I, elector of Saxony John Sigismund, elector of Brandenburg
Election results Ferdinand promoted the election of his brother-in-law Maximilian I, duke of Bavaria as emperor; however, Maximilian refused to accept the throne. Instead, Rudolf's next surviving brother, Matthias, who had already taken power in Bohemia and Hungary, was elected. He was crowned on 26 June in Frankfurt. Elector Electorate Vote Ferdinand of Bavaria Cologne Matthias Philipp Christoph von Sötern Trier Matthias Maximilian I Bavaria Matthias John George I Saxony Matthias Frederick IV Palatinate Matthias Matthias Bohemia Matthias (voted for himself) Lothar Franz von Schönborn Mainz Matthias Total 7 votes, 100% (unanimous)
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