Since the 12th century the map of Germany began to cover itself with hundreds of cities, townships with a certain though limited degree of auto nomy. This meant a new aggravation of the dis integration of legal unity that was already under way. This phenomena was, however, modified by the formation of families of communallaw, where the law of a mother-city was simply transferred to a various number of daughter-cities. Simultane ously arose the obligation for the mother-city to inform in the future her daughter-cities about her practice in contentious matters. As a superior court she became a...