Imperial Town of Speyer Reichsstadt Speyer | |||||||||
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| 1294–1792 | |||||||||
| Status | Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire | ||||||||
| Capital | Speyer | ||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages / Early modern period | ||||||||
• Founded | ca 10 BC | ||||||||
• Gained Reichsfreiheit | 1294 | ||||||||
| April 19, 1529 | |||||||||
• Protestation at Speyer | April 20, 1529 | ||||||||
| 1688 | |||||||||
| 1792 | |||||||||
• Annexed to Bavaria | 1816 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1792 | ||||||||
| August 10, 1946 | |||||||||
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The history of Speyer begins with the establishment of a Roman camp in 10 BCE, making it one of Germany's oldest cities. Its name evolved from Spira, first mentioned in 614. As of 1294 a Free Imperial City, the town became renowned for its Romanesque cathedral, its vibrant Jewish community, its seat of the Imperial Chamber Court, for 50 diets that took place within its walls, most notably 1526 and 1529, and last but not least, for the Protestation at Speyer. For several centuries from the Middle Ages into the early modern period, Speyer was one of the main centres of gravity of the Holy Roman Empire.