DOI article:
Bingener, Andreas: Medieval metal trade in and around the Harz Mountains - markets and routes of transport
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.56859#0160
126
[a]es venale from Saxony, recorded in the Utrecht customs register dating
from 1122 may have been raw copper from smelters in the Harz or on its western
edge. That smelting activities in Upper Saxony and in the Mansfeld region are not
to be expected in this early period provides an argument in favour of this
assumption (HILLEBRAND 1969, 37). The fact that metal trading from Saxony is
mentioned in a Utrecht customs register indicates a further transport route for
copper from the Harz region. Merchants from regions along the North Sea,
particularly Friesian traders, also used inland waterways. Boats of the early
Medieval Ages were small, with very little draught, and therefore able to
negotiate also the smaller inland waterways. That this was possible even in the
10th century is illustrated in a document issued by Emperor Otto II. at Pöhlde,
relating to shipping on the Hörsel, a small tributary of the Werra (Ellmers 1985,
243-244).
Brunswick was considered an important inland port accessible to Friesian
merchants via the Weser, Aller and Oker rivers. This trade centre in northern
Germany provided the Harz and its foreland with access to long distance trade,
particularly via the North Sea to Flanders and England (Beddies 1996, 70).
Trade and shipping have not been documented for the 11th and 12th century but
privileges granted in 1227 to the Brunswick district of Hagen by duke Henry the
Lion refers to considerably older rights. According to these, no one was to
impede shipping from Bremen to Brunswick, naves de Brema usque Brunswic.
Once the cargo had been unloaded in Brunswick or new cargo had been taken on
board and the duties paid, the owners of the vessels could return to Bremen via
the most important goods traded in the city on the river Ilmenau. Lüneburg occupied a
strategic position in close proximity to Brunswick or Bremen (approx. 130 km), not far
from Hamburg or Lübeck (55 and 90 km respectively). Next to Artlenburg Stade,
Boitzenburg and Eißlingen/Zollenspieker are also considered important crossing points
for the lower Elbe. These cities could be reached from Lüneburg in a few hours. However,
waterways were more important than land routes for the trade at Lüneburg. Hamburg
could be reached from the port at Lüneburg via the navigable Ilmenau and the lower Elbe.
This route was considerable shorter than the overland travel via Artlenburg! In the 13th
century Lüneburg was given customs privileges in Hamburg and Stade as well as by Duke
Johann of Saxony-Lauenburg. From 1247 onward duties had to be paid in Hamburg and
Stade, among others for copper, ore, metals, grain or wheat, from Lüneburg, which were
to be exported to Hamburg, Flanders or seaward. As customs register dating from 1278
lists customs revenues in Saxony-Lauenburg. In Zollenspieker traders from Lüneburg had
to pay duties among others on copper, tin, lead and copper smoke. Copper, tin, lead, and
copper smoke, used as pigment, appear continuously in goods lists of Lüneburg stores,
sand carriers and customs registers between 1278-1566. For Lüneburg trade cf. Witthöft
1962, 1-11; 242-248.
[a]es venale from Saxony, recorded in the Utrecht customs register dating
from 1122 may have been raw copper from smelters in the Harz or on its western
edge. That smelting activities in Upper Saxony and in the Mansfeld region are not
to be expected in this early period provides an argument in favour of this
assumption (HILLEBRAND 1969, 37). The fact that metal trading from Saxony is
mentioned in a Utrecht customs register indicates a further transport route for
copper from the Harz region. Merchants from regions along the North Sea,
particularly Friesian traders, also used inland waterways. Boats of the early
Medieval Ages were small, with very little draught, and therefore able to
negotiate also the smaller inland waterways. That this was possible even in the
10th century is illustrated in a document issued by Emperor Otto II. at Pöhlde,
relating to shipping on the Hörsel, a small tributary of the Werra (Ellmers 1985,
243-244).
Brunswick was considered an important inland port accessible to Friesian
merchants via the Weser, Aller and Oker rivers. This trade centre in northern
Germany provided the Harz and its foreland with access to long distance trade,
particularly via the North Sea to Flanders and England (Beddies 1996, 70).
Trade and shipping have not been documented for the 11th and 12th century but
privileges granted in 1227 to the Brunswick district of Hagen by duke Henry the
Lion refers to considerably older rights. According to these, no one was to
impede shipping from Bremen to Brunswick, naves de Brema usque Brunswic.
Once the cargo had been unloaded in Brunswick or new cargo had been taken on
board and the duties paid, the owners of the vessels could return to Bremen via
the most important goods traded in the city on the river Ilmenau. Lüneburg occupied a
strategic position in close proximity to Brunswick or Bremen (approx. 130 km), not far
from Hamburg or Lübeck (55 and 90 km respectively). Next to Artlenburg Stade,
Boitzenburg and Eißlingen/Zollenspieker are also considered important crossing points
for the lower Elbe. These cities could be reached from Lüneburg in a few hours. However,
waterways were more important than land routes for the trade at Lüneburg. Hamburg
could be reached from the port at Lüneburg via the navigable Ilmenau and the lower Elbe.
This route was considerable shorter than the overland travel via Artlenburg! In the 13th
century Lüneburg was given customs privileges in Hamburg and Stade as well as by Duke
Johann of Saxony-Lauenburg. From 1247 onward duties had to be paid in Hamburg and
Stade, among others for copper, ore, metals, grain or wheat, from Lüneburg, which were
to be exported to Hamburg, Flanders or seaward. As customs register dating from 1278
lists customs revenues in Saxony-Lauenburg. In Zollenspieker traders from Lüneburg had
to pay duties among others on copper, tin, lead and copper smoke. Copper, tin, lead, and
copper smoke, used as pigment, appear continuously in goods lists of Lüneburg stores,
sand carriers and customs registers between 1278-1566. For Lüneburg trade cf. Witthöft
1962, 1-11; 242-248.