Hello and welcome to the history of the Germans, episode 119. What is the Hansa?

Now that was the question King Edward IV asked the representatives of the steel yard at 1469.

And he had a good reason to ask because tensions between the English and the Hansa had

escalated.

Ships were captured and people got killed.

He wanted to know who to negotiate with, and in particular who could sign a binding

agreement that would put an end to this.

The answer he got was not very satisfactory.

Quote, The Hansa-Totica is not a Societas, a company,

for it knows neither common ownership of goods nor shared ownership of the good,

since in the Hansa Teutonica there is no joint ownership.

Nor is it a company formed for certain commercial transactions,

since in the Hansa Teotonica each individual makes transactions for himself, and the profit

and the loss falls on each individual.

It is also not a Collegium, a college, since it is formed from separate cities.

It's also not an Universitas, a corporate body, because for that it required to have property,

a common treasure, a common seal, a common syndicous and a recognized leader.

The Hansa Tautonica is a firm alliance of many cities, towns and communities

for the purpose of ensuring that commercial enterprises on water

and on land have the desired in favourable success, and that effective protection is provided

against pirates and highwaymen so that the merchants are not deprived of their goods and valuables

by their raids."

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