Décapole

The Décapole was a confederation of ten free imperial cities in the Alsace region of the Holy Roman Empire. Formed in 1354, its primary purpose was mutual defense and the preservation of their liberties and privileges against external threats and the ambitions of local territorial lords, particularly the Habsburgs. The member cities were Strasbourg, Colmar, Hagenau, Schlettstadt, Wissembourg, Landau, Obernai, Rosheim, Sélestat, and Turckheim.

The Décapole functioned as a league, with regular meetings of representatives from each city to discuss common concerns, coordinate military actions, and settle disputes. The confederation provided a collective strength that individual cities could not otherwise achieve. It played a significant role in the political landscape of Alsace for centuries, navigating complex relationships with the Emperor, the local nobility, and eventually, with the expansionist Kingdom of France.

Over time, the power and influence of the Décapole waned. Internal divisions and external pressures, particularly the Thirty Years' War and the subsequent French annexation of Alsace, gradually eroded its autonomy. By the late 17th century, with the Peace of Westphalia and further French gains, the Décapole effectively ceased to exist as an independent entity, with its member cities falling under French control.