Die deutsche Hanse, eine heimliche Supermacht
Gisela Graichen & Rolf Hammel-KiesowThe 'German' Hansa, a formally loose league of over 200 mercantile cities in and around the Holy Roman Empire, with regional headquarters in Bruges (Netherlands), London, Nowgorod (Russian furs) and Bergen (Norwegian smoked fish), controlled much inter-European land and sea trade for centuries. Modern historians study it based on recent finds in Lübeck, the crucial city and main headquarters.
Mayor Johann Wittenborg learned the business from his father and left a rare accounting book. It proved crucial to the story of his execution after the Hanse's failed 1361-62 war against the Danish king Waldemar, who threatened to destroy the Hansa's Ostsee trade successfully, only to be defeated in 1638 by the next Hansa leader.
The Hansa's wealth and power peeked in the 15th century, even Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund became its debtor, albeit it one who abused his position to delay due payments. The unique discovery of a merchants brothers pair's accounts throws elaborate light on Hansa commerce. Despite the protection of the mighty German Order's knights and fleet, the Ostsee route was badly hindered by major piracy which was became the stuff of legends. Thus the land route to Venice over the Alps became an attractive alternative again. However usury by the Lombards often ruined merchants who saw no alternative to keep in business. The colonial trade would take over in the 16th century as Europe's major wealth source, gradually rendering the Hanse obsolete, yet it as never formally disbanded.