| Bei Störtebekers Bart! |
Their piracy disturbed not only Hanseatic and North Sea trade, but threatened northern government
itself. In light of this, Queen Margaret and the Hansa agreed to act together. A treaty was arranged
between Margaret and Albert of Mecklenberg in 1395 allowing Stockholm to be surrendered to the
Hansa for a three year term and be handed over to the Queen afterward. The Hanseatic and
Scandinavian fleets then worked together hunting down the Victual Brothers and driving them away.
itself. In light of this, Queen Margaret and the Hansa agreed to act together. A treaty was arranged
between Margaret and Albert of Mecklenberg in 1395 allowing Stockholm to be surrendered to the
Hansa for a three year term and be handed over to the Queen afterward. The Hanseatic and
Scandinavian fleets then worked together hunting down the Victual Brothers and driving them away.
They managed to capture ships of England, Holland, Russia and even Germany. King Albert and
Queen Margaret conceded Gotland to the Teutonic Order who conquered the island in 1398,
destroying Visby and driving off the Victual Brothers, reducing them to out and out robbery and open
piracy for decades. They attacked Denmark, sacked Bergen and other Norwegian towns and
occupied parts of Frisia and Schleswig.
Queen Margaret conceded Gotland to the Teutonic Order who conquered the island in 1398,
destroying Visby and driving off the Victual Brothers, reducing them to out and out robbery and open
piracy for decades. They attacked Denmark, sacked Bergen and other Norwegian towns and
occupied parts of Frisia and Schleswig.
Their best known pirate was Nikolaus Storzenbecher, alias Klaus Störtebekerr, who was born around
1360 in Wismar. Störtebeker allegedly got his name because he could gulp four litres of beer in a
single swallow. His first headquarters were on Rugen, but when the Hanse was able to secure the
Baltic, he operated from locations in Friesland, following his friend and tutor Goedeke Michel into
the North Sea and then raiding as far as France and even Spain, engendering fear and panic.
1360 in Wismar. Störtebeker allegedly got his name because he could gulp four litres of beer in a
single swallow. His first headquarters were on Rugen, but when the Hanse was able to secure the
Baltic, he operated from locations in Friesland, following his friend and tutor Goedeke Michel into
the North Sea and then raiding as far as France and even Spain, engendering fear and panic.
Many attempts have been made to find his elusive and still missing treasures. The history of the
Vitalienbrüder was not yet ended, however. Only months later Godeke Michels was captured.
Vitalienbrüder was not yet ended, however. Only months later Godeke Michels was captured.
In 1401, Störtebeker and 73 of his companions were tricked into going to Heligoland by a fisherman
who turned out to be the enemy, although some accounts claim that Störtebeker's ship had been
disabled by a traitor who cast molten lead into the links of the chain which held the rudder of the
ship. In any case, a Hamburg warship under the command of Simon of Utrecht caught up with
Störtebeker and engaged in a three day battle. Störtebeker and his crew were finally overwhelmed
and the survivors taken to Hamburg where he and his men were beheaded on October 21 of either
1400 or 1401. It is said that in the trial against him he tried unsuccessfully to buy his life and freedom
with the promise of a golden chain as long as the circumference of Hamburg and he claimed that his
mainmast had a core of solid gold.
who turned out to be the enemy, although some accounts claim that Störtebeker's ship had been
disabled by a traitor who cast molten lead into the links of the chain which held the rudder of the
ship. In any case, a Hamburg warship under the command of Simon of Utrecht caught up with
Störtebeker and engaged in a three day battle. Störtebeker and his crew were finally overwhelmed
and the survivors taken to Hamburg where he and his men were beheaded on October 21 of either
1400 or 1401. It is said that in the trial against him he tried unsuccessfully to buy his life and freedom
with the promise of a golden chain as long as the circumference of Hamburg and he claimed that his
mainmast had a core of solid gold.
It is also said that Störtebeker asked the mayor of Hamburg to release as many of his companions
who he could walk past after being beheaded. After he was beheaded, Störtebeker's headless body
allegedly got up and walked past twelve of his cohorts before being tripped by the executioner, but
they were executed anyway. After the pirates were decapitated their heads were spiked on poles and
lined up at the river Elbe as a deterrent.
who he could walk past after being beheaded. After he was beheaded, Störtebeker's headless body
allegedly got up and walked past twelve of his cohorts before being tripped by the executioner, but
they were executed anyway. After the pirates were decapitated their heads were spiked on poles and
lined up at the river Elbe as a deterrent.
| A Couple more Stops in their Stomping Grounds |
Pirate-friendly Kiel was founded in 1233 by Count Adolf
IV of Schauenburg, and granted rights in 1242. Kiel was
a member of the Hanseatic League from 1284 until it was
evicted in 1518 for giving refuge to pirates. In 1431,
Kiel became home to a market for goods and money in
Schleswig-Holstein, and was important until the 19th
century. Kiel's university was founded in 1665. Kiel,1600
IV of Schauenburg, and granted rights in 1242. Kiel was
a member of the Hanseatic League from 1284 until it was
evicted in 1518 for giving refuge to pirates. In 1431,
Kiel became home to a market for goods and money in
Schleswig-Holstein, and was important until the 19th
century. Kiel's university was founded in 1665. Kiel,1600
However, the rise of the maritime powers of Denmark and Sweden and the development of shipping
in the Americas resulted in the decline of the Hanseatic League and, with it, Lübeck. In 1630, the last
of the Hanseatic diets was held there. The city escaped the destruction of the Thirty Years War, but
in the French Revolutionary Wars, Lübeck was sacked by the French in 1803, who destructively
occupied the city. Lübeck later joined the North German Confederation and then the German Empire
as a free Hanseatic city, and retained that status until 1937, when it was incorporated into
Schleswig-Holstein. The opening of the Elbe-Lübeck Canal in 1907 helped increase Lübeck's trade
in the Americas resulted in the decline of the Hanseatic League and, with it, Lübeck. In 1630, the last
of the Hanseatic diets was held there. The city escaped the destruction of the Thirty Years War, but
in the French Revolutionary Wars, Lübeck was sacked by the French in 1803, who destructively
occupied the city. Lübeck later joined the North German Confederation and then the German Empire
as a free Hanseatic city, and retained that status until 1937, when it was incorporated into
Schleswig-Holstein. The opening of the Elbe-Lübeck Canal in 1907 helped increase Lübeck's trade
From 1773-1864, the town belonged to a Danish King, but he ruled Holstein as a subject of the Holy
Roman Empire through a personal union, so the town remained independent of Denmark, and still
belonged to Germany.When the Empire was abolished in 1806, the Danish king, because of his
position as Duke of Holstein, continued to rule Kiel. When Schleswig and Holstein rebelled against
Denmark in 1848, Kiel became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein until 1852 with a Danish victory.
Roman Empire through a personal union, so the town remained independent of Denmark, and still
belonged to Germany.When the Empire was abolished in 1806, the Danish king, because of his
position as Duke of Holstein, continued to rule Kiel. When Schleswig and Holstein rebelled against
Denmark in 1848, Kiel became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein until 1852 with a Danish victory.
Lübeck, supporting Denmark, was their biggest opposition, but most Hanseatic towns allowed them
free reign, especially Rostock and Wismer. They occupied Gotland in 1394 and set up a stronghold
in Visby, and their depredations collapsed the whole Baltic Sea maritime trade. Soon, however,
Queen Margaret was able to unite Denmark, Sweden and Norway, forming the Kalmar Union. From
1395 she was in a more powerful position and the Hanseatic League was forced to cooperate.
free reign, especially Rostock and Wismer. They occupied Gotland in 1394 and set up a stronghold
in Visby, and their depredations collapsed the whole Baltic Sea maritime trade. Soon, however,
Queen Margaret was able to unite Denmark, Sweden and Norway, forming the Kalmar Union. From
1395 she was in a more powerful position and the Hanseatic League was forced to cooperate.
Remnants of the pirates, calling themselves "Likedeelers," allied themselves to the East Frisian
chieftains, and in 1429 these descendants of the Victual Brothers attacked and plundered Bergen
again, burning it to the ground. The Likedeelers were a menace until around 1440.
chieftains, and in 1429 these descendants of the Victual Brothers attacked and plundered Bergen
again, burning it to the ground. The Likedeelers were a menace until around 1440.
Godeke Michels, or Godeke Wessels until his marriage into the well-known and important Michaelsen
family, had acquired a residence in Eissel. Godeke, known as an erudite man from noble lineage,
helped the German Hansa during the war with Denmark to sack Danish ships and supply beleaguered
German cities with food. Due to his family relationships in Pommerania, Godeke and Störtebeker
often hid out in these locations and even donated food to the poor folks of Lüneburg. Godeke
Michels' homeport was Heligoland, an ancient island in the North Sea.
family, had acquired a residence in Eissel. Godeke, known as an erudite man from noble lineage,
helped the German Hansa during the war with Denmark to sack Danish ships and supply beleaguered
German cities with food. Due to his family relationships in Pommerania, Godeke and Störtebeker
often hid out in these locations and even donated food to the poor folks of Lüneburg. Godeke
Michels' homeport was Heligoland, an ancient island in the North Sea.
The Prussian cities decided to bring his activities to an end in 1401 and sent their fleets after him.
Godeke and his companion Wigbold together with a crew of 200 men sailed to Norway. The German
Hanse was furious at his escape and in retaliation set the castle of Godeke's protector Chief Sibrands
of Loquard on fire. But time ran out on Godeke Michels, and in April, 1402, he was captured with
his 80 man crew and they were all taken to Grasbrook in Hamburg and beheaded.
Godeke and his companion Wigbold together with a crew of 200 men sailed to Norway. The German
Hanse was furious at his escape and in retaliation set the castle of Godeke's protector Chief Sibrands
of Loquard on fire. But time ran out on Godeke Michels, and in April, 1402, he was captured with
his 80 man crew and they were all taken to Grasbrook in Hamburg and beheaded.
While Sweden and Denmark were at war from 1389 until 1392, the dukes
of Mecklenburg hired a group of freebooters known as the Vitalienbrüder or
the "Victual Brothers" to help them subdue Denmark after Danish Queen
Margaret had imprisoned Swedish king Albrecht of Mecklenburg and his
son. The word "victualia" means provisions and refers to the first mission of
the Victual Brothers: to bring food to the besieged town of Stockholm. they
grew into a strong power in the Baltic, enjoying safe harbors throughout.
of Mecklenburg hired a group of freebooters known as the Vitalienbrüder or
the "Victual Brothers" to help them subdue Denmark after Danish Queen
Margaret had imprisoned Swedish king Albrecht of Mecklenburg and his
son. The word "victualia" means provisions and refers to the first mission of
the Victual Brothers: to bring food to the besieged town of Stockholm. they
grew into a strong power in the Baltic, enjoying safe harbors throughout.
Not so pirate friendly was Lübeck. The Wends established "Liubice", now Lübeck, as a royal seat
and trade center around 1000 A.D., and in 1143, Count Adolf II of Schauenburg built a settlement
of Christian merchants between the Trave and the Wakenitz Rivers near its mouth on the Baltic Sea,
calling the city Lübeck. Saxon King Heinrich the Lion established Lübeck for a second time after it
burned down, and it blossomed from the mid 12th century on, becoming the most powerful center
of economics in Northern Europe.
and trade center around 1000 A.D., and in 1143, Count Adolf II of Schauenburg built a settlement
of Christian merchants between the Trave and the Wakenitz Rivers near its mouth on the Baltic Sea,
calling the city Lübeck. Saxon King Heinrich the Lion established Lübeck for a second time after it
burned down, and it blossomed from the mid 12th century on, becoming the most powerful center
of economics in Northern Europe.
Heinrich the Lion laid out the town plan, as well as the cornerstone
for the large cathedral Dom zu Lübeck in 1173. Two other
churches were constructed that year, Marienkirche und Petrikirche.
Emperor Friedrich II. granted Lübeck status as a free imperial city
in 1226, and this continued for 711 years. At the end of the 13th
century, the Hanseatic League developed with Lübeck taking the
lead and growing rich.
for the large cathedral Dom zu Lübeck in 1173. Two other
churches were constructed that year, Marienkirche und Petrikirche.
Emperor Friedrich II. granted Lübeck status as a free imperial city
in 1226, and this continued for 711 years. At the end of the 13th
century, the Hanseatic League developed with Lübeck taking the
lead and growing rich.
During this time, an accident happened in 1396: The fleets of Denmark and the German
Hanse mistakenly took each other for pirates and began shooting at each other. The great
battle was won by the German Hanse. Then came the realization of their actions, and the
embarrassed captains retreated silently with what was left of their ships to their home
ports. The Victual Brothers, meanwhile, went on raiding and plundering, uttering the cry,
”Godes vrende unde al der Werlt vyande” or "God's friends and the whole world's
enemies." Pirate Klaus Störtebeker's skull on stake, left
Hanse mistakenly took each other for pirates and began shooting at each other. The great
battle was won by the German Hanse. Then came the realization of their actions, and the
embarrassed captains retreated silently with what was left of their ships to their home
ports. The Victual Brothers, meanwhile, went on raiding and plundering, uttering the cry,
”Godes vrende unde al der Werlt vyande” or "God's friends and the whole world's
enemies." Pirate Klaus Störtebeker's skull on stake, left
