The Hansa Towns and Scandinavia on the Eve of Swedish Independence Author(S): Waldemar Westergaard Reviewed Work(S): Source: the Journal of Modern History, Vol

The Hansa Towns and Scandinavia on the Eve of Swedish Independence Author(s): Waldemar Westergaard Reviewed work(s): Source: The Journal of Modern History, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Sep., 1932), pp. 349-360 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1871002 . Accessed: 02/03/2012 23:55

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

The University of Chicago Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Journal of Modern History.

http://www.jstor.org THE JOURNAL OF MODERN HISTORY

VolumeI Iz SEPTEMBER 19:32 lVumberS

THE HANSA 'rOWNSAND SCANDINAVIAON '1'H1£EVE OF SV\7EDISHINDEPENDENCE1 x x tHEN GustavEriksson was electedking of Sweden \ / \ / in 1523, only two accreditedforeign envoys were T T present. They representedthe Hansa town of Lubeck,which, with Danzig,was Sweden'ssolitary ally in its desperatefight for independence.The presenceof theseenvoys BerntBomhouwer and Simon Plonnies wasnot a mereacci- dent. DuringSweden's long struggleagainst the DanishKing John (Hans)and his son and successorChristian II, Lubeck, as the chiefof the so-called"Wendic" towns, had foundherself almostconstantly in negotiation,and occasionallyat war,with the Danishstate. Danzig,in its moreremote position on the southeasternBaltic littoral, owed allegianceto the Polish crown;but its trade with westernEurope, like that of the Wendictowns, had to passthrough the Sound, where the officers of the Danishking collected toll dueson all cargoesentering or leavingthe Baltic Sea. The ancientbrass cannon that rest peacefullyon the battlementsof Cronborgcastle at Elsinorc now mere museumspecimens-bear mute testimonr to the powerlong wieldedby Denmarkat that strategicpoint. 1Paper read at the annualmeetiIlg of the AmericanHistorical Association held in Minneapolis,December 28, 1931.The manuscriptmaterials used in this paperwere securedthrough a grant-in-aidmade by the SocialScience Research Council in 1930. 349 350 WALDEMAR WESTERGAARD TheHansa towns had long been a factorto be reckonedwith. Theyhad administered a severe defeat to KingWaldemar at the Peace of Stralsundin 1370; they had organizeda league of townsand developed a diplomatictechnique that answeredade- quatelyto their expandingeconomic needs. Oftenrepresented on the Hansetagewere the Livoniantowns of Riga,Dorpat, and Reval, which,like the Swedishfrontier post at Wiborg,faced Novgorodand Muscovy.The way to Russia was carefully guardedby the GermanBaltic towns; and, economically as well as politically,Denmark at the openingof the sixteenthcentury madea seriesof effortsto breakthis Hanseaticcordon. For the purposesof the presentaccount, the agreementof Segeberg(1506)2 may be taken as the beginningof a seriesof Hanseatic-Scandinaviancomplications that reachedtheir cli- max when GustavusVasa becamethe first king of modern Swedenin 1523. At Segeberg,lling Johnforced an agreement from Lubeck and the Wendictowns to refrainfrom trade with the rebelliousSwedes. John's nephew, James IV of Scot- land,3was prevailed upon to take a handin cowingthe German towns; and Louis XII of Francesent his heraldto workfor peacein the king'sinterest. A thirdking, HenryVII of Eng- land, only expresseda mild interestin King John'sHanseatic diplomacy.The Hansa factory in Londonhad been brought well undercontrol, and that was enoughfor the present.A fourthruler whose interest John enlisted was the Holy Roman Emperor,AIaximilian, to whorllthe kingmade a successfulap- pealfor help. The Emperor,at IVingJohn's instance, published a ban againstthe Swedes,which forbade all trade with them. I1ltendedfor the imperialGerman towns, it affordeda precedent 2Hanserecesse,1473-1530 (24 vols.; Leipzig, 187s1913), ser. 3, V, 246-48. Cited hereafteras H.R. 3James IV to John of Denmark, between Oct., 1506, and Jan., 1507, H.R., ser. 3, V, 289-90. See also ibtd.,p. 290 (Nos. 216, 217). Louis XII to LUbeck,Mar. 3, 1507;H.R., ser. X,V, 292. Henry VII to Llibeck,Jan. 28, 1507;ibid., p. 290. LUbeck's reply, early April, 1507; ibid., p. 295. Notarial irlstrument,May 6, 1507;tbid., p. 297. Danzig's instructionsto envoys, prior to May 9, 1507; ibid., pp. 335-.39. Danzig account of Hansadiet at LUbeck,May 21, etc., 1507;ibid., pp. 345-68. Recesszu Lubeck, May 16-Jurle6, 1507;ibid., pp. 303-32; cf. pp. 299-300 (Nos. 282, B3). THE HANSA TOWNS AND SCANDINAVIA 351 for imperialintervention in Scandinavianaffairs that was not withoutdanger. KingJohn was fightingto maintainthe Scandinavianunion. He disregardedtheoretical considerations and proceeded to put pressureon Lubeck,Danzig, and the north Germantowns to effecttheir assent to the imperialban. At the diet of the Hansa townsheld in May andearly June, 1507, twenty-six towns sent envoys. Othersexplained their absence in letters. Lubeck'sin- sistenceon actionregarding Denmark's breach of privilegesat the expenseof Hanseaticmerchants whose activities would be hemmedby the imperialAct, was met by Cologne'sreply that the towns had otherand moreserious breaches to think about as in Londonand Flanders.Danzig's burgomaster was in attendanceat the Hansetag,and he proceededto minimize the edict. It appliedto individualtowns and wasnot all-inclu- sive, he said. Danzig had receivedno help from the Hansa townsin its last year'sdifficulties Xwith Denmark; and now that Denmarkand Danzig wereat peace,he felt that conciliation wasin order.To Lubeck'srequest for support against the Dan- ish king at the meetingsoon to be held in Nykobing,Danzig answeredsignificantly that the town council and burghers wouldhave to be consulted. The reasonfor Danzig'sattitude is not far to seek. The herring fisheriesat Falsterboand Skanorhad long been in the handsof the north Germantowns. The extent of the fishing activitiesof the townshas beenexaggerated by travelers,whose accountsof whatthey thoughtthey sawhave beenaccepted by a numberof well-knownmodern writers on Hanseatichistory. Officialestimates show an activity sufficientlygreat to require no embellishment.In 1523,at the closeof the periodunder dis- cussion,7,515 boats, manned by an averageof five personsper boat, werereported by the Lubeckofficial (Vogt) as fishingoff Falsterboalone, during the precedingseason The catch was estimatedat 7,703kegs. Thecalculated revenue for the Danish crownfrom the Skanefisheries tolls in 1523 was 2,500-3,000 352 WALDER WESTERGMRD marks,a considerablesum for that time.4In the closingdecaele of the fifteenthcentury, one authorityesti1nates a total catch of some 50,000kegs on whichtolls were paid by the Harlsa Vogtein Skanein a singleyear.5 Salt fish or herringwere an essentialpart of every allotmentof rations. With the kegs weighingupward of sixteenpounds each, here was enougl1to supplya largearmy with a year'sration of fish. Theplots of ground,or Fttten, where the herringwere cleaned, salted, and packedin barrelswere assignedto the diSerent Germantowns. Duringthe earlyautumn, especially from Au- gust to October,the little peninsulaextending south from Skanewas hu1nming with the voicesof fishwives,-the hammering of the coopers,the activitiesof the packers.Vanzig's plot at Falsterbowas well locatedby the shore,while Lubeck'sFttte lay in a somewhatless favorableplace, just back of Danzig's and west of the town.6Occasionally during the idle morlths whenthe herringfieets werein their home ports, the sea en- croachedon the Fttten territory,the boundarystakes had a way of disappearing,and claimsand counter-claimsainong the Germantowns werethe result. Meantime,the Lubeckersbe- camemore insistent on presentinga unitedfront to KingJohn, who was makingdesperate eSorts to put throughhis plan for the econolnicisolation of Sweden.Danzig was not preparedto jointhe Wendictowns in this eSort,except as it wouldhelp the town secure1nore favorable terms for the Skanefishing rights. King John had here an excellentopportunity to split the ranksof the Germantowns. At the meetingof Nykobingon the Danishisland of Falster,in June-July,1507, the Wendictowns and Danzigmet the Danishking and his advisers.7That Lu- beck'sgame was up was clearfrom the start, for Danzig as- 4"CantslerClaus GiorelsensOptegnelser," in [Nye] Dansk Mayazin, ser. 2, VI (1836), 313.

5 Wehrmann,in Zeitschriftfurlubeckische Geachichte, II, 130, cited in D. Schafer, I)as Buchdes luDeckischenVogts auf Schonen(2d ed.; Lubeck, 1929), p. xliii.

6 Schafer,op. cit., pp. civ-cxvi and lEarteII.

7 Accountof Danzig's envoys, June 21-July 8, 1507; H.R., ser. 3, V, 404-20. Cf. "Recess zu NykJobing,"ibid., No. 261. For a general account, see OanmarksRiges liistorie (d vols.; Copenhagen,189F1907), IIIa, 109-12. THE HANSA TOWNS AND SCANDINAVIA 353 sumedthe role of mediator,accepted the imperialban against Sweden,and preferredto take its chanceson a separateagree- mentwith the Danishauthorities in the Skanefisheries matter. Backof the scenesat the Nykobingmeeting were the envoysof Scotlandand France,both active in the king's cause.8The Swedes,whose leader in the strugglewith Denmarkwas now SvanteSture, had been anxiouslyawaiting news from Nyko- bing;but all they got wasan offerof peacefulmediation. Svante Sturerightly suspected that, thoughthe voice offeringmedia- tion mightbe Lubeck's,the controllinghand was not.9 The agreementof Nykobing, when given sober second thought, did not answerthe expectationsof the Danzigers. Doubtshad alreadybeen expressed to :KingJohn in May, 1507, when Danzig indicatedthat King Sigismundand the (west) Prussianestates had not askedto have the Act carriedout.10 Polish suzeraintyprovided Danzig a convenientshelter from diplomaticgusts that wasat timeshighly useful. Nor did other Germantowns pay morethan passing attention to Maximilian's Act, as liing Johnwas soon to learn. To Lubeckwas delegated the unwelcomemission of gettingthe approvalof varioustowns to the Nykobingresolutions. King John's own secretaryac- companiedthe envoys to check up on the job, but the king foundpresently that the Germantowns in the Balticwere trading with Swedenas before.Again an appealwas sent to the Scottishking. This time Jameswas askedfor two armedships andwas requested to senda warningletter to the towns.l1The failurethat lling Johnnoted was soonto be explained.Before JamesIV couldreply to lling John'sletter, Lubeck had drafted a treatythat contemplatedopen war between the Wendiccities

8 lQingJohn to JamesIV, July 20, 1507;HR., ser. X,V, 422-23. 9Svante Nilsson Sture's observationson the coming Stockholmtiksdag (Oct. 25, 1507),Handlingar ror. Skandinarienshistoria (Stockholm, 1835), XX, 205-8. Cf. H.R., ser. 3, V, 4i'7-29; Handlingar,XX, 219-24; and Hans Brask to Svante Sture, Nov. 5, 1507,in C. G. StySe, Bidragtill Skandinasienshistoria (5 vols.; Stockholm,1859-84), V, 224. lONotarial instrument,May Q3, 1507; H.R., ser. 3, V, 299-800. Danzig to John, May 25, 1507;ibid., p. 300. ll John to JamesIV, Jan 10, 1508;ibid., 452-53. 354 XVALDEMARWESTERGAARD and Denmark,and that includedplans for gettingDanzig and the Livoniantowns into the alliance.12The princeswho built up the "NewMonarchies" of the earlysixteenth century were fightingon a widefront. Theirconflict with the burgherswas an importantphase of this struggle.A solidarityof feelingwas developingamong the ruler$,and that boded no good to the Hansatowns.13 Had the EmperorMaximilian seen his way to standby his gunsand make common cause with the rulers,the finalvictory of the princesmight have been hastened.But at this point Lubeckmanaged to give the Danishking a dose of his own medicine.On the plea that the NykobingTreaty was reallycalculated to separateLubeck from the Empire,lWaxi- milianraised the ban that preventedLubeck and the Hansa townsfrom trading with Sweden.l4It was now Liibeck'sturn to seek the shelterof imperialsuzerainty. Danzig, though not yet in the moodfor waragainst Denmark, and still anxiousto arriveat a solutionof the Skanefisheries tangle, began to see otherdangers to the towns. The Danishking was planningto makeCopenhagen a stapletown and to establishanother staple portat "NewNarva" - apparentlyIwangorod, opposite the old Narva;the Germanprinces and secular lords were forming new combinationsagainst the towns;the Danishking was reported to be negotiatingwith the Livonian master, Walthervon Plettenberg,for Harrien and Wirland, the formerDanish colony on the FinlandGulf that the Livonianshad acquiredin the fourteenthcentury; lling John, who had sent his envoy, the "herald,"David Cochrane(or Kock), on numerousmissions to Muscovy,was reportedto have cometo a new understanding with the Muscovitegrand duke.15 In the summerof 1509, the relationsbetween the Wendic towns and Denmarkwere finally to reachthe breaking-point. The etnperorwas throwing his influenceon the side of Lubeck. He warned,not only the otherHansa towns against aiding the

12 Lubeck'sdraft of treaty,toward end of Jan.,1508; ibid., pp. 453-55. 13 Cf.James IV to LUbeck,toward end of Jan.,1508; ibid., p. 290. 14 Maximilianto all imperialsubjects, Feb. 13, 1508;ibid., p. 458,and pp. 458-59 (Nos.345-47). 15 Danzig'sreply to Lubeck,Mar. 10, 1508;ibid., pp. 461-66. THE HANSATOWNS AND SCANDINAVIA 355 Danishking, but also Danzig,Prussia, Livonia, and the Mar- graveof Brandenburg.16While the stormclouds were gathering, lQingSigismund of Poland sent an envoy to Copenhagento snid the breezeon Danzig'sbehalf, clearly with a view to a ?nodusvivendz that wouldenable Danzig to keep the peace.17 Onthe nightof July 10-11, 1509,the burghersof Lubeckheard shotsoS Travemtinde.l8Denmark and the Wendictowns were at grips,and formalwar n1ight be on at any time. King John'saccusation that Danzig was carryingwater on both shoulderswas not withoutfoundation.19 When the choice was betweenSkAne herring and the commoninterests of the towns,the herringcame first. Moreover,many Danzig ships werestill in Netherlandand Englishports; so it was felt that serioustalk about alliancewith the Wendictowns might be moresafely taken up whenBaltic navigation was closed for the winter.20But what of Sweden?There the peaceparty, led by Jacob Ulfsson,the Archbishopof Upsala, was in control.A commercialtreaty with Lubeckwas drawnup on October14, 1509, by the Swedishstate council (riksrdd),just as the six Wendictowns were renewingtheir alliancefor a fifteen-year period;but the powerfularchbishop threw his influencein the scalesfor peace and for the maintenanceof the unionwith Den- markand Norway.21 The Roman Curia had longworked to the same end throughits legate, CardinalRaimund, who was in Ltibeckin May, 1508. Even open war betweenDenmark and the Wendictowns could not drawthe cautiousregent, Svante Sture,and the riAcsrddinto the conflict.On August 19, 1509, I(ing John exactedfrom the Swedishenvoys whomhe met in Copenhagena writtenpromise that, in case of actual war be- tweenDenmark and Lubeck, the Swedeswould sequester in the king'sinterest any Lubeckmerchants, ships, and goods that 16 Ibid., pp. 505-6,531 (summaries). 17 lid., pp. 538-39. 18 Lubeckto Hamburg,July 11, 1509;ibid., p. 541. 19Jurgen Zimmermann's report to Danzig,July 9-Aug.10, 1509;tbH., p. 546. 20 Danzigto Liibeckand other Wendic towns; ibid., p. 576. 21 Styffe,op. cit., V, 375-76;H.R., ser. 3, V, 594;cf. ibid., p. 578. The "Wendic towns"at this tilne includedHamburg, Lubeck, Rostock, Stralsund, Wismar, and Luneburg:Jacob Ulfsson to SvanteSture and councilors,Oct. 26, 1509;H.R., ser.3, V, 596. 356 WALDEMAR WESTERGAARD might come to Sweden.22But within a month and following a visit to Stockholmof a Lubeckfieet underHermano Mess- mannand BerntBomhouwer, the Swedishrzksrdd had madea treatywith Lubeck for mutualfree trade as of old. FromDan- zig a Lubeckfleet brought back a substantialloan.23 The tech- nical justificationfor these arrangementslay in the fact that warhad not beenformally declared. By 1510,AIaxirnilian had heardfrom another section of his heterogeneousempire. The towns of the Netherlands,always importantcarriers of Balticproducts, were demanding the right to passthrough the Soundand to tradewith Danish towns, but promisednot to renderarmed assistance to Denmark. The em- peroracquiesced in the demands.This new move ccxuldonly lead to new dissensionswithin the Hansatowns, and was dis- tinctly favorableto King John. Lubeckssreply was clearand unequivocal;Dutch shipspassing through the Soundwould do so at their own risk. But the Dutch were equally insistent; theirfleet wasready, the emperorand the regentof the Nether- landshad giventheir consent, and reprisalsmight be expected frominterference.24 On April21, 1510,Lubeck and its alliesfinally declared for- mal war againstDenmark.25 In Sweden,the Unionparty was sufficientlysilenced so that by Septembermembers of the Swed- ish rzksrdd,headed by the militant Danophobe,Hemming Gadh,of Linkoping,decided on an alliancewith the six Wendic towns.26A factorto whichsufficient attention has not hitherto

22 Aarsberetningerfra det kongeligeGeheimearchiv (7 vols.; Copenhagen,1852-88), I\l, 353; H.R., ser. 3, V, 580. 23 Danzig to Lilbeek,Dee. 6, 1509; H.R., ser. X, V, 607-8. The amount was 1,800 markpreuss. 24 Maximilian'sdeclaration on behalf of the Netherlandtowns, Jan. 26, 1510;ibid., pp. 689-90. Masimilianto Lubeek,Jan. 27, 1510;ibid., p. 690. Lubeek to Netherland towns, Mar. 17, 1510; ibid., pp. 690-91. Amsterdamto Ltibeek,April 10, 1510; ibid., pp. 691-92. Amsterdamand de anderewatersteden to Liibeek, April 13, 1510; ibid., pp. 692-93. The emperorin his letter to Lubeekof Jan. 27, 1510, where he requested the town not to interferein the trade of the Netherlandswith Denmark,lists the prov- inces of Brabant, Flanders,Holland, Zeeland,Friesland, and Wasserland.There is, however,no evideneeto indieatethat Flemishships partieipatedin the sea battles that took plaee in the Baltie at this time. 25 Ibid., pp. 693-94.

2BO. S. Rydberg, Sserges Traktatermed FrammandeMagter (5 vols.; Stockholm, 1877-96),III, 567-69; also printedin Styffe, op. ctt., V, 40911, and in H.R., ser. 3, VI, 27-28. THE HANSATOWNS AND SCANDINAVIA 357 been given was no doubt the news fromRussia. The vigilant Erik Turesson(Bjelke), from his vantagepoint of Wiborgon the Fionish-Russianfrontier, sent wordin July to SvanteSture of evidencesof a Danish-Russianunderstarlding that-to him- pointedclearly to a Russianattack on Finland.Early in the year, Danish, Swedish,and Lubeckenvoys had been in Nov- gorod;and the Danishherald, "Master David," was credited witha diplomaticvictory.27 Along with reports from Novgorod camenews of the participationof the Fuggersand othernorl- Hanseatesin the Narvatrade. A letterfrom Dorpat to Reval writtenearly in 1511 notes with concernthat these outsiders may be aimingat taking over the Novgorodfactory. In the autu1nnof that year,the EmperorMaximilian protested against the seizureby Lubeckof a cargoof Swedishcopper that the Fuggerswere attempting to freightfrom Danzig to the Nether- lands,and advertedto the chargeof the Hansatowns that the groszgeselschaften of Nurembergand elsewherewere injuring theirmerchants.28 The Lubeck-Swedishwar againstDenmark calls for no de- scriptionhere. Beforepeace had been concluded in April,1512, terrificsea battleshad taken place between the Lubeckand the Danishfleets, resulting in the retirementof the formerto the Trave; but the Netherlands'fleet of warshipsand merchant vessels had meantimebeen destroyedby the Lubeckersoff Bornholln.Nevertheless, the dominiurnmaris Baltici was, for the present,with KingJohn. In this desperatestruggle, Lubeck had but little assistance fromthe otherHansa towns. FromDanzig it receivedpracti- callynone. The destructionof the Netherlandfleet was also a seriousblow to Danzig,the entrepotfor the Dutchgrain trade.

27 Handlingarrarande Skandinaviens historia, XX, 287-91; David Kocli (Cochrane), a Scotchmanemployed by both John and ChristianII in numerousdiplomatic tnissions to Russia and elsewhere,has left llumeroustraces of his activities in the documentary records,but no realstudy of his careerhas been madeby scholars. See articleon "Sock, David" by A. Heise in Bricka's Dansk Biografisklexxkon (lnvols.; Copenhagen, 1887-1905),IX, Sl9. 28In 15l2 we find the Hansa factory at Bruges inveighing against the Danzig merchantswho traded with the Fuggers,Welsers, and other large companiesoutside of the :[Iansathat threatenedto gain a monopolyof the coppertrade; X.R., ser. 3, VI, '360. Masimilianto Hansa towns, Oct. 16, 1511; ibid., pp. 25940. 358 WALDEMAR WESTERGAARD Danzighad supportedMargrave Joachim of Brandenburgand Duke Bogislavof Pomeraniain urginga peacefulsettlement.29 No soonerhad peacebeen achievedby the Treatyof Malmo, in April,1512, than Danzigagain took up the Skanefisheries disputewith Lubeck.The Danzigauthorities tried at first to secureArchbishop Birger of Lund as umpireto determinethe true boundaries,and then sent theirlocal Vogtto Copenhagen to treat directlywith the king and his council.30The decision was actuallymade by royal commissioners,in the presenceof the LubeckVogt.3l Lilbeck protested very naturallythat the local magistratehad no authority,and that complaintsshould be brought,not beforethe Danish councilors,but beforea meetingof the Germantowns.32 The awardin favorof Danzig, as againstLubeck, was made on the technicalbasis that the latterhad been unable to producethe originalgrant of privileges madeby the Danishcrown. When Christianascended the thronein 1513, he beganby makingfriendly gestures toward Danzig. When Archduchess Isabellaof Burgundy,sister of ArchdukeCharles, came to Den- markas the youngking's bride, Danzig was invited to sendtwo ships to bringthe royal party to Copenhagen;and the king offeredgenerous remuneration for the services.33But Danzig's victoryproved in the long run to be an emptyone. Whenthe Swedishbusiness reached a new and criticalphase in 1518,the kingsuddenly raised the tolls in Skane,and Danzig found itself payingmore than the Wendictowns. For the past five years, Lubeckhad been workingto bringthe Fittenstreitwithin the

29 John to Danzig, Sept. 10, 1511; Danzig StaatsarchivMSS, 300, Abt. 27, No. 8.

30 Danzigto John,Aug. 7, 1512;H.R., ser. 3, VI, 634, n. 1. Sameto Christian,Aug. 5, 1513;Danzig SA MSS, 300, Abt. 27, No. 8. John to Danzig, Nov. 25, 1512;ibid., Abt. 14, No. 302 (Hirschreg.). Danzig to Birger,Aug. 5, 1513;ibid., Miss7rbuch,pp. 385-87.

31 JacobParkow's account, Sept. 26, 1513;H.R., ser.3, VI, 479-80. Schafer,pp. 39-40, par. Q83-85.Complaints of Wendictowns against Denmark,June 1, 1515 (recapitula- tion), and n. 1; H.R., ser. 3, VI, 633-3G.

32 Lilbeckto Danzig, Nov. 7, 1513;H.R., ser. 3, VI, 634, n. 1. For furtherrepercus- sions of the Danzig-Ltibeckdispute, see Danzig SA MSS, 300, Abt. 27, No. 8, for Aug. 19, 1514,May 20, 1516, and Aug. 30, 1518.

33 DanzigSA MSS, 14, 311-16 (Hirschreg.), Oct. 18, 1514,Feb. 15, Feb. 18, June 22, and Aug. 2S, 1515. Cf. Simson,Geschichte der StadtDanziS (3 vols.; Danzig, 1913), I, 354. THE HANSATOWNS AND SCANDINAVIA 359 jurisdictionof the Hanseaticdiets; and finally,in 1518, the yearof Christian'shigh tax, Danzigwas practicallyisolated in the Hansetag.By 1519,the forbiddencommerce with Sweden loomedlarger than ever to the mercharltsof Danzig,and the Skaneherring trade shrank in importance.Danzig's hand was finallyforced from a new quarter.The GrandbIaster of the TeutollicOrder, Albert of Prussia,was preparing for a warwith Poland.Here was an opportunityto crusha rival of the east Prussiantowns, and Denmarkwas invited to join and make waron Danzig.34 Thusit cameabout that whenthe Lubeckenvoys, headed by BerntBornhouwer, made the roundsof the northGerman towns fromWismar to Danzigearly in 1522,they foundthe Danzigers ready for friendlynegotiations. The prospectof openingup anewthe trade with Sweden even at the risk of a war with ChristianII the accumulatedgrievances resulting from the latter'shigh tolls and hindrancesto trade,and the stepstaken by Christian(apparently with the activeassistance of the Fug- ger companyof Augsburg)to establisha staplein Copenhagen and supplantthe Hanseatesin Novgorodfinally convinced the Danzigersthat they shouldmake common cause with the men of Lubeck.35 The Danishlting's efforts, through his herald,DaLrid Coch- rane, to establishmore direct tradingrelations with Russia wereregarded by the Germantowns with graveconcern. The Fuggers,who, like the Mtelsersand Hochsteters, were solidifying theirposition in Antwerpto the distressof Bruges,were thought by Reval to be privy to "Ma.sterDavid's" schemes.36 The re- portthat the Masterof the LivonianOrder, Walter von Pletten- berg was preparedto help the king shunt the Russiantrade over Narva arld Iwangoroddid not lesserlthe fear that the princeswere in leaguewith one anotheragainst the towns. Not

34 Copiousmaterials for the historyof Denmark'srelations with Albertduring 1510- 25 are to be found in E. Joachim, Die Politik des letztenHochmnsters in Preussen, Albrechtzwn Brandenburg (3 vols.; Leipzig,1892-95). 35"Bericht der LubischerSendeboten," Feb. 7-Mar. 18, 1522; H.R., ser. *<3,VIII, 54-61.

3B Reval to LUbeck,May 2, 1516;H.R., ser. 3, VI, 773-74. Sanle to same, Apr. 26, 1522;ibid., VIII, 98. WALDER 360 WESTERGAARD orllydid Revaland Riga37draw closer to theirHansa ates as Christian'splans confeder- developed,but Danzighad visions commercialdecline as she saw of of Albertof Prussia,Grand Master the TeutonicOrder, draw closer powerful to Denmarkand make effortsto throw the trade of the hinterlandinto the hands of Polish-Lithuanian the so-called"three towns" of lSonigsberg.Danzig's decision to play dictowns, the gamewith the Wen- and to help them makea breach princesthat was in the cordonof threateningto stranglethem all, thus intelligible.Moreorrer, the becomes immediateresult justified their tion.The treaty with Lubeck ac- was concludedin April,1522,38 andGustavus Vasa ascendedthe Swedenin throne of an independent the succeedingyear. What the Wendictowns diplomacyof the andSweden had been unable to anda combination accomplish,time of ciroumstancesbrought about. Sweden'sindependence was of achieved,not only by the efforts the Swedishcitizenry, but by the Swedenin materialhelp broughtto Germanmerchant lressels sailing out andDanzig. It is a fromLubeck curiouscommentary on the power ina crucialera by thesetwo wielded of towns that whenDuke Frederick Gottorpsucceeded his nephew, king the deposedChristian II, as of Denmark-Norway,he made capture use of a Hanseaticfieet to Zealandand the Danishcapital from theabsent king. the adherentsof Thus,the interventionof the Hansa Danzigin the affairsof townsand Scandinaviaat a criticaltime aided bringinga nemr and powerful in dynasty into northernEurope. When,with this aid, Swedentook state, its place as an independent the eraof the CalmarUnion-a Scandinavian centuryand a quarterof history cameto a definiteclose. WALDEMARWESTERGLAARD UNIVERSITYOF CALIFORNIAATLOS ANGELES 37Riga reportedto the Liibeck the Hansetagirl June-July, 1518, greatcompanies had captured that the Fuggersand the wax trade and held it; ibid., 38Ibid., VIII, VII, 211. 63-66; part of the text appearsin 469-70. Rydberg, SeergesTraktater, IV,