Privilegium Maius - Definition and Overview

The Privilegium Maius was a document forged at the behest of Duke Rudolf IV of Austria (1358-1365), which was essentially a modified version of the Privilegium Minus of 1156, which had elevated Austria to a Duchy. In the Privilegium Maius, Austria was declared an Archduchy and endowed with rights similar to those of the electors of the Holy Roman Empire, such as:

• inseparability of the territory;
• automatic inheritance of the first-born (later extended to female heirs in the Pragmatic Sanction);
• independent jurisdiction, without any possibility to appeal to the Emperor;
• permission to display certain symbols of rule.

The Privilegium Maius consists of five forged deeds, some of which purported to have been issued by Caesar and Nero.

Emperor Charles IV refused to confirm the Privilegium Maius. Only the Habsburg emperor Frederick III did so in 1453, as did Rudolf II and Charles VI. With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, it finally lost its meaning. In 1856, it was identified as a forgery.

Also see: Privilegium Minus