Trade Policy of the «Nowgorodfahrer» from Lübeck in the Late 15th Century

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of Hanseatic documentation to define specifics of the trading strategy of the «Nowgorodfahrer» from Lübeck guild in the late 15th century. The traditional Hanseatic-Russian exchange of merchandise where the Lübeck people trading with the Russians exclusively being brokered by of the Livonians, during the period in question finally became incompatible with growing interests of Lübeck corporation, and this is the reason why the «Nowgorodfather» made an attempt to change it by reducing the privileges of Livonian merchants and received active countermeasures of the town council of Reval (Tallinn) in return for. At the same time, the guild’s impact on the Hanseatic branch in Brügge increased, which makes it possible to draw conclusion that the representtives of «Nowgorodfather» were poised to take control of the Brügge-Novgorod merchandise transit. It was essential to recall that the considered events took place in the period of weakening of the Hanseatic-Russian trade. Contrary to established opinion in historiography, the author reasons that in the late 15th century, the trade with Novgorod was not overtaken by events either for the Lübeck people or for the Livonians. This position is also confirmed by the amount of costs of the «Nowgorodfather» for embassies to Moscow and other costs connected with actions focused on the resume of Hanseatic-Russian trade.