Both attempts failed after a short time, due to the resistance of the Emperor and the divergent interests of princes.
The first imperial government was an initiative of Elector Berthold of Henneberg in Mainz and the Diet of Worms (1495).
In return for granting the Gemeiner Pfennig tax and assistance in the war against France, he demanded the Emperor Maximilian I establish a permanent government, with representation of the estates.
However, under pressure due to his precarious financial situation, he agreed to other reforms which would pave the way to the imperial government.
A panel of 20 representatives of the spiritual and temporal princes of the Empire was formed and they chose the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg as their seat.