the confederation of the rhine was a client state of first french empire. it existed from 1806 through 1813. its ruler was napoleon i of france, called "protector of the federation". it included most of the german states but not the two biggest, prussia and austria. the confederation of the rhine was one of the successors of holy roman empire and one of the predecessors of the german confederation. the confederation only lived a few years but it was a precedent for the later unification of germany. it temporarily unified many of the diverse german states east of the rhine river.