Franconian Circle

Franconian Circle
Fränkischer Reichskreis
1500–1806
Flag of Fränkischer Reichskreis
Flag

The Franconian Circle as at the beginning of the 16th century within the Holy Roman Empire
Historical eraEarly modern period
• Established
1500
• Disestablished
1806
Today part ofGermany
The Franconian Circle as at 1789, before the French Revolutionary Wars and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire

The Franconian Circle (German: Fränkischer Reichskreis) was an Imperial Circle established in 1500 in the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. It comprised the eastern part of the former Franconian stem duchy—roughly corresponding with the present-day Bavarian Regierungsbezirke of Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia—while western Rhenish Franconia belonged to the Upper Rhenish Circle. The title of a "Duke of Franconia" was claimed by the Würzburg bishops.