Long ago, Erfurt was not a town but a region with 82 villages, 5 castles and the town Sömmerda. The council dispensed with the "Reichsunmittelbarkeit" (subject to the emperor alone). At the beginning there were difficulties, but they were later forgotten: but the matter became fatal for the town. In 1664 Erfurt was again under supremacy of Mayence (Mainz).

Emperors, tsars, kings, prominent scholars and even highly unpopular high ranking military men felt at home within the walls of Erfurt.

04.10.2005