Imperial City of Bremen

Stadt Bremen

Bremen’s history as a city dates back to the 8th century, when it became the seat of a bishopric (later archbishopric). It was recognized as an “imperial city” in 1186, although the Archbishop continued claim sovereignty and to exercise significant influence. The city joined the Hanseatic League in 1260 and became a powerful member thereof. Over the years, both the city and the Archbishopric (which relocated its secular administrative functions to Bremervörde) added to their territory, with the city gaining sovereignty over Amt Blumenthal, Amt Bederkesa and Gericht Lehe. Nevertheless, the Archbishop (Duke after 1648), the Count of Oldenburg, and various Frisian chieftans pushed back on the city and by 1654, the city’s territory was limited that contiguous to the core city. (The city did, however, continue to administer Amt Blumenthal, placing that Amt in what I call “Bremen-Bremen” to reflect both the sovereignty of the Duchy and the administration of the city).

 

In 1646, the city’s independence from the Archbishopric was confirmed by the issuance of an imperial city charter. In 1741, however, the Electorate of Hannover (which had subsumed the Duchy’s territory) took over administration of Amt Blumental (except for Vegesack). The Electorate also assumed sovereignty over certain villages in Goh Werderland and Goh Blockland, although the Imperial City continued to administer them. I place those villages in a country whose simplified name I render as “Hannover-Bremen”.