FREE CITIES, the name applied to vari ous cities of Germany which in the 12th century assisted the emperors in repressing the arro gance of the nobles, and, in return for their services or contributions, received various privi leges and immunities and became imperial cities. Free cities existed in Germany from the time of the Romans; they had little in common with the free cities of later times, and in the beginning of the 16th century lost their most essential privi leges, and even the name of free cities, through the ignorance and carelessness of their magis trates. The most important of those privileges, as shown in the case of Ratisbon, were that they should enjoy an independent government; should never swear allegiance to any emperor ,or king, nor be obliged either to engage in any expedition against the Romans, or to pay for the privilege of exemption; nor to pay any contribu tions whatsoever to the empire: nor be in any way reckoned among the cities of the empire. Virtually they were independent republics. Commerce and manufactures gradually in creased the importance of the imperial cities and they often ventured to resist their masters, the emperors, and could not be reduced to obe dience without great difficulty. In the middle of the 13th century two important confederacies were established for common objects—the Hanseatic League (q.v.) (1241), comprising the
cities of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck, and the league of the Rhenish cities (1246), comprising Cologne, Worms, Mainz, Strassburg, Basel and Spires, which are now incorporated in their respective political divisions. The powerful Hanseatic League lasted nearly four centuries, until its dissolution was effected by several causes in 1630. The remnant of this league and of the former collegium of cities, which had its repre sentatives in the German Diet — namely the free cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck— was incorporated with the French Empire in 1810. As these cities co-operated vigorously in the re covery of German independence, they were ac knowledged, together with Frankfort-on-the Main, as free cities by the Congress of Vienna (1814-15). They joined the German Con federacy and obtained the right of a vote each in the Diet, and one among the four in the narrower council. In conformity with the 12th article of the constitution of the German Con federacy, they established a common Supreme Court of Appeal in 1830. Frankfort in 1866 was annexed to Prussia. The only free cities now existing are Hamburg, Lubeck and Bremen, each sending a member to the Bundesrath, and Hamburg three deputies to the Reichstag, the others one each.