- ARCHIVE - Ducal Court of Bremen

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Hansa Trade Union

Central to both foreign and internal politics ever since its formation by "Hansa"-Johann II in 1424, the Hansa Trade Union has as its goals to increase the wealth of all members through trade between members, and through negotiation of favourable treaties with foreign powers.
The Union started as a non-political organization, with the sole purpose of increasing trade, but as time passed, it became clear that it is impossible to seperate commerce and politics, especially for an duchy whose major source of income is trade.
Membership in the Hanseatic Union brings many rewards, not only of a commercial nature, but also political, as Nantes discovered when a Norman invasion brought the full wrath of the Holy Roman Empire on England, and sometimes even military, as Sweden discovered, when the Hanseatic cities of Viborg, Helsingfors and Stockholm in 1432 was the compelling reason for the Greif-Schussel Allianz, by some considered the military arm of the Trade Union, declaration of war against a Denmark, a war which ended with Sweden having its own king and gaining freedom from the Danish overlordship.


Bremen is founder of the Hansa Trade Union.
The Hansa Trade Union consists of:
-Bremen, joined upon creation in march 1424
-Gelre, joined upon creation in march 1424
-Mecklemburg, joined in may 1424
-Holstein-Gottorp, joined in october 1425
-Hessen became an associate and close partner of the Union in march 1430, and joined the Union as full member in 1435.
-The Swedish Cities of Stockholm, Helsingfors and Viborg entered the Hansa in april 1431.
-Hannover is a member of the Union.
-The Breton capitol Nantes, free trade city, is a member.
-Cologne joined the Union in late 1438.

These nations have sent representatives to the Hanseatic Council, the governing body of the Union, which has to approve all members and all signed treaties. Currently, the council consists of:
Daniel van Straussenberg, representing Gelre.
Johann von Forz, talking for the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp.
Magnus von Stargard, sitting for Mecklemburg.
Lord Waldo von Dagoberto from Hessen.
Heinz von Hildeshiem, for Hannover.
Erik Oxenstierna, the only non-German in the council, representing the Swedish cities of Viborg, Helsingfors and Stockholm.
Klaus van der Wreesel, for Cologne.
Otto Kaufmann, head of the Bremer merchants guild and Bremens representative in the council,
and finally, as detailed in the Hanseatic charter, Johann III of Bremen, chairman of the council.

***
Charter for the Hansa Trade Union.​

The goal of the Hansa Trade Union

-The Hansa Trade Unions goal is to ease trade and increase profit earned by trade for all merchants from member nations on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

-The Hansa Trade Union is not a military union. All members are allowed to join military unions without the approval of the Hansa Trade Union Council, should they so wish.

The Hansa Trade Union Council

-The Hansa Trade Union will have its seat in the city of Bremen. All members of the Trade Union will send one ambassador to the Hansa Trade Union Council.

-The Hansa Trade Union will not be lead by Bremen, but will in all matters follow the course chosen by the Hansa Trade Union Council. The Duke of Bremen will act as chairman at the Councils meetings.

-In the Hansa Trade Union Councils meetings, each member-nation will have one vote.

-The Hansa Trade Union Council will decide the outcome of any vote, except changing this charter, by simple majority of the given votes. In case of a tie, the Duke of Bremen determines the Hansa Trade Union Councils decision.

-This charter may only be changed by a vote in the Hansa Trade Union Council, in which all votes are cast for the change.

-The Duke of Bremen will be the only negotiator for the Hansa Trade Union, unless he appoints another.
No agrement or treaty is valid unless approved by the Hansa Trade Union Council by a vote, following the guidelines laid down in this document.

Membership of the Hansa Trade Union

-No member of the Trade Union may declare war upon another member.

-Should members of the Trade Union as a result of alliances end up in war, all warring members will be suspended from the Trade Unions meetings for the duration of the hostile actions.

-Should a member wish to leave the Trade Union, that member may do so withour fear, simply by declaring so to the Hansa Trade Union Council.

-The Hansa Trade Union Council may expel a nation from the Hansa Trade Union, providing all members of the Council excluding the one represanting the nation in question votes in favor of expelsion.

-To be accepted as a member of the Union, a nation must fullfill the following criteria:

• The nations must be invited to join by the duke of Bremen.
• The nations must be accepted as member by all current members of the Union.
• The nation must accept this charter.
• Any city with port to the North Sea or Baltic Sea, can for the purposes of membership of the Union, count as an independent nation.

Obligations and rights of Hansa Trade Union members

-Members must obey the following rules:

• No member of the Union may ever ban merchants from other members of the Hansa Trade Union from trading within their realms, nor may Hansa members place tolls or tariffs on merchants from another Hansa member.
  
• All merchants owing alligence to a ruler, whose nation is a member of the Hansa Trade Union, will agree not to lower their prices below minimum prices agreed on by the Hansa Trade Union. These minimum prices can only be regulated be the Hansa Trade Union Council.
  
• Should any nation place a trade embargo on a member of the Hansa Trade Union, all members of the Hansa Trade Union will in return place trade embargoes on that nation, lasting untill said nation lifts the trade embargo.
  
• Should any nation declare war upon a member of the Hansa Trade Union, all members of the Hansa Trade Union will in return place trade embargoes on that nation, lasting untill said nation ends the hostile actions against the Hansa member.
  
• Should any nation place tolls or tariffs on merchants from a member of the Hansa Trade Union, all members of the Hansa Trade Union will in return impose tolls and tariffs of equal magnitude upon merchants from said nation, untill said nation lifts its tolls and tariffs.
  
• Members are bound to follow any agreements and treaties signed by the Hansa Trade Union Council, even is a member nation was not part of the Hansa Trade Union when said treaty was signed or agreement made.
  
• Should any member of the Hansa Trade Union not follow the guidelines laid down in this document, said member would be excluded by the Council after having exactly one month to correct the issue, counted from the day the member was made aware of the breach of rules, and all members of the Union would ban said nations merchants from their territories for a full year, starting the exact day of the nation leaving the Hansa Trade Union.
  After this period, the nation can rejoin the Hansa Trade Union, should it so wish, if said nation fullfills the criteria listed above, including full agrements of the member nations and invitation from the Duke of Bremen.

This amendment to the Hansa charter has become necessary by recent changes in internal Imperial politics.

Any member of the Hansa Trade Union Council can propose that the Union as a whole declares a trade embargo on all or certain goods against any non-Hansa or non-WHU state.
Should the Hansa Trade Union Council, after hearing arguments for such an embargo, vote in favor of the motion, following the guidelines in the original charter, all members of the Hansa Trade Union will declare the desired embargo.

This amendment should only be invoked if all diplomatic options have allready failed, and the resulting embargo can be declared illegal by the Reichskammergericht.

****

Current treaties and benefits of the Hanseatic Union​

• Hansa has signed the Stettin act of Cooperation with the Wendische Handels Union.
• Hansa merchants are guarenteed low taxes in Luxembourg and Luxembourg controlled territories, and have written proof that no Trade Union will ever enjoy better treatment in those territories than the Hansa.
• Hansa merchants pay lower taxes then Saxon merchants in Saxony.
• Hansa merchants are treated as native Burgundians with respect to taxes in Burgundy
• Hansa has signed a treade agrement with Aragon
• Bremer and Gelrer merchants is sole importer of spices from Aragon to Northern Europe. 50 % of the spice is resold without profit to other Hanseatic merchants.
• Hanseatic merchants do not pay Sund due for passing through Øresund (the entrance to the Baltic).
• In an attempt to rebuild Burgundian economy after the devastating civil war, Hanseatic merchants have been granted freedom from taxes in Burgundy.

***
The Sund​

Bremen controls Skåne, and thus one coast of the Sund. Hanseatic merchants are allowed to navigate the narrow strait close to the Bremer-controlled coast, under the protection of warships and coastal fortresses.
Thus, they can cross the Sund without the Sund due.
Recently, ships operating from Skåne, mainly the harbour of Malmø and Helsinborg have taken to gathering the Sund due from passing vessels, in effect wrestling control over this important waterway from Denmark.

• Merchants from England, transporting certain goods as detailed in the "Baltic Gateway Accord", pay 35% less due than others.
• Frisean merchants, as detailed in the same treaty, enjoys a 10% discount.
• Pr. the Stettin Act of Cooperation, no dues are paid by members of the Wendicher Handels Union.

***
Other Trade Unions​

The Hansa is not the only trade union in Europe. Of particular interest to the Hansa is:

• Wendischer Handels Union, WHU: The sister organization the Hansa, the WHU focuses mainly on trade in Eastern Europe and the Baltic. The two unions, of which the Hansa is the older only by few months, have a close cooperation, formalized in the Stettin Act of Cooperation. Despite having seperate governing bodies, the two unions act almost as one, and trading conflicts are few and far between. The cooperation between the two unions have made them the leaders in trade in Northern Europe, with Hansa as the major of the two.
• Trans-European Trade Alliance: An attempt to create a trade union in central Europe, the Trans-European is almost dead by now. The two unions have never signed any official treaties, and does not recognise each others sphere of influence. No conflict have ever erupted, despite this.
• Italian Trade Union: Shortly after the founding of the Italian Trade Union, herr Erich Bruche of the Hansa negotiated The Turin Agreement. In short, it allows merchants of both unions to make use of the other partys exclusive markets and Guild Houses, for a small fee.
• Trade Union of the North Sea, TUNS: Formed in 1442, this union consists of the Frisean towns, and a few Bretton ones. The Hansa has been very hostile towards this union, fearing they might interfere on the major Hanseatic markets, such as England.
  After pressure from the Hanseatic Union and England, this trade union have ceased to exist. The end of this threath is seen as a major victory for the Hansa.
• Central European Trade Pact A new contender on the markets of central Europe, this union have yet to bee discussed in the Hanseatic Council. It is doubtfull it will be welcomed, though.

 

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Various information about Bremen

Coinage

The bacis currency of Bremen is the Taler. In 965, Bremen was granted market rights, including the right to mint own coinage.
1 Taler = 72 Grote = 360 Schwaren.
1 Grote = 10 Silbergroschen.

The Taler is mainly used by merchants as the coin of transactions, most people get by using Schwarens or Silbergroschen in their daily life.
The Grote is used when purchasing smaller quantities of valuable goods, such as a single horse, or when hiring employees for prolonged periods of time.

Rulers
Archbishops of Bremen

• Ansgar 849-865
• Rembert 865-888
• Adalgar 888-909
• Hoger 909-915
• Reginwart 916
• Ungi 916-936
• Adaldag 936-988
• Libentius I 988-1013
• Unwan 1013-1029
• Libentius II 1029-1032
• Hermann 1032-1035
• Bezelin 1035-1045
• Adalbert I of Saxony 1045-1072
• Liemar 1072-1101
• Humbert 1101-1104
• Friedrich I 1104-1123
• Adalbert II 1123-1148
• Hartwig I of Stade 1148-1168
• Baldwin of Holland 1168-1178
• Berthold 1178-1179
• Siegfried of Anhalt 1179-1184
• Hartwig II von Utlede 1184-1207
• Burchard I von Stumpenhausen 1207-1210
• Gerhard I von Wildeshausen 1210-1219
• Gerhard II of Lippe 1219-1258
• Hildebold von Huntstorf 1258-1273
• Giselbert von Bronchorst 1273-1306
• Heinrich I von Goltern 1306-1307
• Florent von Bronchorst 1307
• Bernhard von Wolpe 1307
• Johann I Grand 1308-1327
• Burchard II Grelle 1327-1344
• Otto I of Oldenburg 1344-1348
• Gottfried of Arnsberg 1348-1359
• Albrecht of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1359-1395
• Otto II of Oldenburg 1395-1397

Otto II in real life ruled till 1406. Rulers from this point are fictional
The Küster family

• Johann I "Vryheit" 1397-1416
• "Hansa"-Johann II 1416-1425
• Johann III 1425-

 

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Ducal Court of Bremen

Ducal Court of Bremen

The city of Bremen, located on both banks of the Weser

​

Head of State: Johann III, Duke of Bremen
Johann II was born in 1381 as son of the Duke of Bremen Johann I, the first non-archbishop ruler of Bremen. Johann I died in 1416, and Johann II was crowned Duke of Bremen.
In november 1425 Johann II became a victim of the black death.
His oldest son, Johann III, was crowned Duke of Bremen in march 1426.
Rulers of Bremen
-1397: Various archbishops. See below.
1397-1416: Johann I
1416-1425: Johann II
1425-: Johann III

The Ducal Family (living members)​

Silke Küster. Born 1383. Old and fragile, the dukes mother spends all her time among the nuns of Sct. Hedwig.

Duke Johann III. Born 1406.

Maria-Elisa of the Greif. Born 1405. Sister to Joachim of the Greif, previous Emperor and protector of Pommern. The marriage between Johann and Maria-Elisa was in reality a political alliance between Bremen and Pommern. There was never much love between the two, and these days, Maria-Elisa has withdrawn to her holdings as countess of Bhoulon in Lotharingia, never appearing in the court of Bremen.

Children of duke Johann III.
Johann-Kazimierz. Born in december 1428, the boy is the heir to the ducal throne of Bremen. Raised qithout much contact to his mother, and in the knowledge that he'll one day become duke of Bremen. Has received the best education, and is welltrained in diplomacy and commerce.
Unfortunatele, the boy is pretty poor at languages, and when dealing with foreign diplomats, he is forced to rely on a translator.

SilkeBorn july 1436. The girl has a very fragile health, and is almost constantly ill. She has moved with her mother to Lotharingia.

Erich Küster of the Greif. Born 1445. Rumours have it that Johann III is not the boys father, and said rumours are fuelled by the fact that the boys birth wasn't publicly celebrated. Johann III has never spent much time with the boy, and Erich moved with his mother to Lotharingia.

Wife and children of Johann-Kazimierz
Rosa Maria de Trastamara-Aragon. Born 1426. Daughter of Queen Blanca of Aragon. Ever since Maria-Elisa left for Lotharingia, Rosa Maria has acted as de facto duchess of Bremens social life. Favour with her is essential for invitations to the various social activities of the court.
Rosa Maria appears to have accepted her fate. She still longs back to Aragon, and finds the Germans somewhat uncivilised, but she is satisfied with her marriage to Johann-Kazimierz, even though it was politically arranged.
After the coup in Aragon in late 1451, in which Rosa Marias family lost power in Aragon, the reasons for the marriage no longer exists, and Rosa Maria is forced to accept that her only future lies in Bremen.

Heinrich Trastamara von Küster-Greif. Born 1449, after only 4 months of marriage between Johann-Kazimierz and Rosa Maria.
The boy was obviosly concieved out of marriage, but has been accepted as heir to Johann-Kazimierz, and thus to the ducal throne of Bremen. There is no speculations that Johann-Kazimierz is the boys father.
Pointing out that Heinrich is technicaly a bastard is a sure way to ruin any chances you might have in the court of Bremen.

Julia Josephina von Küster-Greif de Trastamara-Aragon. Born in march 1453, the child is allready promised to Vittorio di Savoia of Piemonte. This political union will further cement the allready strong ties between the two merchants duchies.

The Ducal Family (deceased members)​

Siblings to duke Johann III
Monika Küster. (1402-1425). Died from the plague that also claimed her father.

Heinrich Küster von Boulon-Rhuen. (1408-1429). The dukes brother. Died as former Saxon duke Friedrich the Spoiled stormed his holdings in Boulon-Rhuan, Lotharingia.

Meike Küster (1412-1429). Died in the assault on the Küster holdings in Boulon-Rhuen, see above.


Religious matters
All inhabitants of Bremen are good catholics, including off course the ducal family. Bremen holds a small minority of jews, mostly working as bankers.
The current archbishop is Erasmus.
The archbishop was appointed archbishop after the death of Horst Töllnich in december 1429.
So far, he has not yet showed where he stands in the internal politics of Bremen.
No non-christian religion will ever gain the approval of Bremen.
The orthodox is considered a perversion of Christs teachings.
In short, both moslems and orthodoxs socalled christians are heathens who'll burn in Hell.
Jews, although not christians, are respected because of their importance to the commercial power of the city.
Jews pay extra taxes, but are in return protected by the Bremer militia should any try to arrange a progrom in the city.

Culture
It should be needlees to say that Bremen is a germanic city, and feels warm kinship to other german citystates and nations.

Provinces
Johann III rules Bremen and sorrounding area, and it is often said that his realm expands at most two days ride for his soldiers beyond the citywalls.
Furthermore, the duke of Bremen is, in accordance with the treaty of Königsburg, also duke of Prussia.
Both Prussia and Bremen has ports.
After the victory over Denmark, Bremen has added Skåne to her possesions. Even more than in Prussia, the nobles of Skåne enjoy a high degree of independence. The Bremer overlord, Graf von Liebenstein, isn't terribly concerned, as long as the taxes roll in.
After Hannovers defeat by Imperial forces in 1440, duke Johann III of Bremen was appointed duke of Hannover. His ownership of said province was shortlived, as the lineage of Katarina Welf was ackknowledged to go to Joachim of the Greif, and the duchy was thus added, indirectly, to Pommerns holdings. About a quarter of the duchy, Braunschweig-Göttingen, was given to Johann, who still holds the title as duke of Braunschweig-Göttingen, as well as his other ducal titles.
The duchies of Braunschweig-Göttingen and Bremen continue to exist as seperate bodies, with seperate laws and regulations, but with a common duke.
The two duchies have thus combined foreign policy, and are both members of the Hansa and the Greif-Schussel Allianz.
Due to the proximity of the two realms, both are ruled from the ducal palace on Bremen, with the palace in Hannover serving as a symbol. Duke Johann III has wowed to spend at least one month each year in Hannover.

Duke Johann III is also count of Boulon in the province of Lorraine, a small county given him as a wedding gift by Queen Marie de Berri of Lotharingia.
The duchess Maria-Elisa is countess of the neighbouring county Rhuen, also in Lorraine. Both counties are governed in daily affairs by Alain de Sauterne, a noble from a French family of minor, if any, importance.


Internal politics and citizens
The citizens of Bremen are mainly craftsmen and merchants, there is no nobility of any interest.
However, in the province of Bremen, outside the city, nobles rule their small fiefdoms almost independently. Following the execution of the von Friesenburg family for treason in early 1424, however, most noble families have been desperate to prove their loyalty to the Duke.

Brief history of the duchy.​

february 1423: Bremen leaves the NWGA, an alliance led by Gelre, and requests permission to join the Liga von Nurnberg.
march 1423 Bremen is accepted as member of the Liga von Nurnberg, at that time consisting of Bavaria, Brandenburg, Bremen, Colonge, Hannover, and Saxony.
march 1423Duke Johann II starts working on creating a Trade Union along the North sea, but the work is stranding as both Gelre and Holstein, both members of the NWGA, expresses hostility about Bremen leaving that union.
Late march 1423Karl von Friesenburg, Bremer ambassador in Gelre, breaks his oaths of loyalty to Bremen in disgust with the changes in Bremer foreign politics. This sparks a diplomatic crisis between Bremen and Gelre.
April 1423Saxony leaves the Liga, but relations between Bremen and Saxony remains good.
june 1423 Burgundy joins the Liga.
august 1423Luxembourg joins the Liga. Bremen loans Luxembourg 1 eco to aid in crushing a rebellion in Hungary.
Septeber 1423 The von Friesenburg family looses all noble privilegies and is expelled from Bremen as punishment for Karl von Friesenburgs treason in Gelre.
October 1423 With approval of Pope Joseph I, Bert Stahl, the commander of the Bremer army, is appointed leader of the Imperial forces fighting the rebel king Urseolo in Hnugary. Bremen joins the Imperial forces.
October 1423 Bremen and Gelre signs a non-agression pact, as a direct result Karl von Friesenburg is delivered, dead, to Bremen by Gelre.
november 1423Karl von Friesenburgs body is put to public view, after being humiliated. This secures the cooperation of minor noble familes, who are afraid of the consequences if the don't support the duke.
January 1424 The Hansa Trade Union is founded, the first members are Gelre and Bremen.
january 1424King Urseolos rebellion in Hungary ends. The Bremer army returns home.
april 1424Prussia joins the Hansa Trade Union.
May 1424Mecklemburg joins the Hansa Trade Union.
September 1424-march 1425Bremer armies have fought the Hussite rebels in Bohemia. Bremen manages to stay neutral in the wars between the Northen Alliance and the Liga von Nurnberg.
The Liga is dissolved as a result of the peace negotiations.
April 1425 As a result of the Liga-Northern Alliance war, a new Holy Roman Emperor is elected.
Although not an elector-state, Bremen supports Victor von Blommenstein, why wins the election.
May 1425 Johann II and his family travels to Stettin in Pommern, there to negotiate a treaty between the Hansa and the Wendischer Handels Union.
July 1425Holstein joins the Hansa Trade Union.
October 1425Hansa and the WHU signs the Stettin Act of Cooperation. This marks the beginning of a close friendship between Pommern and Bremen
November 1425 Johann II, duke of Bremen, is killed by the black death. His daughter. Monika, dies as well.
April 1426 Forced to remain in Stettin due to the plague, Johann III is first crowned duke of Bremen now. At the coronation, Johann III announces his decision to marry Maria-Elisa, sister to the protector of Pommern.
Among the guests at the coronation were: Duke Willem van Egmont of Gelre; Joachim of the Greif, protector of Pommern; Erich von Wittelsbach, Count Palatine of the Rhine; Count Heinrich I of Wurtemburg; Count Friedrich of Wurzen, the heir to the ducal throne of Saxony; and Lord Erik Bendtsen, Count of Skane.
May 1426 Bremen and Pommern signs the Greif-Schussel Allianz.
july 1426Gelre is associated with the Greif-Schussel Allianz in a mutual defense pact.
August 1426Johann III leaves Bremen to attend Duke Friedrich IIs coronation in Saxony.
october1426Meike of Bremen is engaged to Duke Friedrich II of Saxony.
July 1426-december 1426 In the struggle for Bohemias future, between Emperor Victor I and former emperor Albert of Austria, Bremen at first seems to support Victor I. However, in the end negotiations break down, and Bremen defies the Emperors will, and does not declare war on Austria.
December 1426Burgundy is associated with the Greif-Schussel Allianz in a mutual defense pact.
December 1426Cardinal Alvaro of the Holy Inquisition arrives in Bremen to investigate rumors of heretic activity by Johann III.
February 1427 Friedrich II of Saxony abducts Meike of Bremen. The saxon ambassador in Bremen is expelled, and the engagement between Meike and Friedrich II is broken by Johann III. Meike is returned to Bremen.
April 1427 Cardinal Alvaro of the Holy Inquisition leaves Bremen, after declaring that the town is found free from all heresy. However, he does instruct the duke to change some politics regarding treatment of jews within the city walls.
June 1427 Johann III marries Maria-Elisa of Pommern in Stettin.
July 1427 As a wedding gift, Johann III is given the county of Boulon by Queen Marie de Berri of Lotharingia. Maria-Elisa receives the neighbouring county of Rhuen.
August 1427 Bremen declares war upon the duchy of Saxony, a war provoked by countless insults from the Friedrich II of Saxony against Johann III.
March 1428 Bremer forces take Dresden.
April 1428 Sigismund is installed as duke of Saxony, and the Greif-Schussel Allianz and Saxony signs the treaty of Dresden, thus ending the war between the Allianz and Saxony.
April 1428 The victorious Bremer forces march on Sweden, to put down the rebellion against the danish king. Bremens entry in this war is forced by Pommern, who request assistance in accordance with the Greif-Schussel Allianz.
june 1428 The Baltic Conference in Copenhagen draws to an end, with Bremen agreeing to sign the Baltic League, a mutual deence pact among Bremen, Pommern, Holstein and Denmark-Norway.
june 1428 Duchess Maria-Elisa of Bremen is found to be pregnant. Skilled midwifes announces that birth can be expected around november this year.
September 1428 Heinrich Küster, the brother of duke Johann III, agrees to marry Anna, the niece to the duke of Holstein. The wedding will take place later this year.
october1428Pommern declares on Prussia, the goal of which is to seize Danzig, which the Prussian overlords in Livonia gave to Pommern. Bremen, as member of the Greif-Schussel Allianz, joins the war on Pommern side.
December 1428 Johann III and the Aragonese ambassador negotiates the Commercial-military Pact between Bremen and Aragon, protecting trade even if one or the other should enter a war.
December 1428 In two eventfull weeks, Bremer, Saxon and Gelrer troops conquer the Prussian capital, thus bringing all Prussian land under control of the Allianz. And Pommern forces crush invading Polish and Moldavian forces in Danzig.
December 1428 Maria-Elisa, the duchess of Bremen, gives birth to a son. The boy is christianed Johann-Kazimierz, in honour of both Johann II, former duke of Bremen, and Kazimierz of Pommern, Maria-Elisas father.
March 1429 Following the victory of the Greif-Schussel Allianz in the war over Danzig, the province of Prussia is added to the Bremer possessions.
August 1429 Erich von Wittelsbach is elected Holy Roman Emperor.
September 1429 Friedrich the Spoiled, who was dethroned by Allianz forces in april 1428, assaults the counts castle in Boulon-Rhuen. Heinrich Küster and Meike Küster, the dukes brother and sister, along with Anna, the niece of Adolf of Holstein, Heinrichs wife, is killed.
November 1429 Johann III of Bremen is appointed Imperial High Treasurer, head of the newly formed Imperial Commerce Commission.
March 1430 Hessen becomes associate member of the Hansa Trade Union.
Jan 1431 After lengthy negotiations, the Mecklemburgian representative in the Hansa Trade Union Council vetoes the merging of the WHU and the Hansa. As a direct consequence of this, WHU announces that they will enforce the Stettin Act of Cooperation more strictly in the future.
April 1431 Stockholm, Helsingfors and Viborg joins the Hansa.
June 1431 Mecklemburg withdraws her veto against WHU-Hansa mergings. Negotiations start anew.
July 1431-September 1431 A conflict between Normandie and Brittany gets out of hand, as Norman troops besiege and later conquer Nantes, which was negotiating with the Hansa for membership. The Hansa embargoes Normandie, and in return Denmark and England embargoes the Hansa.
Johann of Bremen uses his position as Imperial High Treasurer to enforce an Imperial embargo upon England and Denmark, and for a while, the Danish-English alliance and the Holy Roman Emperor looks like they're heading for war. In the end, Papal intervention prevents this, but the Danish-Bremer relationsship is permanently damaged.
October- november 1431 Denmark cancels the Baltic Accord, meaning Hanseatic merchants once again pay the sound due.
Pirates funded by unknown sources starts plundering Danish shipping.
January-march 1432 Sparre of Sweden leads a rebellion against the Danish, that is however easily defeated. Johann of Bremen issues the guarentee of Swedish Sovereignty, threathening with war should King Christoffer of Denmark us the rebellion as excuse to annex Swedish land.
April 1432 As the Swedish rebels surrender, King Christoffer orders the Hanseatic cities of Sweden to leave the Hansa. Diplomatic chaos erupts as Bremen and her allies attempts to have Christoffer withdraw that order.
June 1432 Bremen, Pommern and Gelre declares war on Denmark and invades Jutland. Their armies are halted by Danish forces, in what is effectively a bloody stalemate.
August 1432 Austria, Venice and Lithuania declares war on the Hanseatic-WHU nations in support of Denmark. Bremen signs an agrement with Lithuania, recreating the duchy of Prussia, which end the Lithuanian involvment in the war.
July-September 1432 The battle of Jutland continues, as both sides pour reinforcements into the war. Late September, the Danish forces are all either defeated or deserted. King Christoffer of Denmark falls on the battlefield.
1433-1435 As the Greif-Schussel Allianz continue their war against Denmark, more and more Danish provinces are conquered. Bremer forces take Copenhagen, and later land in Skåne.
The Danish goverment refuses to surrender, leading the Bremer occupation forces to start discussing possible rebellion with local nobles.
late 1435. After having lost Copenhagen and much of Norway, the Danish goverment finally collapses. The Sund due is removed, Sweden released, and Skåne added to the Bremer lands.
july 1436 The duchess of Bremen gives birth to a girl with very fragile health. The girl is christened Silke, in memory of the dukes mother.
1437-1439 These years passes somewhat uneventfull. Bremen and the Hansa prospers in peace.
1439 In Italia, trouble grows. Doge Doria of Genoa disobeys an Imperial call to crusade, and before long, it is revealed that he is in fact a worshipper of Satan. The doge is burned for his heresy, but the ruling class of Genoa refuses to surrender. The city is plunged into civil war.
Bremen earns much honour by assiting military against the Genovese rebels, and gains Piemonte, an Italian citystate, as a loyal ally and friend in the process.
1440 Once again, the neighbouring state of Denmark creates trouble. King Frederik of Denmark has his advisors write up the socalled Liga Des Nordens, with the goal of creating peace and stability in the North. Oddly enough, this alliances first attempt at such is to break the Copenhagen protocols by taxing Hanseatic shipping through the Sund, and by demanding the return of Skåne to Denmark.
Denmark refuses to negotiate on these areas, and the giant of Scandinavia, together with her allies in Russia, Latvia, Hannover and Holstein declares war on Bremen.
Pommern, Gelre and the Italian Piemonte comes to Bremens aid, and the combined armies manage to defeat Hannover. Johann III of Bremen is appointed duke of Hannover by the Holy Roman Emperor.
1440-1441 Denmark finally surrenders, without any territorial concessions, and so does Holstein.
Russia and Latvia stubbornly fights on, and Bremen unexpectedly finds an ally in the orthodox Pskov. Pskov activates old claims on Russian territory, and enters the war on Bremens side.
1442 Latvia gives in to Bremer pressure, and enters the war on Bremer side. Despite Lithuanian political support, Russia surrenders and cedes the contested territories to Pskov.

Greif-Schlussel Allianz​

Bremen has signed the Greif-Schlussel Allianz with Pommern, in effect a very close alliance requering both nations to support each other, even in an offensive war.
Gelre is closely associated with the Allianz, both can decline military support in case of an offensive war.
Burgundy has signed a mutual defence pact with the Allianz.
After the war in 1427-1428 Saxony became an assiociate member of the alliance as well.

Commercial-Military Pact between Bremen and Aragon​

Bremen and Aragon has signed a treaty, that binds the nations to impose trade embargo on each others enemies, and if possible lend each other money if involved in a war. The treaty also guarentess protection of merchants vessels in time of war.


code:
Foreign ambassadors
Natives of interest
Own ambassadors to foreign powers
* marks ambassadors to/from inactive nations.
Persons of interest

• Daniel van Straussenberg Gelres representative in the Hansa Trade Union Council.
• Johann Von Forz Ambassador from Holstein-Gottorp. Member of the Hansa Trade Union Council
• Fritz Schwanger Ambassador from Pommern
• *Magnus von Stargard Ambassador from Mecklemburg. Member of the Hansa Trade Union Council*
• Hannes von Kleinberg Ambassador from the Rhineland Palatinate
• Rolf of Waddinxveen Ambassador from Gelre
• *Étienne DesLaurnes Ambassador from Burgundy*
• Jean d Montier Ambassador from France
• Pedro d`Alcira Ambassador from Aragon
• *Erik Oxenstierna Swedens representative in the Hansa Trade Union Council*
• Lord Waldo von Dagoberto representing Hessen in the Hansa Trade Union Council
  
• Bert Stahl Former general of the Ducal Guard. However, since he failed to send the army marching against Saxony, he has been assigned to Boulon-Rhuen.
• Holger Dahlke Captain and Commander of the navy.
• Erasmus. Archbishop of Bremen. See under religion above.
• Ernst von Herzwald Head of the von Herzwald family. Suspected of treason, his lands were confiscated, and Ernst was exiled. Current location unknown.
• Otto Kaufmann Head of the Bremer Merchants Guild. With Bremens position in the Hansa, this is indeed a very powerfull position.
• Erich Bruche Negotiator for the Hansa Trade Union
• Dieter von Scwarzwald Commander of the Bremer army. He owns a large body of land in the province of Prussia.
• Graf von LiebensteinDaily leader of the province of Skåne.
• Ullrich Dyck Former ambassador in the Imperial Diet. Now retired to an estate in Skåne. He receives an annual pension from the Empire.
• Ritter Magnus von Grünenwald Third son of a minor noble family. He has sworn never to kill christians ever again, and is travelling around Europe, in search of tournaments and noble deeds. The Ritter was killed fighting a duel in the great spring tournament in Pskov.
  
  
• Martin Jäger Ambassador in Saxony.
• Karl Leibnitz Ambassador to Holstein-Gottorp
• Adolf Mannheim Ambassador to Pommern
• Jürgen Bauer Ambassador in Gelre
• Joachim von Herzwald Former ambassador in Prussia. Now awaiting reassigment, since Prussia has fallen to Bremer forces.
• *Friederich Kaufmann Ambassador to Mecklemburg*
• Martin von Buchwald Ambassador in the Rhineland Palatinate
• *Martin Brintz Ambassador in Burgundy*
• Joachim von Eisenhertz Ambassador and leader of the Hansa Guild house in Barcelona, Aragon
• Gerhardt Munch Ambassador to France
• *Stephan Krantz Ambassador in Sweden*
• Immanuel Scwarchkopf Ambassador to England.
• Eyrick Schmidt Serves as leader of the Hanseatic Guild House in Kings Lynn, England.

 

[unmerged(6719)]

A rather stout man dressed in the style of the Ducal court of Bavaria enters the chamber in which Johann II, Prince of Bremen sits, bows low and addresses the court and Prince.


"Most noble prince, I am Clovis von Berowalt sent by Duke Wilhelm Albrecht von Wittelsbach Duke of Bavaria to represent his court here in Bremen. My duke wants it to be known that you have a friend in Bavaria and opens his court to you and hopes that an ambassador will make his way southward, and that i be accepted to your court. My duke also sends along four of the finest vats of brew from the national brewery of Bavaria, the Haufsbra house. We Bavarians hope that this is the start of a friendship between our two nations."

Clovis von Berowalt bows again and awaits the Prince's response.

 

[unmerged(6719)]

The Bavarian Ambassador enters and bows again before the Prince.


"Noble Prince my Duke Wilhelm Albrecht has sent word that Lothar Stoiber has been accepted as ambassador to his court. We thank you and can forsee our two nations working together in the future"

Clovis von Berowalt awaits the Prince of Bremen's response.

 

[unmerged(6719)]

A page rushes in and hands the Bavarian Ambassador a note which he reads then addresses the prince.

"Good prince i bring new upon your request to join the Liga von Nurnberg from my Duke. My Duke wishes to say that he does support your entrance into the Liga, but first must ask the other members their opinion on this. I will bring more word when more is heard from my Duke"

 

[unmerged(6757)]

A messenger arrives in the court, bearing the standard of Hannover upon his chest. He walks forward and bows low before the Prince handing him a letter.

Dear Prince,
It is with a happy heart, that I hear once more from your fine realm. It has been silent for to long and I rejoice and accept most gratefully Herr Dönitz as your ambassador to my realm. I am still tied up in Bavaria right now, enjoying the hospitality of my brother-in-law the Duke. But upon my return which should be within a week or two I wil immediatly dispatch an ambassador to your realm. I am also pleased to hear of your request to join the Liga and welcome you with open arms.

Signed,
Wilhelm IV
Duke of Hannover

 

[Schlieffen]

A priest walks into the hall.

Hello Prince. I am Father Markward Volkenstein, the new diplomat from Cologne, hopefuly your new ally. Should our relms become allied, perhaps a Bishop will come by later to discuss matters of religion.

 

[unmerged(8054)]

Archbishop Horst Töllnich is first to greet Father Markward Volkenstein.
Horst Töllnich steps up to him, ands presents the symbol of his position in the church, his ring, to be kissed.
"Father, brother in Christ, velcome to Bremen. It is good to know that prince Johann II has taken up diplomatic relations with an Archbishopric. Need I remind you, that my predecessor on the post as archbishop of Bremen ruled this city as an Archbishopric as well.
I think, and I have had years to think it through, that it is in the best interest of the Holy Church, that this situation is restored, and as your superior within the church, I command you to work with me towards this goal.
Once again, welcome to Bremen."

 

[unmerged(6719)]

Let it be known that upon this day Bremen has applied and been accepted as the newest member of the Liga von Nurnburg. The Liga now is Bavaria, Brandenburg, Bremen, Colonge, Hannover, and Saxony.

 

[unmerged(1057)]

To Johann II, Prince of Bremen
from Kristiern Wasa, Grand Duke of Livonia, greetings,

It is with great pleasure we note that it is once again activity in your court and indeed the realm.

We wish to have good and healthy relations and would like to propose that we exchange ambassadors.

I sincerely hope for the best for you and your family, hope to see You soon at our court in Riga.

(almost) by own hand at Riga
Kristiern Wasa

 

[unmerged(8022)]

Daniel van Straussenberg (The Gelre ambassador) speaks to the Prince:

I and my Duke are very dissapointed for your leaving of the great North West German Alliance (NWGA). We hope that it was a misstake from your side and that you will leave the so-called Nürnberg League and again join NWGA. The matters of Trade are my Duke willing to discuss after you have answered his question are you with us or against us (will you leave our alliance or be in it?)

 

[unmerged(5730)]

A man enters the Court of Bremen, he explains that his name is Count Thor von Ericher and that he would like to etablich a Saxon Embassy in Bremen in the name of Duke Friedrich I von Saxe-Wittenberg. He also carries a letter for Johann II.

"Dear Johann II von Bremen.

I have been reached by, and I thank you for your letter. See this letter as a welcome into our Liga and a proof of long peace between Saxony and Bremen. We wish to soon welcome an Ambassador from Bremen here in Dresden and that our friendship will stand for long. We, the Duke, wishes to sometime see you personally and get to know you.

Written in Dresden,
Friedrich I"

 

[unmerged(4471)]

A man enters the court. He speeks to the prince.

-My name is Johann Von Forz. I am send by the duke of Holstein-Gottorp. He wish to have me here as an diplomatic contact. We also would be overjoyed if you could send us an embasador.

An treaty is also wanted by us. Could you describe it a little bit more?

 

[unmerged(8054)]

Johann II rises, and nods to Johann von Forz.
"I accept you as ambassador from Holstein-Gottorp, and will immdeiatly send Karl Leibnitz to you duke to act as my emissary."

Just as Johann II is about to engage the new Holstein ambassador in less formal conversation, a messenger runs into the courtroom, and tells his news.

"You highness, I have just received word that Karl von Friesenburg in Gelre has betrayed us. He has publically denounced his oaths to you, and sworen fealty to duke Willem of Gelre."

Prince Johann is clearly angered by the news, and he rises in his full height.
"I want that traitor captured and executed for this! I ave no objections to a man disagreeing with me, but to have a formal ambassador from this city break his oaths of loyalty, that will not be accepted."
The prince turns to a neraby soldier.
"Heinz Heinrich Pesch, take ten man and ride to Gelre. Bring my this traitor back as your prisoner." He then turns to the new ambassador.
"You must excuse me, matters of state requires my attention." The prince of Bremen leaves the courtroom, engaged in conversation with military and legal advisors.

 

[unmerged(5730)]

Duke Friedrich looks at the Bremen man, and replies.

"To leave the Liga is sad, but nessecary for beholding the respct and dignity of Saxony. It is nothing we wanted, but a thing we needed to do. But, the Bremen people, with no roll within the Liga, nothing to say as the Bavarian Duke rules it all of himself, will be forgiven. Because of their fair Prince Johann, sending a man all the way here to Toledo, just to ask for my forgiveness. That is honourble and I hope that policy will also be the furure one of Bremen. Bremen is forgiven, and our relations will not be hostile anymore."

Duke Friedrich smiles at the Bremen delegat, and tells him to sneak out of the room not the bother the wedding.

 

[unmerged(1057)]

A noble man walks up the final stairs to the palace, open its doors and enters the hall. He bows deeply before the Prince and hands him over his credentials..


count Dieter Fruehstuck von Bohlen zu Fussen und Jueterbog bei Neimschwarzschloss-Stein at your service,
I am the new ambassador from Livonia
with previous duties in Friesland and Normandy...as you can see in my credentials, Sir

I must say that your court looks splendid..must have cost a pfennig or two..

My master and Grand Duke, the newly married, Kristiern Wasa and his bride Philippa Plantagenet sends their greetings.

We have a long tradition of friendship between our two realms, let us build on that. What I had in mind was the possibility of a treaty of mutual cooperation in the field of free trade..

oh, by the way, would it possible to set up an office for the renowned firm Wassenaer & sons here in Bremen..?[/B]

 

[unmerged(8054)]

Duke Johann II greets the new Livonian ambassador.
"Count Dieter Fruehstuck von Bohlen zu Fussen und Jueterbog bei Neimschwarzschloss-Stein, welcome to Bremen.
Bremen is, as you probarbly know, a nation of merchants and traders, and thus treaties of free trade sounds very good. As soon as this unfortunate matter with the traitor in Gelre is done with, I'll send an ambassador to your fine nation.
I thank you for the fine words about my court.
Concerning Wassenaer & sons, I must apologize for being so ill informed, but was it possible you could tell me excatly what they are dealing in. I have hard times imagening frims and merchants houses that I would not welcome to Bremen, but I'll have to wait with my formal accept 'till I know what kind of goods they are trading in.
A mere tecnicality."

 

[unmerged(8022)]

Daniel van Straussenberg turns to Johan II and say, Your Grace;
Don´t say "the traitor in Gelre" it sounds as it is my Duke you are talking about and not Karl von Friesenburg. If some one are traitor is it you for your leaving of NWGA. But we have to wait for my Duke's return until we know what he will decide about Karl.

 

[unmerged(8683)]

A man arrives

" My name is Magnus van FrodenQuizt and I come from Friesland to represent Jaqueline de Baviere in your court. She hopes that nothing bad will happen bethween our contrys when your leaving NWGA. She wish you all luck!"

The man bows