Kaiser – Medienguide Fembohaus

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3.2 THE EMPEROR AND THE CITY

WHAT IS A "FREE IMPERIAL CITY"?

Free imperial cities formed a special category in the Holy Roman Empire. They did not fall under the control of regional rulers, but owed direct allegiance to the head of state, the king or emperor. Free imperial cities had their own government and laws, and were permitted to levy local taxes.

Nuremberg was granted several privileges by Emperor Friedrich II when he issued the Großer Freiheitsbrief (Great Letter of Freedom) in the year 1219. This decree effectively made Nuremberg an imperial city. It now came under the direct protection of the emperor and was granted several tax and duty exemptions.

Nuremberg became one of the most important free imperial cities in the Holy Roman Empire. The city was the site of numerous imperial diets and assemblies which brought visits by the emperor and other rulers. Its status allowed Nuremberg to pursue independent economic politics, and it became a major centre of crafts and commerce.

THE EMPEROR'S THRONE

The imperial throne was built according to a design by Albrecht Dürer when the Great Hall of the city hall (which stands not far from here) was remodelled around 1520. It was placed at the rear wall, where it remained until the beginning of the 17th century. The ruler would sit in state on this throne when he visited the city. However, these visits were rarer after Nuremberg became a Protestant city in the 16th century as the Hapsburg kings and emperors had remained Catholic. The throne retained its importance for the city, however, as it embodied the city's close association with the crown. It became a symbol for Nuremberg's status as a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire.

For reasons unknown, the throne was moved from its central position to the south-east corner of the Great Hall sometime in the 18th century. It may well have been because it was seldom used any more. Nevertheless, the city council seems to have believed that the symbolic seat of the head of state should remain in the Great Hall.

THE ENTRY OF EMPOROR MATTHIAS

This painting shows a triumphal arch erected for the visit of Emperor Matthias in 1612. Matthias had been elected emperor in Frankfurt in 1612. Shortly afterwards, he visited Nuremberg.

Imperial visits were highlights for the free imperial city. Amid the jubilation and adulation of the burghers, the emperor and his retinue would move in procession to the castle. The high point of the whole spectacle would be reached just about where the Fembo-Haus stands at the final ascent to the castle. Here, an impressive triumphal arch was erected, actually a multi-story structure of wooden scaffolding covered with painted canvas. Such arches were one-off structures built for a single occasion, meaning they have not been preserved, but their appearance was recorded in drawings.

The emperor may have been the nominal head of the free imperial city, but the day-to-day business of actually running the municipality was left to the city council. If you want to find out more about this institution, please proceed to the next room.

CITY MUSEUM AT FEMBO-HAUS
MEDIA GUIDE

3.2 THE EMPEROR AND THE CITY

The Laufer Schlagturm, one of the few remaining towers of the penultimate city fortifications from the 13th century.

The Tucher Castle in Hirschelgasse, the former summer residence of the Tucher patrician family from the 16th century.

The Toplerhaus on Paniersplatz before its complete destruction, representative town house of the Topler patrician family from the late 16th century.

The Pellerhaus on Egidienplatz, originally a representative residential and commercial building in the Renaissance style, which was converted into a new building after 1945.

The Church of St. Egidien on Egidienplatz, the only baroque church building in Nuremberg from the early 18th century.

The Laufertorturm, one of the four main towers of the last medieval city fortifications.

The Tiergärtnertorturm, one of the four main towers of the last medieval city fortifications.

The Albrecht Dürer House on Albrecht Dürer Street, half-timbered building and former home of the important German artist from the 15th century.

Nuremberg Castle, the residence of the traveling kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire since the Middle Ages and the city's landmark.

The Fembo House on Burgstrasse, the only surviving merchant's house from the late Renaissance.

The Sebalduskirche on Winklerstrasse, the oldest parish church in the city and burial place of the local saint Sebald.

The Moritz Chapel at the Schürstabhaus before its destruction, small late medieval town church with a popular restaurant “Bratwurstglöcklein”.

The Schürstabhaus on Albrecht-Dürer-Platz, residence of the patrician Schürstab family from the Gothic period.

The town hall on the main market, an important Renaissance building by the architect Jakob Wolff the Elder. J. and seat of the Nuremberg Council in imperial city times.

The Fronveste with Schlayerturm, river bridge of the last city fortifications on the Pegnitz outflow, which was used as a weapons depot and prison.

Weißgerbergasse, the craftsmen's quarter of Nuremberg's white tanners, before the uncovering of the medieval half-timbered facades.

The Weinstadel at Maxplatz, the imperial city's wine warehouse and one of the largest half-timbered buildings in Germany.

The executioner's house with executioner's footbridge at the flea market. Ensemble of the penultimate city fortifications from the 13th century and later residence of the Nuremberg executioner.

The Unschlitthaus on Obere Wörthstrasse, a large imperial city granary to supply the city's population and the seat of the Unschlittamt (office for further processing of beef tallow).

The Frauenkirche on the Hauptmarkt, built in the middle of the 14th century on the instructions of its founder, Emperor Charles IV, in the former Jewish quarter.

The main market, since the Lorenz and Sebald halves were connected in the late Middle Ages, has been the center of the old town and market square in the former Jewish quarter.

The Fleischbrücke, an important bridge structure of the German Renaissance and a central traffic junction in imperial city times.

The Holy Spirit Hospital in Spitalgasse, the largest social institution and most important civic foundation of the Middle Ages.

The main synagogue on Hans-Sachs-Platz before its demolition in 1938, a monumental symbol of liberal-bourgeois Judaism in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The debt tower on the Vordere Insel Schütt, one of the few remaining towers of the penultimate city fortifications from the 13th century.

The Katharinenkirche at Katharinenkloster 6, before its destruction, former monastery church of the Dominican Sisters from the 13th century and seat of the Academy of Fine Arts in imperial city times.

The Nassauer Haus on Karolinenstrasse, the only surviving medieval residential tower.

The Lorenzkirche on Lorenzer Platz, one of the two large parish churches in the medieval city and a landmark of Nuremberg.

The Church of St. Jakob on Jakobsplatz, a Gothic church building from the 13th century and a stop for pilgrims on the Franconian Way of St. James.

The toll hall at Hallplatz, a large imperial city granary to supply the city's population and the seat of the city's customs office.

The Klarakirche on Königstrasse, former church of the Poor Clares monastery in Romanesque and early Gothic style.

The Frauentorturm, one of the four main towers of the last medieval city fortifications.