Bremen (city)

Bremen is a city in northern Germany (official name: Freie Hansestadt Bremen1 (Free Hanseatic City of Bremen), referring to its membership in the medieval Hanseatic League) situated along the river Weser, at {{coor dm|53|04|N|8|48|E|}}. Bremen is one of two towns belonging to the state of Bremen, the other being Bremerhaven. Population: 545,983 (1st June 2005).

History

In the 8th century the troops of Charlemagne advanced to the Weser in order to christianise the tribes settling here. Bremen, which may have been an older settlement, became a bishopric2; a deed claiming the town's foundation in 788 has now been recognised as a forgery, so the exact date is unknown. In the following centuries the bishops of Bremen were the driving force behind the Christianisation of Scandinavia.

Related Topics:
8th century - Charlemagne - Christianise - 2 - 788 - Christianisation - Scandinavia

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In the 12th century the power of the archbishops was challenged by Henry the Lion. The duke was successful and became the factual ruler of the town. These events led to a civil government and a loss of clerical power. Bremen became a merchants' town, and its ships dominated the southern portions of the North Sea. This dominance ended, when the Hanseatic League, originally a trade alliance of the Baltic Sea only, expanded to the North Sea. In the early 14th century ships from Bremen acted as pirates to board hanseatic cogs. In order to avoid open war aldermen from Bremen went to the Hanseatic Council in Lübeck and agreed to becoming members of the league (1358)3.

Related Topics:
12th century - Henry the Lion - North Sea - Hanseatic League - Baltic Sea - 14th century - Pirate - Lübeck - 1358 - 3

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Bremen remained a reluctant member of the Hanseatic League. The town demanded support for its wars against the chieftains of Frisia, who ruled the region around the Weser mouth, but they seldom joined campaigns in the Baltic Sea. In 1425 the conflict escalated, when the citizens burnt hanseatic documents on the market place. Bremen was expelled from the league in 1427. The consequences followed soon: the sudden loss of power led to territorial claims of neighbouring states (e.g. Oldenburg) and significant territorial losses.

Related Topics:
Frisia - 1425 - 1427 - Oldenburg

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In 1620 Germany's first man-made harbour was built at Vegesack. 6

Related Topics:
1620 - Harbour - Vegesack - 6

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On March 6, 1901 an assassin attempted to kill Wilhelm II of Germany here.

Related Topics:
March 6 - 1901 - Wilhelm II of Germany

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After World War II, Bremen became a part of the American occupation zone since the USA wanted to have one port town within their zone. This prevented the inclusion of Bremen into the new Land of Lower Saxony that was formed around it within the British zone, and secured Bremen independence as a Land of its own right in the new West German federation.

Related Topics:
World War II - USA - Lower Saxony - West German federation

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Historical population

:1810: 35,800 inhabitants

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:1830: 43,700

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:1850: 55,100

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:1880: 111,900

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:1900: 161,200

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:1925: 295,000

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:1998: 550,000 4

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