The story of Hanseatic Gdansk
To function more efficiently, it was divided into four groups - quarters: Wendish (with the main center of Lübeck), Rhenish (with Cologne at the forefront), Saxon (with Brunswick) and Prussian-Livonian (with Gdansk). It had its merchant offices in Bruges, Scandinavian Bergen, London and Novgorod the Great, as well as more modest merchant stations in many cities.
The Teutonic Order was also a member of the Hanseatic League. In the most important matters of this union, decisions were made by representatives of the cities at the general Hansa Congresses, usually held in Lübeck. They concerned war or peace, repressive actions against enemies of the Hansa, ratification of trade privileges, financial matters, admission of new cities, exclusion of disobedient members, tactics of negotiations with cities or rulers of various countries, restrictions and orders for members of the Hansa.
Of course, regional meetings that took place in individual quarters also played an important role. The Hansa was able to fight victorious wars (including against Denmark, England and France), and its actions towards its competitors and obtaining numerous privileges led to the monopolization of maritime trade in this part of Europe. Economic exchange between the East and the West through members of the Hansa brought them great profits and resulted in the development of cities, commerce, technology, better flow of information, and the introduction of new solutions in financial transactions.However, in the second half of the 15th century, the position of the Hanseatic League began to decline. The introduction of the law of free activity in the Baltic Sea, the closing of the currency exchange office in Novgorod and the growing modern Dutch and English competition, as well as the subsequent loss of Scandinavian and English privileges and the increasing number of cities becoming independent from Hanseatic policy, led to the slow disappearance of the community of this organization and, consequently, to its collapse. In 1669, the last Hansa Congress was held in Lübeck. 6 cities took part: Lübeck, Bremen, Braunschweig, Hamburg, Cologne and Gdansk.
Although the Hanseatic League was never officially dissolved, its dissolution became a fact in practice.From the beginning of its membership in the Hanseatic League, Gdansk was very active. Its representatives took part in regional congresses (which he will chair for some time) and general congresses, presenting their problems and getting involved in the results of the Hanseatic League's decisions, including economic and political ones. Sometimes the provisions of the Hanseatic League were too restrictive for Gdansk (e.g. a ban on the sale of ships to shipowners from outside the Hanseatic League). The outbreak and course of the Thirteen Years' War (1454-1466) along with the return of Gdansk to the Crown, the receipt of numerous privileges from King Casimir IV Jagiellonian, and the increasing exchange of goods with the Netherlands resulted in Gdansk increasingly moving away from pro-Hanseatic activities in favour of building its new, strong , a relatively independent position of the developing city in the Polish state.
In 1980 in the Netherlands, in Zwolle, wanting to continue the traditions of the medieval Hansa, representatives of many cities (just like centuries ago) decided to establish an organization called the New Hansa, with a president always coming from Lübeck, for the purpose of mutual cultural, economic, social and common cooperation. promoting the past and present. Every year, Hansa Days are held in individual cities that are members of the New Hansa. The essence of the community of Hanseatic cities was the exchange of goods. The areas of Central and Eastern Europe, rich in forests, game and, above all, grain, have been supplying these products to the West for several hundred years.
In June 2024, Hanseatic League Day will be held in Gdansk.
The Teutonic Order was also a member of the Hanseatic League. In the most important matters of this union, decisions were made by representatives of the cities at the general Hansa Congresses, usually held in Lübeck. They concerned war or peace, repressive actions against enemies of the Hansa, ratification of trade privileges, financial matters, admission of new cities, exclusion of disobedient members, tactics of negotiations with cities or rulers of various countries, restrictions and orders for members of the Hansa.
Of course, regional meetings that took place in individual quarters also played an important role. The Hansa was able to fight victorious wars (including against Denmark, England and France), and its actions towards its competitors and obtaining numerous privileges led to the monopolization of maritime trade in this part of Europe. Economic exchange between the East and the West through members of the Hansa brought them great profits and resulted in the development of cities, commerce, technology, better flow of information, and the introduction of new solutions in financial transactions.However, in the second half of the 15th century, the position of the Hanseatic League began to decline. The introduction of the law of free activity in the Baltic Sea, the closing of the currency exchange office in Novgorod and the growing modern Dutch and English competition, as well as the subsequent loss of Scandinavian and English privileges and the increasing number of cities becoming independent from Hanseatic policy, led to the slow disappearance of the community of this organization and, consequently, to its collapse. In 1669, the last Hansa Congress was held in Lübeck. 6 cities took part: Lübeck, Bremen, Braunschweig, Hamburg, Cologne and Gdansk.
Although the Hanseatic League was never officially dissolved, its dissolution became a fact in practice.From the beginning of its membership in the Hanseatic League, Gdansk was very active. Its representatives took part in regional congresses (which he will chair for some time) and general congresses, presenting their problems and getting involved in the results of the Hanseatic League's decisions, including economic and political ones. Sometimes the provisions of the Hanseatic League were too restrictive for Gdansk (e.g. a ban on the sale of ships to shipowners from outside the Hanseatic League). The outbreak and course of the Thirteen Years' War (1454-1466) along with the return of Gdansk to the Crown, the receipt of numerous privileges from King Casimir IV Jagiellonian, and the increasing exchange of goods with the Netherlands resulted in Gdansk increasingly moving away from pro-Hanseatic activities in favour of building its new, strong , a relatively independent position of the developing city in the Polish state.
In 1980 in the Netherlands, in Zwolle, wanting to continue the traditions of the medieval Hansa, representatives of many cities (just like centuries ago) decided to establish an organization called the New Hansa, with a president always coming from Lübeck, for the purpose of mutual cultural, economic, social and common cooperation. promoting the past and present. Every year, Hansa Days are held in individual cities that are members of the New Hansa. The essence of the community of Hanseatic cities was the exchange of goods. The areas of Central and Eastern Europe, rich in forests, game and, above all, grain, have been supplying these products to the West for several hundred years.
In June 2024, Hanseatic League Day will be held in Gdansk.