The German Diet decides to reorganize the German states
After defeating a coalition of German states in 1801, revolutionary France annexed the German-speaking areas on the left bank of the Rhine. The rulers who had lost territory demanded compensation, and the constituent members of the Holy Roman Empire decided to reorganize the Empire to keep everyone happy.
To this end, the Imperial Diet set up a commission known as the Imperial Delegation, to draw up a proposal. Reporting back on 25 February 1803, the deputation proposed subordinating the ecclesiastical lords and imperial cities to the territories of a secular prince. This meant that 11 (arch)bishoprics, 44 imperial abbeys and 45 imperial cities lost their independence, and some five million people now had a new ruler, whether they liked it or not.
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