I'm writing this down not because it is strictly news of European relevance, but because it is of notable regional-transnational relevance.
As mentioned, yesterday Forza Nuova organized a meeting/march led personally by their leader Roberto Fiore in the border-town of Trieste, a place known in the region to be a multicultural hotspot with particularly notable presence of Slovene minority, but also, Germanic, Jewish and other Slavic cultures, which were subjected to severe Italianization policies during the Mussolini era.
As said, former centre-right mayor Roberto DiPiazza apparently decided to axe the decades long process of harmonization between Slovene minority in Italy, Slovenia, and Triestians/Italians by proclaiming the place to be "The most Italian" of cities, and by joining and endorsing the Forza Nuova party, as well as the "Italia agli Italiani" coalition, elements which openly oppose existence of 'non-Italian' cultures within Italy, and which have been at odds with the Slovene community for many years, especially on the issue of official bilingualism of the Trieste district.
What practical effects this shift will have remains to be seen, but given the history of Slovene-Italian relations in the past decades it is probable that it will work detrimentally to the established cooperation between the two groups.
Within the vast and frequently changing borders of the HRE there were many other large seemingly important cities that did not have a seat in the Imperial Diet and were not Free Imperial Cities, were there reasons preventing some cities from having this status? What kind of status and autonomy would say cities like Prague, Vienna, Antwerp and many other major cities located within the borders of the HRE but outside of the borders of modern Germany enjoy?
God diggily dang love italy. Thank you for the anwsers beforehand!
I've been doing a bit of casual research on the HRE, and I'm having trouble finding information on what the the leaders of the Holy Roman Empire's free cities were called, and I can't even find any information on individual leaders of free cities. Italian cities states had Doges and many (like the Medicis) are well-known, what about the free cities?
During this time Ulm is ruled by two councils, the Small Council and the Large Council. The political power structure of the city is a balancing point between the various noble families whose positions as appointed magistrates of the city is all but inherited (there's a series of vestment proceedings upon death) versus the rising power of the guilds. Located on the Danube, Ulm's merchants conduct river trade as far as the Black Sea when conditions are good. By 1500 the large cathedral and walls of Ulm were both funded and completed without any outside assistance. The cathedral is a particular point of pride for the city's inhabitants, as it is the largest of it's kind to date (at least in it's architectural style). Records outside certain academic circles are not clear on exactly who the key personalities were in the city during this time period, so a number of such must be made up wholesale for role-play purposes. My plan for Ulm is to have the noble families of Ulm and their competing guilds set aside their differences long enough to work towards a goal they can all agree on: accumulate wealth and power.
So, i was browsing the dlc.in ESO and noticed the imperial city dlc being free. Not sure if it's intentional or not, but claim it if you haven't done so yet.
The city of Augsburg has had a long history even back in 1503. Having been founded by the Romans and made into a provincial capital, the city has been sacked multiple times, by enemies from both the east and the west. Still, each time the city has risen like a Phoenix from the ashes, ever stronger. Located on the alpine river Lech which flows into the great river Danube, the city is a major economic centre, currently at the height of its relevance. Augsburg gained the rights of an imperial city and thus independence from the bishopric of Augsburg few hundred years ago, but there is still some tension in the air between the secular and the godly. The city is home to the important trading families of Fugger and Welser, among others. The former has a near monopoly in the mining trade of the alps, and the latter is known in history for colonizing the new world, and both have good relations with the Austrians. In our history books the city played a major role in the reformation and the crises that followed, turning protestant to the disdain of their namesake bishopric. The city is lead by a council of burghers, like most free cities in the empire.
As a (new) player I will strive to keep Augsburg relevant and unsacked, and to profit from trade. Maybe buying rights to colonize, maybe conquering some land, but for sure helping people in need (especially our gracious emperor, long may he live) with generous loans.
Over the last year, I've become interested in collecting coins, most notably schillings, of the Riga Free Imperial City period. I do have a copy of Fyodorov's Baltic Coins of the XIII to XVIII Centuries but it only lists the major types, and I'm very curious as to why there are so many varieties.
For example, this is a typical coin, with the obverse and reverse legends variants of CIVITATIS RIGENSIS and MONETA NOVA ARGENTEA, respectively. This one, struck the same year, has a reverse of MONETA NOVA RIGE, and this one, also from the same year, MONE NO RIGENSIS.
Varieties are not limited to just the legends. Coins have varying symbols for the legend separators, and positioning of the design elements. The lion's head in the gate can be very high, or even below the gate itself. This one from 1577 has the keys and date on the reverse so low that they overlap the inner ring.
Minting methods, from hand struck coins to a Walzwerk machine, changed in 1575, but varieties abound before and after the switch. Here are two from 1566, with a typical legend on the obverse, and one where the obverse has almost the same legend as the reverse (differing by one letter).
How were the dies of these coins produced? Why are there so many variations? I presume they were all struck at a single mint, so I would have expected more quality control, so to speak.
Also, certain dates seem much rarer than others. In that period, 1570-72 and 1575-78 are easily found, but 1573 seems to not exist, even though Fyodorov indicates schillings were minted for that date. Similarly, 1567 seems also to not be able to be found, while the other dates from the 1560s, while not common, are still obtainable. I know other denominations were minted sporadically - was there, perhaps, only a certain amount of silver to be allocated to coinage, so minting of, say, ferdings (valued at 9 schillings) in a given year means fewer schillings minted? Or, were there local economic conditions that precluded minting larger numbers of coins?
I'm very curious, but haven't found any definitive information. For
... keep reading on reddit β‘
Ulm became a Free Imperial City in 1155, making it subordinate only to the Holy Roman Emperor. Ulm played an important role in the Swabian League, which was an 'alliance' between a group of Imperial Estates, with the goal of keeping peace in the empire.
Under the 15th and the 16th centuries, trade blossomed in Ulm, and they were renowned for their trade in linen and fustian. Ulm became an important place for trade thanks to their strategic placement by trade routes, and next to the Danube River. At their peak they ruled over a district of circa 300 square miles with a population of 60,000.
I don't really have an endgoal per se, I just want to have some fun with this. The first days I will unfortunately not be active that much due to my holiday (in southern Germany!) but I'll join you all very soon, I promise. I'm looking forward to it!!
As a Free Imperial City, Ulm is only subordinate to the Emperor.
As the player of Ulm, I intend to honor the defensive and trade pacts Ulm has already entered into.
I also plan to cause Ulm to intensify.
Edit 1:
History of Ulm
Ulm was part of the demesne of the Carolingian dynasty as early as 854, as was the seat of several assemblies. Over time it became the principal seat of the Duchy of Swabia. It became a legal township by or before 1027, and was later burned down by Henry the Lion. It recovered and was admitted as an Imperial Free City in 1155. It's trade blossomed throughout the 14th and 15th century, and it played a prominent role in the formation and administration of the Swabian League of that time.
Free Imperial City
As a Free Imperial City Ulm is self governing and autonomous, beholden only to the Holy Roman Emperor and with it's independence guaranteed by the same due the the rule of Imperial Primacy. Due to there being so few Imperial Free Cities, most did not bother with having a permanent seat of the Imperial Diet. Ulm was one of the exceptions and was an active participant in the Swabian Bench. Ulm also maintained a permanent representative in the Auilic Council in Vienna, which had more direct impact and power of the Free Imperial Cities than any other body in the Empire. Ulm was among several larger cities that represented several or more smaller cities to the Diet and the Council through use of lawyers, thereby preventing conflicts of interest.
Ulm was ruled by a patrician class during this period, or Ratsverwandte families who often passed seats on by heredity, though often elections were held even though only one candidate was produced for a given seat. The families ruled together using a Republican constitution, passing legislation among themselves in a ruling Diet or Council. This Diet ruled by majority rule, and it fluctuated in size with the rise and fall of various ruling houses. Beneath them were the burghers of various levels, who administered the various towns and quarters of the city proper.
Edit 2:
As a new player I inherit and acknowledge the following treaties Ulm has entered into:
https://www.reddit.com/r/empirepowers/comments/3d4azj/diplomacy_agreement_between_bremen_lindau_ulm_and/
https://twitter.com/MapPornTweet/status/963714464976486400?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Edefault%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E1
