Palatine City

A Palatine City is a city within the Helvandrian League which is, in principle, subject to the direct, personal rule of the League's Prince-Palatine. In practice the Prince-Palatine usually appoints an official with the title of consul to govern them in his name. 
Unlike a full-fledged city-state (such as Torrune), Palatine Cities are not entitled to any degree of self-rule and do not have their own local magnate with Elector's rank. They are not permitted to impose their own taxes on trade as do regular League member states, but neither are they responsible for providing for their own defense, or for the maintenance of certain public works such as bridges and mills. The Prince-Palatine instead levies his own taxes on these cities and the trade flowing through them, which provide part of the Palatinate's revenue stream. Correspondingly, he is also directly responsible for their protection and the upkeep of their public works. 
Hakoris, the seat of the Prince-Palatine himself, is obviously the most prominent of the Palatine Cities, and in fact the taxes levied on its great flow of maritime trade make up the majority of the Palatinate's income. The others are Bruzzail, Machira, Qyrsh, Bain-Sarron, and Falkrenport.