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The '''imperial ban''' ({{lang-de|Reichsacht}}) was a form of [[outlaw]]ry in the [[Holy Roman Empire]].{{sfn|Starn|1982|p=23}} At different times, it could be declared by the [[Holy Roman Emperor]], by the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Diet]], or by courts like the [[League of the Holy Court]] (''Vehmgericht'') or the ''[[Reichskammergericht]]''.
People under imperial ban, known as ''Geächtete'' (from about the 17th century, colloquially also as ''Vogelfreierei'', lit. "free as a bird"), lost all their rights and possessions. They were legally considered dead, and anyone was allowed to rob, injure or kill them without legal consequences. The imperial ban automatically followed the [[excommunication]] of a person, as well as extending to anyone offering help to a person under the imperial ban.
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