The Reichsadler can be traced back to the banner of the Holy Roman Empire, when the eagle was the insignia of the Imperial power as distinguished from the Imperial states.
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The Reichsadler was widely used by Imperial cities such as Lübeck, Besançon or Cheb to underline their immediacy.
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The black eagle was later adopted when the Teutonic State was transformed into the Duchy of Prussia in 1525.