Townstates
Townstates are political units in which sovereignty and governance are centered on a single town or urban core and its surrounding territory. The term is used mainly in historical, comparative, or theoretical discussions to describe a form between a full nation-state and an ordinary municipality. In a townstate, the core town usually exercises a high degree of self-government, with rights to tax, legislate, and adjudicate within its jurisdiction, while external autonomy varies by era and context. Townstates are distinct from city-states, since the territory may include rural hinterland or surrounding villages, and from large federations where municipalities have limited powers.
Governance is usually based on a charter or constitution granted by a higher authority or earned through
Historically, several medieval and early modern polities resembled townstates. Free imperial cities of the Holy Roman
Today, true townstates are rare; most urban centers operate as municipalities within nation-states or federations. Still,