Amt Bergedorf

Bergedorf was founded in the 12th century and grew to be an important trading center on the Elbe River. During the period covered by the database, the town and surrounding Amt were governed jointly by the cities of Hamburg and Lübeck, which combined forces to evict the Duke of Lauenburg in 1420—the former because the Duke was interfering in commerce and the latter because the Duke was not honoring an earlier agreement. The two cities alternated appointing an administrator.

 

In 1868, Hamburg bought out Lübeck’s interest in the Amt and incorporated it into the city.