Was there ever an attempt to break away from the Holy Roman Empire and be their own thing? Or were they given enough freedom that it was just never worth it?
Why would they seek political independance if the empire already provide large local autonomies? They would risk everything for something that was not worth the fight. In addition the main goal of the league was to ensure that the merchants of the members could sail together and protect themselves against pirates and other danger. Finally the hanseatic league members were not restricted at all to the hanseatic region put spread to england and the coasts of the baltic sea.