{{italic title The adjective ''kaiserlich'' means "imperial" and was used in the German-speaking countries to refer to those institutions and establishments over which the ''Kaiser'' ("emperor") had immediate personal power of control. The term was used particularly in connexion with the Roman-German Emperor as sovereign of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...

and with the subsequent

Empire of Austria The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central- Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, ...

. In the Early Modern Period the term is linked with the universal precedence of the ''Kaiser'' over the other princes of the realm. Holders of an imperial or ''kaiserliche'' office were recruited from the whole empire, and had wide-ranging privileges in the territories. Examples of military, political and cultural institutions with ''kaiserliche'' players in the Holy Roman Empire are the: * ''Kaiserliche Armee'' ( Imperial Army) and * ''Kaiserliche Reichspost'' (Imperial Post Office) of the Roman-German Emperor (to 1806) ( Habsburg, only 1742–1745

Wittelsbach The House of Wittelsbach () is a German dynasty, with branches that have ruled over territories including Bavaria, the Palatinate, Holland and Zeeland, Sweden (with Finland), Denmark, Norway, Hungary (with Romania), Bohemia, the Electorate ...

) * ''kaiserliches Hofgestüt'' (Imperial Stud) at Lipizza (1779), home of the

Lipizzaner The Lipizzan or Lipizzaner ( hr, Lipicanac, cz, Lipicán, hu, Lipicai, it, Lipizzano, sr, Lipicaner, sl, Lipicanec), is a European breed of riding horse developed in the Habsburg Empire in the sixteenth century. It is of Baroque type, and ...

s; * ''kaiserliche Hofburg'' (

Hofburg Palace The Hofburg is the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. Located in the centre of Vienna, it was built in the 13th century and expanded several times afterwards. It also served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn ...

) in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

; * ''kaiserliches Hofmobiliendepot'' (

Imperial Furniture Museum The Imperial Furniture Collection (german: Hofmobiliendepot) in Vienna is a furniture museum that houses one of the most important collections of furniture in the world.

) in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

; * ''kaiserliche Residenz'' ("imperial residence") of Schönbrunn at Vienna; * ''kaiserliche Hofmusikkapelle'' (Imperial Court Band) The traditions continued in the Holy Roman Empire's successors, the

and in

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

(with the suffix ''königlich'' or "royal"). The ''kaiserliche'' soldiers had an especially romanticised calling and loyalty, and occasionally similar names continue to the present day e. g. in several

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

al pieces and the '' Kaiserjäger'' band. In Switzerland the term has negative connotations that go back to the protracted struggle for independence of the

Swiss Confederation ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. The term was not used in the German Empire of the 19th century, with the exception of the

Imperial German Navy The Imperial German Navy or the Imperial Navy () was the navy of the German Empire, which existed between 1871 and 1919. It grew out of the small Prussian Navy (from 1867 the North German Federal Navy), which was mainly for coast defence. Kaise ...

(''Kaiserliche Marine''). Its use in the

Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...

and in connexion with the

Battle of the Three Emperors The Battle of Austerlitz (2 December 1805/11 Frimaire An XIV FRC), also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz i ...

is problematic.

See also