The dominant economic organisation in the seas of Northern Europe and equally powerful in central Europe, it is a brave prince who takes on the Hanseatic League in this sphere.

The League (named after the otherwise unimportant town of Hansa) was founded by a number of North German towns in the 12^th Century to protect mutual trading interests in the Baltic and central Europe. It was able to negotiate concessions and monopolies for its members and associates in goods like wool, fur, timber and other raw materials.

In time, the economic strength of the League attracted other cities and towns. By the end of the 14^th Century, the Hanse reached as far as London, Bergen, Bruges and Novgorod and was even strong enough to defeat King Valdemar of Denmark when he challenged its power in the 1360s.

The Hanse is dominated by the cities of Cologne, Bremen, Hamburg and Lubeck. Lubeck also acts as the de facto 'capital', delegates from the towns meeting here every couple of years in a 'Hansetag' to discuss matters regarding trade and foreign relations.

Yet, to many outsiders the Hanse appears to be losing its dominating influence. The Union of Norway, Sweden and Denmark was in part a reaction to the power of the Hanse. Though the Union has not always had the best of it, other commercial rivals have appeared in England and Burgundian Holland where merchants are bypassing the Hanse and trading direct. Also the game of 'divide and rule' has been attempted by giving concessions to only one particular city in the Hanse instead of all the members of the League.

In many of the cities where they trade, the Hanse merchants operate within their own enclave in the city. In London, their 'Steelyard' is in effect outside the jurisdiction of the English King. But though the 'Hansards' are deeply unpopular with many, they do offer a hard-up king quick loans and are useful if one needs a fleet in a hurry, supplying both at a price.

Until either their control of the Baltic is broken or new sources of the same raw materials can be found, the Hanseatic League remains a power to treat with caution and reasonable tact or a King could soon find his country running short of best quality Russian fur!

(Thanks to Steve Bealing.)