How can I be the emperor of the HRE.

[wetblowdryer]

While I am playing as italy, I am not in the HRE. I do however, have a lot of provinces that are in the HRE and my capital even borders one of them.

The idiot electors are constantly electing Austria who is a 4 provinced pushover.

Can I become emperor? I'm not fully acquainted with how the HRE mechanic works.

 

[Calbrenar]

Vassalize 2-3 electors (usually 3) They will vote you in if you keep their relations up.

 

[quinntan2222]

Easiest way to become HRE would be to vassalize a majority of the electors. It will be difficult for you to do so otherwise since the electors get a malus for you not being in the HRE. You can't join the HRE any other way since you are bigger than the current emperor.

 

[Demusch]

you become part of the empire when your capital province is inside the HRE. This can be done in 2 ways:
1. Move your capital to a province inside the HRE (the button for it is in the province screen).
2. Add your capital province to the HRE. To add a province, that province needs to border the HRE boundaries (which you say it does) and the empire needs to have a very high opinion of you (around 194 or something like that). Then, there's again a button on the province screen, the one with the double-headed eagle, which allows you to add the province, and you're in.

That's the first step. The next one is becoming emperor. To become emperor, you need to raise the opinion of several electorates to the degree that they prefer you over the current emperor. The peaceful way would be to use your diplomats to improve relations, to ally and royal marriage (if possible), to help them in wars etc. The more blunt, but faster way is to get into a war with them and force vassalise them. While this doesn't automatically lock-in their vote to you, you do get a +50 bonus for them being a vassal, and can now increase relations to +200 instead of +100, so in most cases you'd now be able to get them to vote for you quite easily. 2-3 electors are usually enough to become emperor.

 

[RLZ]

If your capital is an imperial territory, you are considered a member of HRE, other territories don't count. When inside if you keep up a good relationship with them they will vote for you. Note that vassalising an elector gives you -50 from other non-vassalised electors (only in vote not relationship). 3 electors always secure you the throne.

One more thing, when you are the emperor, if an outsider attacks an HRE member and you refuse the CtA, you receive a huge drop in relationship with the electors and may cost you the throne. So take the throne and also the duty.

 

[grisamentum]

you become part of the empire when your capital province is inside the HRE. This can be done in 2 ways:
1. Move your capital to a province inside the HRE (the button for it is in the province screen).

You can't move your capital in to the HRE.

2. Add your capital province to the HRE. To add a province, that province needs to border the HRE boundaries (which you say it does) and the empire needs to have a very high opinion of you (around 194 or something like that). Then, there's again a button on the province screen, the one with the double-headed eagle, which allows you to add the province, and you're in.

The opinion required is based on how big you are. You can see this easily by checking the opinion required, then creating some new vassal, and seeing the number go down.

 

[Juggernaught]

Another option mighty be to swap protestant early on and boost your relations with heretic electors. I saw France and Sweden becoming the emperor a few times already.