Kingdom of Westphalia

Kingdom of Westphalia
Royaume de Ouestphalie (French)
Königreich Westphalen (German)
1807–1813
Flag of Westphalia
Flag
Coat of arms of Westphalia
Coat of arms
Motto: Character und Aufrichtigkeit
(German for 'Character and Honesty')
The Kingdom of Westphalia in 1812
The Kingdom of Westphalia in 1812
StatusClient state of the French Empire
CapitalKassel
Recognised regional languagesLow German
Common languages
Religion
GovernmentConstitutional monarchy
King 
• 1807–1813
Jérôme Bonaparte
Prime minister 
• 1807–1813
Joseph Jérôme, Comte Siméon
LegislatureImperial Estate
Historical eraNapoleonic Wars
7 July 1807
7 December 1807
19 October 1813
Area
180937,883 km2 (14,627 sq mi)
181063,652 km2 (24,576 sq mi)
181245,427 km2 (17,539 sq mi)
Population
• 1809
1,950,724
• 1810
2,600,000
• 1812
2,065,970
CurrencyWestphalian frank
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Electorate of Hanover
Electorate of Hesse
Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Kingdom of Hanover
Electorate of Hesse
Kingdom of Prussia
Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Today part ofGermany

The Kingdom of Westphalia was a client state of France in present-day Germany that existed from 1807 to 1813. While formally independent, it was ruled by Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte. It was named after Westphalia, but this was a misnomer since the kingdom had little territory in common with that area. The region mostly covered territory formerly known as Eastphalia.

Napoleon imposed the first written modern constitution in Germany, a French-style central administration, and agricultural reform. The kingdom liberated the serfs and gave everyone equal rights and the right to a jury trial. In 1808 the kingdom passed Germany's first laws granting Jews equal rights, thereby providing a model for reform in the other German states. Westphalia seemed to be progressive in immediately enacting and enforcing the new reforms.

The country was relatively poor but Napoleon demanded heavy taxes and payments and conscripted soldiers. Few of the men who marched into Russia with Napoleon in 1812 returned. The kingdom was bankrupt by 1812. When Napoleon was retreating in the face of Allied advances in 1813, the kingdom was overrun by the Allies and (in 1815) most of its territories became Prussian. Most of the reforms, however, remained in place.[1]

  1. ^ Connelly, Owen (1966). Napoleon's satellite kingdoms. Free Press. ISBN 9780029066003.