“Confederation of the Rhine” (German Rheinbund; French Confédération du Rhin) is the name given to two early modern federations of German states created under French influence (States, confederation of).
1. First confederation, 1658
A first Rhenish confederation (the “Rhenish League” or “Rhenish Alliance”; German Rheinischer Bund, Rheinische Allianz; French Ligue du Rhin) was formed on August 14, 1658 at Frankfurt am Main as a response to the election of the Habsbu…