How to make more free cities as emperor.

[CTHOMP]

I just got voted out as emperor of the as bohemia but assume I can get voted back in. As emperor I was having trouble generating points and one way is to have free cities. However, all the opms i see are monarchies and I don't have the ability go turn them to free cities. They wouldnt accept. How does one create more?

[Mikey]

Well you shouldnt have taken over all those free cities and republics to begin with.

The only way to turn monarchies into free cities is having high enough diplomatic clout: Diplo rep, trust and standing.

[CTHOMP]

I didn't. Other nations did.

I should probably just focus on my actual campaign goal of taking Ireland as bohemia and save all the Empire stuff for a game as austria.

[Shai-Hulud]

Monarchies will accept with high enough relations.

If a nation qualifies, other factors such as diplomatic reputation, trust, and government type will affect the offer of becoming a Free City. In particular, Republics are much more willing to become Free Cities than Monarchies or Theocracies.

+50 to −50 from trust/distrust
+20 to −50 from opinion.
+20 Threatened attitude
+10 Friendly attitude
+10 Ally attitude
+3 or −3 per point of diplomatic reputation (rounded down to nearest whole number)
−1000 More than one province
−1000 Elector of Holy Roman Empire
−1000 Hostile attitude or Outraged attitude
−1000 Subject of another country
−1000 Ruler has a Militarist personality
−20 Neutral attitude
−50 Monarchy
−100 Theocracy

From the wiki

Edit: By the way, often times free citites will gain additional province(s) becoming ineligble for free city. Try releasing opm nations when you go to war in the empire. They will often be happy to accept free city.