Model or myth? The constitution of Westphalia of 1807 and early German constitutionalism

The constitution of the Kingdom of Westphalia, imposed by Napoleon on a kingdom he created as a client state, was long dismissed as a tool for Napoleonic aggrandizement. But as the first written constitution in German history it set a critical precedent for constitutional government. Was it a model, and if so, to what degree, or is this just a myth? The imitation of French constitutional principles is undisputable, but these principles neither served as immediate models, nor were they a true copy. Yet for all of its conceptual faults, the 1807 constitution stands as the first step toward a liberal state with parliamentary representation in Germany.