The Imperial Circles (German: Reichskreise; sing. Reichskreis) were regional groupings of states in the Holy Roman Empire. Although organised as a means of organising a common defence policy and imperial tax collection, the circles were also used as a means of organisation in the Imperial Diet. All Circles had a regional diet (Kreistag) of which all territories in the circle were participants, although not all estates in the Circles had a seat in the Imperial Diet.