IMPERIAL Cities, in Germany, are those which own no other head but the emperor. These are a kind of little commonwealths; the chief magistrate whereof does homage to the emperor; but in other respects, and in the administration of justice, is sovereign. Imperial cities have a right of coining money, and of keeping forces and fortified places. Their deputies assisted at the imperial diets, where they are divided into two
branches, that of the Rhine and that of Suabia. There were formerly 22 in the former and 37 in the latter; but since 1815 there are only four, Hamburg, Bremen, Lubec, and Frankfurt.