Reichsfreiheit

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The Reichsfreiheit or Reichsunmittelbarkeit (adjectives reichsfrei, reichsunmittelbar) was a special, privileged status a city or region could attain in the Holy Roman Empire. A reichsfrei city or territory was under the direct authority of the emperor, without any intermediary liege lords. Advantages were that reichsfrei regions had the right to collect taxes and tolls themselves, and held juridical rights themselves. De facto Reichsfreiheit corresponded to a semi-independence with a far-reaching autonomy.

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