Part 10/13:
The cities within the Holy Roman Empire also played a critical role in the failure to unify the realm. Much like their counterparts in France, German cities craved the order and stability that a strong central monarchy could provide. Yet, the nobility's control over urban centers prompted city leaders to seek alliances among themselves rather than with the Emperor.
City leagues formed, allowing urban areas to assert their own governance and resist noble taxation. The Hanseatic League, in particular, functioned almost as an independent political entity, engaging in foreign policy and trade agreements that bypassed Imperial authority.