MAIJA OJALA Protection, Continuity and Gender Craft trade culture in the Baltic Sea region (14th-16th centuries) Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 1974 Tampere University Press Tampere 2014 ACADEMIC DISSERTATION University of Tampere School of Social Sciences and Humanities Finland Copyright ©2014 Tampere University Press and the author Cover design by Mikko Reinikka Distributor: [email protected] http://granum.uta.fi Layout: Pia Koivunen & Kerttu Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 1974 Acta Electronica Universitatis Tamperensis 1461 ISBN 978-951-44-9573-1 (print) ISBN 978-951-44-9574-8 (pdf) ISSN-L 1455-1616 ISSN 1456-954X ISSN 1455-1616 http://tampub.uta.fi Suomen Yliopistopaino Oy – Juvenes Print 441 729 Tampere 2014 Painotuote Acknowledgements When I started this project in September 2008, I could not have imagined what kind of a journey it would be. It has been a journey to the past, to the life in the cities five hundred years ago. It has been a journey to several archives and conferences abroad. And, it has been a journey to oneself. During the past years I have experienced both difficult times, when you feel lost and miserable, and wonderful days, when you think that anything is possible. Luckily, I have not been alone but accompanied by you, fellow scholars, friends, and family. First, I would like to thank my supervisors Professor Christian Krötzl and Docent Raisa Maria Toivo, who have been mentoring me since my master’s studies. With his project Transition and Continuity. Society, Everyday Life and Religion in Northern Europe, 1450−1600, funded by the Academy of Finland, Professor Krötzl gave me the opportunity to start academic research. Furthermore, this project provided the necessary funding for several visits to various archives around the Baltic Sea as well as the opportunity to work three weeks in the eternal city, Rome. Additionally, I am deeply grateful to Raisa Toivo for all her critique, practical advice, encouragement, and support. In the times of greatest despair she has first reassured me and then told me to ‘just do it’. Thank you both for your time, patience, and for believing in me. I have benefitted a great deal from the constructive criticism and insightful advice of my two pre-reviewers Professor Dr. Sabine von Heusinger and Professor Dr. Marko Lamberg. They both sacrificed plenty of time reading my work and their detailed comments helped me to improve the manuscript in the final stage. I would also like to thank Professor von Heusinger for agreeing to act as an opponent in the public defence of this dissertation and correcting my German translations. As a native Finnish speaker, I owe my gratitude for Johanna Järvinen, who has made the language check not only once but twice and under a tight schedule. She has also helped me to improve my text and English writing skills. Furthermore, several other colleagues and friends have sacrificed their time and helped me with the often tricky palaeography and translations of the Middle Low German and Old Swedish sources: Maikki Soro-Ruhanen, Tapio Salminen, Ilkka Leskelä, Aino Katermaa, Tiina Miettinen, Ulla Koskinen, Ilona Manner, Sabrina Stockhusen, and Maria Seier, minen hertliken dank. This dissertation project has received financial support from several sources. I wish to thank Academy of Finland, Finnish Cultural Foundation, University of Tampere foundation, and Eemil Aaltonen foundation. Additionally, the Finnish Doctoral Programme of History and the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Tampere have funded my trips to international conferences and archives abroad. Furthermore, the City of Tampere has provided financial support for the publication and the School of Social Sciences and Humanities for language check. During my PhD studies I have had the pleasure of working in three projects, one mentioned already above. In the project Water as Social and Cultural Space: Changing Values and Representations I have had the privilege to learn international interdiscipli- nary academic work. This project, led by Professor Arja Rosenholm, is part of the Sustainable Governance of Aquatic Resources — AKVA programme of the Academy of Finland. The ongoing research project Gender and Family Relations: Medieval to Modern, funded by Eemil Aaltonen foundation and led by PhD, adjunct Professor Anu Lahtinen, has provided a fruitful forum for scientific discussion. In addition, the regular project meetings have not only nurtured the mind, but also the body (the delicious food) and soul (catching up with friends). A great deal of this work has been done by foraging the archives. I have been lucky to get to know Anu Mänd who introduced me to Tallinn City Archives and Angela Schlegel who guided me in the Archiv der Hansestadt Lübeck. I also wish to thank all the other archivists and librarians in Stockholm, Riga, Rome, and Tampere for their help and services. Moreover, international networking is an important part of academic work. I would especially like to thank Kirsi Salonen, Sabine von Heusinger, Maria Seier, and Jussi Hanska who have provided their contacts, help, and even their homes in order to promote my career. In addition, I thank Katariina Mustakallio and the staff of the Finnish Institute Villa Lante in Rome for their hospitality. The Department of History at the School of Social Sciences and Humanities (University of Tampere) has been a good and inspiring academic home. During this project I have had the pleasure of working with the history staff; you all deserve my compliments. The office staff has helped in all practical matters. With others we have spent numerous hours in seminar rooms and some even in bars. I would especially like to thank my colleague, friend, and flatmate Miia Ijäs, who has motivated and supported me throughout this process. Like you said, we travelled hand in hand a great deal of this journey. Furthermore, I want to thank my fellow early modernists Raisa Toivo, Miia Ijäs, Ulla Koskinen, Tiina Miettinen, Marko Nenonen, Lauri Uusitalo, Ella Viitaniemi, and Jouni Keskinen, who also has provided me technical help countless times. I also wish to thank Sari Katajala-Peltomaa and Ville Vuolanto for their comments and advice. The shared lunches in our coffee room with Miia Ijäs, Hanna Karti, Pia Koivunen, Heikki Kokko, Jenni Kuuliala, and Lauri Uusitalo are perhaps now in the past but I will remember them for the rest of my life. You are the best colleagues one could wish for. A number of colleagues and fellow doctoral students outside Tampere have read and commented my work, shared information, and given me encouragement. I wish to thank Ulla Ijäs, Charlotte Vainio, Mari Välimäki, and Reima Välimäki for interesting discussions and joyful moments in conferences. Furthermore, Mia Korpiola and Anu Lahtinen deserve all my gratitude for their patronage and the numerous ways they have helped me on this journey. Besides fellow scholars I want to thank my dearest friends who have stood by me already before this project and who will hopefully be there in the future as well. Sanna Hölttä, Johanna Järvinen, Jenni Karimäki, Teemu Kiskonen, Ilona Lahti, Suvi Sutela, Outi Tomperi and Ea Vasko, thank your for your patience and reassurance. It is truly a privilege to be surrounded by such a great people. I would also like to thank the Finnish travel agency Aurinkomatkat / Suntours Ltd. for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my other dream, to live and work in the Alps, also during this dissertation process. These breaks from academic work have been recreational and most welcome. Moreover, I wish to thank the Scout troop Tampereen Lokit and especially Leena Valta from whom I have learned perseverance and problem-solving, crucial also for academic research. Finally, I would like to thank my family, my parents and Dave. You have always believed in me and supported me in every possible way and with all the means. Without you this journey would not have been possible. Tampere, 15 July 2014 On the 35th year of the greatest journey ever Maija Ojala Contents Tables, Figures, Pictures, and Maps Abbreviations 1 Introduction to Urban Craft Trade 13 1.1 Research objective 14 1.2 Sources 17 1.2.1 Craft ordinances 17 1.2.2 Lübeck letters 28 1.2.3 Records of the City Council 32 1.3 Methodology 34 1.4 Earlier scholarship 40 1.4.1 Urban histories, Hansa research, and guild studies 41 1.4.2 Women’s work and the question of the ‘Golden Age’ 47 1.5 Four cities under comparison 51 2 Tripartite Classification – new approach to urban associations 57 2.1 Problem of terminology 58 2.1.1 Ampt – the professional craft 60 2.1.2 Organized trades in four cities 66 2.1.3 Merchant guilds and composite artisan guilds 82 2.1.4 Devotional organizations 86 2.2 Similarities and differences of crafts, guilds, and devotional guilds 89 2.2.1 Distinguished features based on membership 92 2.2.2 Distinguished features based on functions 104 2.2.3 Similarities based on functions 110 2.3 Conclusions 118 3 Taking a Chance – Artisan widows and craft trade 121 3.1 Widows’ rights in craft ordinances 122 3.1.1 Change or continuity? Quantitative analysis 128 3.1.2 Change or continuity? Qualitative analysis 133 3.1.3 Five possibilities 138 3.1.4 Women’s trades? 153 3.2 Controversial widowhood 161 3.2.1 Independent (master) traders vs. ideal household 161 3.2.1 Managing the household workshop 166 3.2.3 Participation in festivities and craft assemblies 170 3.3 ‘I, a poor and sad widow’ – appealing rhetoric 173 3.4 Conclusions 186 4 From Mother to Son – transition period of household