Medieval Sourcebook:
Frederick I of Germany:
Charter to Lübeck, 1188
One of the earliest references to the liberties of Lübeck is found in the charter
of Frederick I wherein he mentions the rights given to that city by Henry, Duke of Saxony.
The twelfth-century commercial associations of that city are likewise mentioned.
. . . For these reasons, in order that they may come and go freely with their wares
through the whole duchy of Saxony, free from hanse and thelony, except at Ertheneborch,
where they pay five denarii for wagons.... The Ruthenians, the Gothlanders, the Northmen,
and the other eastern peoples may come and go freely to the oft-mentioned city without
payment of thelony or hanse.... (1188, September 17th at the castle of Liznich.)
Source.
From: G. F. Sartorius, ed., Urkundliche Geschichte des Ursprunges der Deutschen
Hanse, J. M. Lappenberg, rev., (Hamburg, 1830), Vol. II, p. 9; reprinted in Roy C.
Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, eds., A Source Book for Medieval Economic History, (Milwaukee:
The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed., New York: Biblo & Tannen, 1965), p. 231.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
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© Paul Halsall, October 1998
halsall@fordham.edu |
