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Author: kjnoren

Sep 11th 2011 at 2:08:10 AM

The title is actually the lesser problem. It's more a feeling I have.

As for the description, there is the following:

The last paragraph is made up of examples. Move those to the real life section. I'm not sure a city-state in a culture dominated by city-states should count - eg the Republic of Venice held great possessions both in Italy and around the Mediterranean, it was more of a combination of a MerchantCity and CapitalCity. The description is also very rambling.

Here's a stab at it:

The FreeCity is a city which governs itself, and either stands largely independent from the countries and realms that surround it, or has been granted a charter of autonomy from the ruler of the country. In fiction, the former type is more common, while in real life the latter is the dominant type.

It is large, wealthy, and thriving compared to the rest of the realms around it, since these are the requirements to get and keep the independence. It is likely ruled as an oligarchy, with elements of republicanism.

The free imperial cities of Germany are good examples. They were only subservient to the Holy Roman Emperor, not the territorial princes, and had the right to make their own laws, freedom from taxes, and no duty to raise troops for military campaigns. The status of a free city varied depending on the wealth the city could command and the power of the surrounding territorial realms.

Often a MerchantCity. Contrast CapitalCity.