BREMEN
History
History I
Sightseeing I
Practical I
Hotels in Bremen
The
striving for independence
is a thread that runs throughout Bremen's
history. In 787 Bremen was raised to the status of a diocesan town under
Charlemagne. Around two hundred years later Emperor Otto I granted
Bremen market privileges - and thus created the basis for the
development of town trade. The market settlement turned into a city.
However, the archbishop still had a considerable influence.
Through the city's economic development the bourgeoisie also gained
influence. By the way, nothing symbolises Bremen's striving for
independence more than its traditional landmark, Roland. In 1404 the
Town Council of Bremen had the stone
statue of Roland
built, facing the
archiepiscopal cathedral: a symbol of "vryheit" - and a potent sign of
the claim of Bremen's patricians to city rule.
Through its status as a free city the Holy Roman Empire, i. e.
constitutional independence as certified in the Linz Diploma of 1646,
the city's striving was crowned with success. When the old German Empire
was dissolved in 1806, Bremen finally became an independent, sovereign
free state and called itself a Free Hanseatic City. Together with the
sovereign princes and other free cities in Germany, the Free Hanseatic
City of Bremen entered into the German Alliance in 1815. And as a Free
Hanseatic City, Bremen became a federal state of the new German Empire
in 1871.
After 1918 repeated efforts were made to restructure the German Reich.
In all these proposals, however, the city-states of Bremen and Hamburg
were accepted as independent state entities based on their special
functions. Under the rule of the National Socialists Bremen lost its
independece. In 1947 it was re-established as an independent federal
state together with Bremerhaven.
Incidentally, even with respect to the Hanseatic League, the once
powerful alliance of cities in northern Europe, Bremen always
endeavoured to maintain its independence. Bremen had a share in
Hanseatic privileges, without belonging to the alliance, as early as the
end of the 13th century. Bremen did not become a member of the league
until 1358. For nearly three centuries the city exploited the advantages
of the Hanseatic League. At the time of the 30 Years' War (1618-48) the
league came to an end. Bremen, Hamburg an Lübeck, as the three most
powerful cities, were asked to act on behalf of the entire Hanseatic
League in 1629. They united to form an alliance that was constantly
renewed and formally existed up to the beginning of this century.
In the same way that Bremen strove to attain its independence over the
centuries, it also struggled to maintain its economic basis: water deep
enough for seagoing vessels. The silting up of the Weser was the main
problem in this connection and Bremen's first harbour could no longer be
used for the increasingly larger ships even back in the 16th century -
they had to anchor and discharge their cargo downstream or call at other
ports. This unfortunate situation did not change until the 19th century.
After negotiations with the kingdom of Hanover, construction of a
harbour at the mouth of the Weser was begun in 1827, a harbour that was
to develop into a seaport with a promising future, present-day
Bremerhaven.
