What was the Hansa? The answer lies in the history of over 160 cities
- Damian Brzeski
- May 15
- 12 min read
How was it possible that in medieval Europe – fragmented, full of conflicts and without rapid means of communication – a network of cooperating cities emerged that dominated trade from London to Novgorod?
The Hanseatic League was not an empire, yet it set the pace of the European economy for centuries. Discover the history of over 160 cities that together created one of the most interesting alliances in the history of the continent.
Hanseatic League - Introduction
The Hanseatic League (also known as the Hansa ) was one of the most impressive and long-lived economic projects of medieval Europe.
It was created as a response to the need for joint protection of the interests of merchants and cities , at a time when trade and travel were associated with real threats. It was neither a state nor a formal confederation - its strength lay in the voluntary cooperation, loyalty and solidarity of member cities .
International network of cities
The Hansa brought into influence over 160 cities , stretching from London, Bruges and Kampen , through Cologne, Lübeck, Hamburg and Stettin , to Riga, Novgorod, Visby and Bergen .
The members included both key seaports (e.g. Gdańsk , Lübeck, Hamburg, Bergen, Wismar, Kołobrzeg ) and important inland centres serving transit or trade functions (e.g. Toruń, Wrocław, Erfurt, Cologne, Osnabrück, Deventer, Braunschweig, Münster ).
Lübeck served as the unofficial capital of the Hanseatic League , regularly hosting Hanseatic League meetings and coordinating the policies of the entire league. Gdańsk grew into the main export port of the Kingdom of Poland , with vast quantities of grain and timber flowing through it. Bergen , in turn, was a strategic point for the northern trade in fish and cod liver oil .
Cities such as Stralsund, Visby, Braunschweig and Cologne also played an important role in the regional circles of the Hansa, strengthening the structure and scope of this medieval network of cooperation .
Partnership instead of hierarchy
The League was based on the principle of voluntary association and joint decision-making . Although each city retained full political independence, trade policy was jointly established, embargoes and military actions were organized .
Example? The war with Denmark in 1370 ended with the Hansa winning and gaining a share of the profits from Danish trade – showing what a powerful player a coalition of cities could be.
Transnational cooperation model
The Hansa united cities of different languages, religions and cultures , creating a supranational economic community . Common trade interests, the use of the Low German language and unified procedures meant that Gdańsk could cooperate with Lübeck, and merchants from Kraków could trade with partners in Bruges.
It was a medieval form of globalization that operated successfully despite the lack of modern means of communication and transportation.
Significance for Poland and Central Europe at that time
For cities such as Gdańsk, Elbląg, Toruń and Kraków , membership in the Hansa meant joining the mainstream of European trade . They gained access to sales markets, as well as to luxury goods and technologies from the West.
Grain, timber, tar, honey and furs were exported , and cloth, spices, wines and metals were imported . Thanks to these contacts, the urban infrastructure developed – granaries, cobbled streets, warehouses and representative buildings were built, such as the Crane in Gdańsk or Gothic tenement houses in Toruń.
The Hanseatic League was more than just a trade union – it was an engine of development, an impulse for urbanisation and a bridge between East and West Europe .
The origins and development of the Hanseatic League
The beginnings of the Hansa date back to the 12th century – it was then that merchants began to join forces, creating merchant guilds that were to ensure their safety and common interests during long-distance trade journeys .
The key moment? The year 1241 , when Lübeck concluded an agreement with Hamburg . It was the first formal step towards the creation of a larger network of cities cooperating economically.
Over time , other centres, both ports and inland, joined the initiative – slowly shaping the first serious trading league of medieval Europe .
In the 14th and 15th centuries the Hansa reached the zenith of its power :
it associated over 160 cities ,
controlled most of the trade in the Baltic and North Seas,
It had numerous trade privileges granted by local and royal rulers.
But the Hansa's power did not end with trade. When necessary, the Hanseatics would reach for the sword – literally. The best example? The victorious war with Denmark in 1370, which ended with the Treaty of Stralsund.
The Hansa forced Denmark into access to the profits of trade and confirmed its position as a real power – both economic and political – in late medieval Europe.
The structure and functioning of the Hansa
The Hansa was not a state or a hierarchical institution. It was rather a loose federation of cities that was based on cooperation, consensus and common interests. This form of organization ensured its flexibility, resilience to crises and impressive longevity.
Hansetag – joint decisions across borders
The highest body of the Hansa was the Hansetag , or general congress of delegates of member cities. Meetings were most often held in Lübeck , the unofficial capital of the league.
Each city had an equal voice , and decisions were made by consensus – which required a lot of diplomacy and solidarity.
The Hansetag established, for example:
trade policy,
military operations,
embargo rules,
granting or withdrawing privileges.
It was a medieval parliament of cities that effectively governed a vast network of relationships without a single king or official.
Regional circles – local links in the big machine
To make things easier, cities were divided into so-called circles – e.g. Wendish, Prussian, Westphalian . Within these circles, activities were coordinated and common positions at the Hansetag were prepared.
Thanks to this, the Hansa was able to respond more quickly to threats and maintain cohesion – even though it was stretched from the Netherlands to Ruthenia.
Hanseatic Exchange Offices – Merchant Embassies Abroad
Outside the borders, there were so-called exchange offices , or Hansa trading posts. The four main ones were located in:
London (Steelyard),
Bruges ,
Bergen ,
Novgorod .
They were almost independent enclaves with their own elders (aldermen) who negotiated privileges, protected the interests of merchants and ensured that the rules were followed.
Examples? In Bergen, the trade in fish and cod liver oil was controlled, and in Novgorod – the exchange of furs and wax.
Trade news and a common language
The Hansa was a pioneer of modern commercial solutions :
merchants created partnerships and companies,
bills of exchange were traded,
trade credit and joint investments were used,
settlements between currency exchange offices were made cashless.
It was a commercial revolution that allowed trading on a large scale and sharing of risk.
Low German (Niederdeutsch) was used for communication – a simple language understood from London to Riga. It was the language of business and trade letters, which made life easier for merchants of different origins.
The entire structure – based on partnership, trust and common sense – allowed the Hansa to endure for centuries and function effectively in the fragmented medieval Europe.
Routes and Goods
The Hansa network connected the East with the West and the North with the South of Europe, creating a complex system of trade spanning land and sea. Here are the main directions of exchange and means of transport:
Raw materials from the East and North – from Russia, Scandinavia and Prussia, grain (rye, wheat), timber, tar, potash, fish (herring and cod), amber and furs (including sable, fox, squirrel) were exported. These were the basic goods that supplied the markets of Western Europe.
Luxuries from the South and West – cloth from Flanders and England, silk from Italy, wine from France and the Rhineland, as well as spices (pepper, ginger, cloves) transported from the south of Europe, reached the Hanseatic cities. They were high-value goods, desired by the merchant patricians.
Salt as a strategic product – it was imported both from Lüneburg (rock salt) and from the Bay of Biscay (bajensalz, sea salt). It was essential for preserving food, especially fish.
The functions of the cities in the network – each city had its own specialised role: Lübeck organised convoys and managed salt imports; Gdańsk was the main grain port, sending products from the interior of Poland to the West; Toruń acted as a transit point connecting the Vistula with the roads to the south of Europe; Elbląg in turn handled the inflow of goods from regions controlled by the Teutonic Order.
Transport stages – goods were first floated down rivers (e.g. the Vistula from Mazovia and Lesser Poland to Gdańsk), then reloaded in ports onto sea coggs – wide ships with a high stern, ideal for transporting large loads. These sailed in convoys to ports such as Bruges, London or Hamburg.
Winter navigation ban – since 1403, there was a ban on navigation from November 11 to February 22. Ships had to remain in port, which protected them from storms and prevented foreign merchants from operating in the Hanseatic cities during the winter.
Complex trade routes – goods traveled long distances, changing means of transport many times. Silk from Italy went to Bruges, from there by cog to Lübeck, and then overland to Riga or Novgorod. The whole thing required perfect organization, knowledge of the routes and coordination between partners.
Thanks to such logistics, the Hansa was able to efficiently manage hundreds of routes and goods, and its members – the Hanseatics – became masters of the medieval supply chain.
Gdańsk and Other Polish Cities in the Hanseatic League Structure
From the 14th century, Gdańsk grew into the most important Hansa city in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea . Its location at the mouth of the Vistula meant that it served as the main export port of the Kingdom of Poland .
From here ships loaded with grain, timber, tar and wax sailed, bound for the Netherlands, England and Germany .
The importance of Gdańsk was so great that in the years 1470–1474 it fielded its own fleet to support the Hansa in the war with England.
Gdańsk merchants actively participated in the Hansetag , and the city itself quickly gained a reputation as one of the richest and most powerful centers of the league .
Commercial wealth quickly had an impact on the city's appearance.
Granaries, wide quays, representative buildings (such as the Artus Court ) and impressive patrician tenement houses are just some of the traces of its splendor.
After its incorporation into Poland in 1454 , Gdańsk still formally belonged to the Hanseatic League, but with each year it acted more and more independently – until it became almost an independent player in the region .
Participation of other Polish cities
Toruń – one of the oldest cities of Prussia in the Hanseatic League , located on the Vistula River. It was the river that made it a key transit hub – connecting southern Poland with the Baltic Sea. Toruń was an intermediary in the export of grain, timber and other raw materials, as well as in the import of Western European luxury goods .
Elbląg – a port founded by the Teutonic Knights , which eventually became an important point of trade. For some time it competed with Gdańsk for dominance in the region, but over the years it gave it the palm of precedence. However, it still remained an active and loyal member of the Hansa .
Chełmno – despite not having direct access to the sea , was able to use its location on the Vistula River and the proximity of Elbląg and Toruń. It served as an administrative and trade base , participating in the regional initiatives of the Hansa.
The western Pomeranian cities ( Szczecin, Kołobrzeg, Koszalin, Słupsk) – although they were located on the territory of the Pomeranian duchies , were strongly connected with the Hansa. They were links in the chain of exchange between the ports of Germany, Scandinavia and the Eastern Baltic.
Kraków and Wrocław – although distant from the sea, played an important role as centres of indirect trade . Thanks to their developed merchant infrastructure, they maintained constant contacts with the Hansa ports , participated in investments and financial projects, and also supplied goods to the Hanseatic markets.
What did all these cities have in common? Despite their geographical and political differences, they benefited greatly from being part of the league :
had access to the European market ,
implemented commercial and administrative innovations ,
They benefited from a network of connections and contacts that built their urban and regional identity .
As a result, these cities not only became richer, but also entered the cultural orbit of the West , becoming important points on the economic map of medieval Europe .
Economic and Cultural Impact
The Hansa promoted self-government, the development of the bourgeoisie, and dynamic urbanization. Thanks to the cooperation of the league, many cities not only gained importance, but also developed real autonomy .
Example? Gdańsk, Toruń and Elbląg were given the right to their own city councils , which allowed them to independently manage taxes, trade and defence – key matters for any modern city.
Modern economy and commercial practice
On the economic level, the Hansa introduced innovative solutions that we would today call organized entrepreneurship. Merchants took advantage of:
trade credit ,
bills of exchange facilitating remote settlements,
trading companies that shared the profits and risks of long expeditions.
Interesting fact? Expeditions consisting of several ships sailed from Lübeck to Bergen, carrying goods on behalf of various Hansa cities simultaneously – like today's collective shipping.
Infrastructure fit for the era
Investments in logistics were the apple of the Hansa's eye. The following were established in the cities:
modern ports with cranes (e.g. the Crane in Gdańsk),
granaries full of grain ,
merchants' warehouses and cobbled streets .
At the same time, standardization of measures and goods was introduced, which greatly facilitated exchange and reduced trade disputes.
Cultural Influence and Lifestyle
Brick Gothic – a hallmark of Hansa cities. It inscribed itself in the landscape of places such as Toruń, Gdańsk, Lübeck and Riga . Urban patricians – wealthy merchants – associated the lifestyle with prestige, comfort and art .
In Gdańsk, the Artus Court was built, a place for meetings and displaying merchant wealth. In Toruń, the patrician tenement houses at the New Town Square combined residential and representative functions – today we would call it a prestigious headquarters with a showroom.
Ideas and influences coming from the West
Western contacts brought not only goods but also social and religious ideas . The Reformation reached Prussia thanks to Hanseatic merchants .
In practice, the Hansa was more than just a trading alliance – it was a civilisational vehicle that shaped urban consciousness, a sense of community and a European identity at a time when Europe was still ruled by crowns and swords.
The Fall and Legacy of the Hansa
The Hanseatic League began to gradually lose importance from the end of the 15th century. The main reason was the growing centralization of nation states , which looked less and less favorably on autonomous merchant cities operating independently of royal or princely authority.
The Hanseatic cities were no longer the welcome exception , and their privileges were increasingly being questioned.
An additional problem was the growing divergence of interests between large centres, such as Lübeck or Gdańsk , and smaller ones, which were not always able to keep up with the pace of change. The league's cohesion and political power were losing out.
The increasingly strong competition from England and Holland also played a large role in weakening the Hansa. These countries not only developed modern fleets , but also offered more efficient trade organization and more attractive terms of cooperation .
Merchants from Amsterdam and London forced the Hanseatic League out of the most important routes and markets.
To make matters worse, the great geographical discoveries radically changed the balance of power. The center of maritime economy shifted from the Baltic to the Atlantic Ocean , and the Hanseatic League, tied to traditional routes and structures, was unable to compete effectively in the new world.
The last Hansetag – a meeting of Hansa cities – took place in 1669. Only six centres showed up, including Lübeck, Hamburg, Bremen and Gdańsk . It was a symbolic end to the league's activities, although the idea itself did not die.
What's left of the Hansa? A legacy that lives on today
Despite its decline, the Hansa's legacy survives in many ways :
In city names – many former members still proudly use the nickname "Hansestadt" , such as Lübeck, Hamburg or Wismar .
In monuments – the old towns of Gdańsk, Toruń, Stralsund and Wismar have been inscribed on the UNESCO list as living testimony to the power and cultural legacy of the league .
But that's not all.
New Hansa – a modern community in the spirit of medieval tradition
In 1980, in Zwolle , the Netherlands, the New Hanse (Die Hanse) was founded, an organization that was supposed to rekindle the spirit of cooperation among European cities. A year later, at a meeting in Lübeck , everything took official shape.
Today, the New Hansa brings together:
over 200 cities from 16 European countries ,
including several from Poland, such as Gdańsk, Toruń, Elbląg, Kraków and Wrocław .
The organization not only promotes economic and cultural cooperation , but also organizes the annual Hansa Days – international festivals connecting residents, local governments and tourists.
In 2024, Gdańsk was again the host of these celebrations, reminding us of the important place it held and continues to hold in this unique community.
Hansa as a symbol and inspiration
Although the Hanseatic League is now a thing of the past, its spirit lives on. It can be found not only in the Gothic walls and cobbled streets of the old cities, but above all in the idea of cooperation across borders , solidarity and urban independence.
The Hansa remains a symbol of commercial prosperity, urban independence and the European unity of local communities – values that today, in an age of crisis and fragmentation, take on new meaning.
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