Yes, of course. Especially the alliance of nordic cities, called ''Hanse'' tried to break ties with their feudal heritage. But socio-politically it was a shift of power towards a new class of entrepreneurs that copied aristocratic life and made sure to never give up power to the masses until the revolution of 1848 that had its roots in the ''Hambacher Fest'' of 1830, the aftermath of the liberation of Napoleon. Prussia brought the majority of the free cities under its control in the years after the disappointment of 48.