This volume on the residence cities in the northeast of the Holy Roman Empire opens the first section of the Handbook of Residence Cities, which is planned to consist of a total of four volumes. This section provides a comprehensive directory of all residence cities of the Holy Roman Empire, presented in detailed articles ranging from six to twelve pages in the style of a Dictionnaire raisonné. It addresses the question of whether and to what extent the cities were transformed by the presence of a princely or noble court, and whether there were any repercussions on the court itself. The first part volume contains just over 170 articles, showcasing the varying degrees of courtly influence in predominantly smaller cities. Among the larger and more well-known residence cities, Berlin/Cölln, Dresden, Marienburg, and Weimar are particularly highlighted.