HANSEATIC LEAGUE

In European History, a celebrated confederacy of cities on the coasts of the Baltic, and in the adjoining countries. The first league was formed in 1239, between Hamburg, Minden, and many other towns, to which Liibeck soon afterwards acceded: it was for the purpose of mutual defence against foreign potentates, especially the Danish king Waldemar, as well as the neighbouring nobles of Germany. The league rapidly spread, and comprehended, at one period, eighty-five cities, divided into four provinces. It had four chief foreign depots: at London, Bruges, Novgorod, and Bergen. In the 14th and 15th centuries the league became of high political importance, and made war and peace as an independent sovereign pqwer, but it was never recognized by the German empire. Its decay was gradual, and, owing to the increased protection given to commerce by the princes of the several states in which these cities were situated, rendering the alliance for mutual defence unnece ary. The name is derived from Hansa, an old Teutonic word signifying league. [s. 554]