Rhenish Confederation of 1806–13

an association of a number of German states under a protectorate of Napoleon I, established in accordance with a treaty between France and 16 states of western and southern Germany that was signed on July 12, 1806, in Paris.

The member states of the confederation left the Holy Roman Empire (which was abolished on August 6) and entered into a military alliance with France, actually becoming vassals of France. By 1811, 20 more states in western, central, and northern Germany had joined the Rhenish Confederation. In most of the states of the confederation, the Napoleonic Code was introduced. The Rhenish Confederation, which was used by Napoleon to ensure French domination in Germany, disintegrated after the defeat of Napoleon in the battle of Leipzig of 1813.