It was only, however, when cities were "free of the empire" (_Reichsfrei_) that they attained the ideal of mediaeval civic freedom.
It follows naturally from the conditions described that there was, in the first place, a conflict between the primitive inhabitants as embodied in their corporate society and the territorial lord, whoever he might be.

No sooner had the township acquired a charter of freedom or certain immunities than a new antagonism showed itself between the ancient corporation of the city and the trade-guilds, these representing the later accretions.

The territorial lord (if any) now sided, usually though not always, with the patrician party.

But the guilds, nevertheless, succeeded in ultimately wresting many of the leading public offices from the exclusive possession of the patrician families.

Meanwhile the leading men of the guilds had become _hommes arrives_.