1. Definition
Free imperial cities (also tranlated: “Imperial free city”, or “Free and Imperial City”, from German Freie [und] Reichsstädte) were all towns in the Holy Roman Empire that were immediately under the authority of the king or emperor and had a seat and vote in the Reichstag (Reichsstandschaft, status as an imperial estate). Since free imperial cities were not subject to a territorial ruler, but rather had only the emperor as lord over them (Imperial immedia…