Electresses were female members of the ruling class in the Holy Roman Empire, particularly in the context of the Electorate. They held significant power as the wives or daughters of Electors, who were responsible for electing the Holy Roman Emperor. Their influence often extended to political decisions and court affairs. The most notable electresses were from the House of Hohenzollern and the House of Wettin. While they did not have formal voting rights, their roles in managing estates and supporting their husbands' political ambitions made them key figures in the governance of their territories during the early modern period.