Treaty of the Confederation of the Rhine

What it is

This is the handwritten 1806 treaty creating the Confederation of the Rhine, concluded between Napoleon and a number of German princes. The surviving copy shown here, made for the Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, carries Napoleon's signature, a wax seal, and the signatures of ministers; it is held in the Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg.

Why it matters

Through this treaty, Napoleon reorganised much of Germany into a group of states under French protection, replacing the old patchwork of territories tied to the Holy Roman Empire. It led directly to the end of that centuries-old Empire. The document shows Napoleon acting not only as a military conqueror but as a political reorganiser, reshaping the map of Europe and the loyalties of its rulers.

Look closer

• Why would German princes agree to sign a treaty that placed them under the protection of a foreign emperor?
• What does Napoleon's signature and seal on this document tell you about how such treaties were formalised?
• What might be lost when a centuries-old political structure like the Holy Roman Empire is replaced this quickly?