Imperial City of Hamburg

Stadt Hamburg

Hamburg was founded in the 8th century and became Schaumburgian (along with Holstein) in 1111. By the 12th century, Hamburg dominated commerce in the lower Elbe basin, becoming a prominent member of the Hanseatic League. The wall that defined the core city (which I call the subdivision of “Stadt Hamburg”) was completed around 1250.

 

The Schaumburgians (and later the Danes) never relinquished their claim to Hamburg, but by 1292 it was effectively independent. In 1510, it was declared an imperial city; in 1618, its independence was reconfirmed by the Imperial Court. In 1529, it embraced the Reformation and I begin the database at that point.