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The Story of the Nations.
THE HANSA TOWNS.
THE STORY OF THE NATIONS.
Large Crown 8vo, Cloth, Illustrated, 5s. Presentation Edition, Gilt Edges, 5s. 6d.
1. ROME. Arthur Gilman, M.A.
2. THE JEWS. Prof. J. K. Hosmer.
3. GERMANY. Rev. S. Baring-Gould, M.A.
4. CARTHAGE. Prof. A. J. Church.
5. ALEXANDER'S EMPIRE. Prof. J. P. Mahaffy.
6. THE MOORS IN SPAIN. Stanley Lane-Poole.
7. ANCIENT EGYPT. Canon Rawlinson.
8. HUNGARY. Prof. A. Vambéry.
9. THE SARACENS. A. Gilman, M.A.
10. IRELAND. Hon. Emily Lawless.
11. CHALDÆA. Z. A. Ragozin.
12. THE GOTHS. Henry Bradley.
13. ASSYRIA. Z. A. Ragozin.
14. TURKEY. Stanley Lane-Poole.
15. HOLLAND. Prof. J. E. Thorold Rogers.
16. MEDIÆVAL FRANCE. Prof. Gustave Masson.
17. PERSIA. S. G. W. Benjamin.
18. PHŒNICIA. Canon Rawlinson.
19. MEDIA. Z. A. Ragozin.
20. THE HANSA TOWNS. By Helen Zimmern.
London: T. FISHER UNWIN, 26, Paternoster Square, E.C.
VIEW OF HAMBURG.
THE HANSA TOWNS
BY HELEN ZIMMERN AUTHOR OF "A LIFE OF LESSING," "HEROIC TALES FROM FIRDUSI," ETC.
London T. FISHER UNWIN 26 PATERNOSTER SQUARE
NEW YORK: G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS MDCCCLXXXIX
Entered at Stationers' Hall By T. FISHER UNWIN
Copyright by G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1889 (For the United States of America).
PREFACE.
In bringing before the public what I believe to be the first History of the Hanseatic League, it gives me pleasure to think that the impetus to write it came from the United States. The work was suggested to me by my valued friend, Mr. G. H. Putnam, of New York, a citizen of the country in which the principle of federation is best understood and most thoroughly carried out. The Hansa was one of the earliest representatives of that federal spirit which will, beyond doubt, some day help to solve many of the heavy and grievous problems with which we of the Old World are struggling; but that day is not yet, and meantime we have much to learn both from the successes and failures of the past.
I have, of course, assumed in my readers some knowledge of German History, such as they can derive from Professor Bryce's inimitable "Holy Roman Empire," or from Baring-Gould's "Story of Germany," one of the earlier volumes of this series.
In conclusion, I desire to express my very cordial thanks to Dr. Otto Benecke, Keeper of the State Archives of the city of Hamburg, and to my uncle, Dr. Carl Leo, Syndic of the same town, for the generosity with which they have accorded me valuable assistance in the preparation of this volume. I have further to thank Miss L. Toulmin Smith for help in revision of the MS., and for many useful suggestions. To my sister, Miss Alice Zimmern, and to Dr. Richard Garnett, of the British Museum, I am indebted for aid in proof-reading.
HELEN ZIMMERN.
Florence, March 1, 1889.
CONTENTS.
page
Prefacevii
Proem1-7
PERIOD I.
I.
The Dawn of a Great Trade Guild11-20
Teutonic Merchants, 15—Travelling in Early Times, 17—Origin of the Guilds, 19.
II.
Federation21-29
The Story of "Winetha," 23—The Island of Gothland, 25—"Salt Kolberg," 27—Unhansing, 29.
III.
Foreign Trade30-47
Social Conditions, 31—Enslavement of the Middle Class, 35—Italian Influences, 37—Burgher Home Rule, 43—League of the Baltic Towns, 45—The Title "Hansa," 47.
IV.
The Hansa Fights48-69
The Herring Fisheries, 49—Waldemar, 51—The First Attack, 53—Sack of Wisby, 55—Copenhagen Plundered, 57—Punishment of Wittenborg, 59—The Cologne Federation, 61—Growing Strength of the League, 63—Flight of Waldemar, 65—Treaty of Stralsund, 67—A Curious Chapter in History, 69.
PERIOD II.
THE HISTORY OF THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE, FROM 1370 TO THE PUBLIC PEACE OF 1495, DECREED IN GERMANY BY MAXIMILIAN I.
I.
Lübeck Receives an Imperial Visitor73-81
Hesitation of Lübeck, 75—Procession from St. Gertrude's Chapel, 77—Lübeck Hospitality, 79—Records of the Visit, 81.
II.
The Towns in the Fourteenth Century82-125
The Ban of the Hansa, 83—Submission of Brunswick, 85—Prominence of the Cities, 87—Population of Lübeck, 89—Characteristics of the Germans, 91—Independence of the Towns, 93—The Maritime Ports, 95—Exports of the Hansa, 97—Conditions of Trade, 101—Specie, Credit, and Bills, 103—The Extent of Mediæval Trade, 105—The Churches and Religious Buildings, 107—Hanseatic Architecture and Art, 109—Science and Literature, 111—The May Emperor, 113—Customs, Restrictions, and Regulations, 117—Luxury in Dress, 119—The Town Council, 121—The Town-hall, 123—Mediæval Patriotism, 125.
III.
The Victual Brothers126-136
Plunder of Bergen, 127—Stortebeker, 129—Simon of Utrecht, 131—Execution of Stortebeker, 133.
IV.
The Factory of Bergen137-147
History of Bergen, 139—Shoemaker's Alley, 141—Constitution of the Factory, 143—Barbarous Practices, 147.
V.
The Hanseatic Commerce with Denmark, Sweden, and Russia148-162
Skânoe and Falsterbo, 149—The Pious Brotherhood of Malmö, 151—The Hansa at Novgorod, 153—The Court of St. Peter, 155—Furs, Metals, Honey, and Wax, 157—The Lombards versus the Hansa, 159—Ivan the Terrible Sacks Novgorod, 161.
VI.
The Commerce of the League with the Netherlands and Southern Europe163-178
The Flemish Trade Guilds, 165—Hansa Factory at Bruges, 167—Suspension of Trade with Flanders, 169—Trade with Antwerp, 171—Relations with France, 173—The Hansa in Portugal and Italy, 175—Italian Culture in South Germany, 177.
VII.
The Steelyard in London179-201
The Hanseatic Rothschilds, 181—Hanseatics Hated by the People, 183—Rupture with England, 185—The Key to the City's Commerce, 187—Description of the Steelyard, 189—Inner Life of the Factory, 191—The English Conciliated, 193—Depôts throughout England, 195—The Hansa's Part in Ceremonies, 199—Religion of the English Hanseatics, 201.
VIII.
The Organization of the Hanseatic League202-208
The Diets, 203—Minutes of the Diet's Proceedings, 205.
PERIOD III.
THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HANSA.
Introduction211-216
Decay of the Feudal System, 213—The Thirty Years' War, 215.
I.
Storm Clouds217-235
Charles V. of Germany, 219—Gustavus Appeals to Lübeck, 223—Cruelty of Christian II., 225—Gustavus Lands in Sweden, 227—Lübeck Aids Gustavus, 229—Christian II. deposed, 231—Christian II. Abjures Lutheranism, 233—Christian's Memory, 235.
II.
King Frederick and King Gustavus Vasa236-239
"Put not thy trust in Princes," 237—Gustavus Quarrels with Lübeck, 239.
III.
Wullenweber240-282
The Religious Movement, 241—Lübeck Espouses Lutheranism, 243—Max Meyer, 245—Capture of Spanish Ships, 247—Christopher of Oldenburg, 251—Congress at Hamburg, 253—Wullenweber's Projects, 255—Disorder in Lübeck, 257—Hostilities in Denmark, 259—Escape of Max Meyer, 261—Battle of Assens, 263—Cologne's Reproach, 265—Nicholas Brömse, 267—Resignation of Wullenweber, 269—Imprisonment of Wullenweber, 271—The Rack, 275—Unfair Trial, 277—Execution of Wullenweber, 279.
IV.
The Hansa Loses its Colonies283-305
Emancipation of Sweden, 285—New Route to Russia, 287—History of Livonia, 289—Livonia Repudiates the Hansa, 291—Ivan Seizes Livonia, 293—Stupefaction of Germany, 295—War Against Sweden, 297—Warning of the Duke of Alva, 299—Bornholm Ceded to Denmark, 301—Embassy to the Muscovite Court, 303—The League Dissolves, 305.
V.
The League in the Netherlands306-323
Causes of Failure in the West, 307—Dissension Among the Towns, 309—Depôt Established at Antwerp, 311—Dangerous Innovations, 315—General Insecurity of Commerce, 317—Insubordination of the Hanseatics, 319—The Antwerp Factory in Danger, 321—Trade with the Low Countries, 323.
VI.
The End of the Hansa's Dominion in England324-353
Restrictions on the English Trade, 325—Complaints of the Londoners, 329—Trade Regulations Broken, 331—Queen Mary Favours the Hansa, 333—English Grievances, 335—Negotiations with Elizabeth, 337—Internal Disunion, 339—The Steelyard Insubordinate, 341—Hamburg Adjusts its Policy, 343—The Good Old Privileges, 345—Conservative Lübeck, 347—Seizure of Hanseatic Vessels, 349—Expulsion of Hanseatics from England, 351—The Steelyard Property, 353.
VII.
The Thirty Years' War Kills the League354-364
Gustavus Adolphus, 355—Wallenstein's Project, 357—Imperial Graciousness, 359—The War Storm Breaks, 361.
VIII.
The Survivors365-378
"Sic transit gloria mundi," 369—Napoleon and the Three Cities, 371—Note, 375.
Epilogue379-386
Index387
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
page
VIEW OF HAMBURGFrontispiece
IMPERIAL CROWN OF GERMANY4
COIN OF CHARLEMAGNE7
PIRATES13
NORMAN VESSEL FROM BAYEUX TAPESTRY20
HIGHROAD33
ITINERANT MERCHANTS36
SALTERS' HALL, FRANKFORT39
MEDIÆVAL CITY41
ROBBER KNIGHTS44
RATH-HAUS, COLOGNE62
RATH-HAUS, TANGERMUNDE66
SHIPPING HOUSE, LÜBECK76
GROCERS' HALL, BREMEN84
RATH-HAUS, BRUNSWICK86
MÜHLENTHOR, STARGARD88
BURGHERS AT TABLE91
GERMAN TRADE LIFE94
RENSLAU GATE97
CROSSBOW99
HOHE-THOR, DANZIG108
HOLSTENTHOR, LÜBECK110
CHILDREN'S SPORTS115
DOMESTIC MUSIC118
MIDDLE-CLASS OCCUPATIONS IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY122
SHIP-BUILDING IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY128
HELIGOLAND132
TOMB OF SIMON OF UTRECHT, HAMBURG135
JUSTICE IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY142
SHIP AT THE END OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY145
SEAL OF NOVGOROD162
STADT-HAUS, BRUGES164
RHINE BOAT, COLOGNE167
THE PIED PIPER'S HOUSE, HAMELIN172
FONTEGO DEI TEDESCHI, VENICE176
THE STEELYARD, LONDON180
BARDI PALACE, FLORENCE182
STEELYARD WHARF, LONDON187
THE TRIUMPH OF RICHES, BY HOLBEIN197
SEAL OF LÜBECK205
PETERSEN-HAUS, NUREMBURG207
CHARLES V.218
CHRISTIAN II.221
HENRY VIII.249
SCENE BEFORE A JUDGE273
THE RACK281
THE HANSA FACTORY, ANTWERP313
SIR THOMAS GRESHAM327
RATH-HAUS, MÜNSTER363
RATH-HAUS, LÜBECK367
RATH-HAUS, BREMEN373
[Of the architectural views reproduced in this volume some have been copied from prints in the British Museum, others from drawings and photographs in possession of the authoress, and the remainder from various German authorities. The illustrations of German life and manners are taken from Otto Henne am Rhyn's "Cultur Geschichte des deutschen Volkes," to the publisher of which volume our best thanks are due.
T. Fisher Unwin, G. P. Putnam's Sons.]
Dominion of the Hansa XIII-XV Centuries T. FISHER UNWIN, 26, PATERNOSTER SQUARE, LONDON, E.C.
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