Why is the HRE Emperor only considered a co-belligerent when declaring war on an HRE member?

[Tear Through Bulge]

Just a general question: why is it that the HRE Emperor can only be a co-billegerent when I declare war on a member of the HRE? Is it for balancing purposes so other non-HRE nations can't pick apart the empire easily?

It gives a bit too much power in the Emperor's hands IMO as it makes most of the HRE unable to be attack without getting in a war with 10+ nations. Unless the Emperor is extremely weak, that is, then you have a slight chance.

[Noel]

I say that's intended, just look at how small the land conquered from the HRE was until napoleon

[Black_Rat]

Its the emporers job to protect everyone in the empire, thus they will defend the members from outside forces, and refuse to help inside forces against each other.

[Duckie]

The emporer will always get defense call if someone not part of the empire attacks a member. The emporer will also get a defense call if an HRE member attacks another member with out a causes bali(claim) for war. Its not just a balance thing its a historical thing, the entire role the real main role of the HRE emporer in history was to protect the princes of the empire(all the members) from outside threats(mostly France)

[Tear Through Bulge]

Originally posted by Anjou Poiters:

The emporer will always get defense call if someone not part of the empire attacks a member. The emporer will also get a defense call if an HRE member attacks another member with out a causes bali(claim) for war. Its not just a balance thing its a historical thing, the entire role the real main role of the HRE emporer in history was to protect the princes of the empire(all the members) from outside threats(mostly France)

That's not what I'm referring to though. What I mean is that, if I declare war on an HRE member the Emperor will join, but unlike declaring war on any other nation where I have the option to make that nation's allies as co-belligerents, the Emperor can only be a co-billegerent, so now I have to fight the Emperor, his allies, the allies of the HRE member I'm attacking, and the HRE nation itself. Having to fight all of those nations is just too much IMO.

[Noel]

Originally posted by Inglorious89:

Originally posted by Anjou Poiters:

The emporer will always get defense call if someone not part of the empire attacks a member. The emporer will also get a defense call if an HRE member attacks another member with out a causes bali(claim) for war. Its not just a balance thing its a historical thing, the entire role the real main role of the HRE emporer in history was to protect the princes of the empire(all the members) from outside threats(mostly France)

That's not what I'm referring to though. What I mean is that, if I declare war on an HRE member the Emperor will join, but unlike declaring war on any other nation where I have the option to make that nation's allies as co-belligerents, the Emperor can only be a co-billegerent, so now I have to fight the Emperor, his allies, the allies of the HRE member I'm attacking, and the HRE nation itself. Having to fight all of those nations is just too much IMO.

Once again, intended. There's a reason only 1 person made any noticeable progress in conquering the HRE.

[PFC Chamberlain]

And at the time of Austerlitz (for those of you who aren't history nerds, we are talking Napolean Bonaparte) the HRE was much more an entity in name than in actual strength. It had fallen quite far from it pre- Treaty of Westphalia days.

[Anaverageguy41]

Also also, if you even attack for land that happens to be inside the Empire the Emperor can be called into the war. Happened to me during my netherlands campaign once or twice