The (, ''Hanseatics'') is a collective term for the hierarchy group (so called ''First Families'') consisting of elite individuals and families of prestigious rank who constituted the ruling class of the free imperial city of

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

, conjointly with the equal ''First Families'' of the free imperial cities Bremen and

Lübeck Lübeck (; Low German also ), officially the Hanseatic City of Lübeck (german: Hansestadt Lübeck), is a city in Northern Germany. With around 217,000 inhabitants, Lübeck is the second-largest city on the German Baltic coast and in the state ...

. The members of these ''First Families'' were the persons in possession of hereditary grand burghership (') of these cities, including the

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

s ('), the senators ('), joint diplomats (') and the senior

pastors A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and An ...

('). ' refers specifically to the ruling families of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen, but more broadly, this group is also referred to as

patricians The patricians (from la, patricius, Greek: πατρίκιος) were originally a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome. The distinction was highly significant in the Roman Kingdom, and the early Republic, but its relevance waned after ...

along with similar social groups elsewhere in continental Europe. The three cities since the

Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna (, ) of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon B ...

1815 are each officially named the " Free and Hanseatic City Hamburg" ('), the "Free Hanseatic City Bremen" (') and the "Free and Hanseatic City Lübeck" ('), since 1937 merely the "Hanseatic City Lübeck" ('). Hamburg was one of the oldest stringent civic republics, in which the Hanseatics preserved their

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...

al privileges, which were granted in 1189 by Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, until the German Revolution of 1918–19 and the Weimar Constitution. Hamburg was strictly republican, but it was not a

democracy Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which people, the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation ("direct democracy"), or to choo ...

, but rather an

oligarchy Oligarchy (; ) is a conceptual form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These people may or may not be distinguished by one or several characteristics, such as nobility, fame, wealth, education, or corporate, r ...

. The Hanseaten were regarded as being of equal rank to the (landed)

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The character ...

elsewhere in Europe, although the Hanseaten often regarded the (rural) nobility outside the city republics as inferior to the (urban and often more affluent, and in their own view, cultivated) Hanseaten. Thomas Mann, a member of a Lübeck Hanseatic family, portrayed this class in his novel ''

Buddenbrooks ''Buddenbrooks'' () is a 1901 novel by Thomas Mann, chronicling the decline of a wealthy north German merchant family over the course of four generations, incidentally portraying the manner of life and mores of the Hanseatic bourgeoisie in th ...

'' (1901), principally for which he received the 1929 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Relationship to the nobility

The relationship between the Hanseatic and noble families varied depending on the city. The most republican city was Hamburg, where the nobility was banned, from the 13th century to the 19th century, from owning property, participating in the political life of the city republic, and even from living within its walls. Hamburg, however, was not a true democracy, but rather an

, with the Hanseaten as its elite occupying the position held by noble and princely families elsewhere. According to Richard J. Evans, "the wealthy of nineteenth-century Hamburg were for the most part stern republicans, abhorring titles, refusing to accord any deference to the Prussian nobility, and determinedly loyal to their urban background and mercantile heritage." Many grand burghers considered the nobility inferior to Hanseatic families. A marriage between a daughter of a Hanseatic family and a noble was often undesired by the Hanseaten. From the late 19th century, being integrated into a German nation state, a number of Hanseatic families were nevertheless ennobled (by other German states, e.g. Prussia), but this was often met with criticism among their fellow Hanseaten. As the Hanseatic banker Johann von Berenberg-Gossler was ennobled in Prussia in 1889, his sister Susanne, married Amsinck, exclaimed "' ut John, our good name! Upon hearing of the ennoblement of Rudolph Schröder (1852–1938) of the ancient Hanseatic Schröder family, Hamburg First Mayor Johann Heinrich Burchard remarked that the Prussian King could indeed "place" (') Schröder among the nobles, but he could not "elevate" (') a Hanseatic merchant.

Hanseatic rejection

The long standing tradition that Hanseaten do not accept medals and honors "of foreign powers" is called the "hanseatic rejection". It is reflecting the spirit of unconditional independence, modesty and equality of the citizens of hanseatic citys. In an early version of the Hamburg constitution from 1270 it is written that "the fact that the externally visible insignia of the order should distinguish the decorated one from his colleagues and fellow citizens as a superior one" as a circumstance that was in decisive contradiction to the spirit of the city constitution. Politician Hans Koschnik (Bremen), former chancelor

Helmut Schmidt Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt (; 23 December 1918 – 10 November 2015) was a German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), who served as the chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Before becoming Ch ...

(Hamburg) and several others people from Lübeck, Hamburg and Bremen refused the Order of the Federal Cross of Merit referring to the "hanseatic rejection". Bremen and Hamburg are also the only

federal states A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governi ...

that have not created their own orders of merit.

Hanseatic families

A few prominent families are listed here.

Abendroth

* Amandus Augustus Abendroth (1767–1842), mayor of Hamburg * August Abendroth (1796–1876), lawyer * Carl Eduard Abenroth (1804–1885), merchant, member of the Hamburg parliament

Albers

* Johann Christoph Albers (1741–1800), merchant representative of Bremen * Johann Heinrich Albers (1775–1800), merchant of Bremen/London, art collector * Anton Albers der Ältere (1765–1844), merchant of Bremen/Lausanne, painter

Amsinck

* Rudolf Amsinck (1577–1636), senator of Hamburg * Wilhelm Amsinck (1752–1831), mayor of Hamburg

Berenberg, Goßler and Berenberg-Goßler

Johann Hinrich Gossler Johann Hinrich Gossler (born 18 August 1738 in Hamburg, died 31 August 1790 in Hamburg) was a German banker and grand burgher of Hamburg, a member of the Hanseatic Berenberg/Gossler banking dynasty and the owner and head of the firm Joh. Beren ...

(1738–1790), banker * Johann Heinrich Gossler (1775–1842), senator and banker * Anna Henriette Gossler (1771–1836), married to Ludwig Edwin Seyler * Hermann Goßler (1802–1877), senator and First Mayor of Hamburg * John von Berenberg-Gossler (1866–1943), Hamburg senator and banker * Oskar Goßler (1875–1953), German sculler * Gustav Goßler (1879–1940), German sculler

Burchard

* Johann Heinrich Burchard (1852–1912), mayor of Hamburg * Johannes Leopold Burchard (1857–1925), Hamburg lawyer * Wilhelm Amsinck Burchard-Motz (1878–1963), mayor of Hamburg

de Chapeaurouge

* Frédéric de Chapeaurouge (1813–1867), senator of Hamburg * Charles Ami de Chapeaurouge (1830–1897), senator of Hamburg * Paul de Chapeaurouge (1876–1952), senator of Hamburg * Alfred de Chapeaurouge (1907–1993), German politician

Fehling

Hermann von Fehling Hermann von Fehling (9 June 1812 – 1 July 1885) was a German chemist, famous as the developer of Fehling's solution used for estimation of sugar. Biography Hermann von Fehling was born in Lübeck. With the intention of taking up pharmacy he ...

(1812–1885), German chemist * Johann Fehling (1835–1893), Lübeck senator * Emil Ferdinand Fehling (1847–1927), mayor of Lübeck, "Dr. Moritz Hagenström" in ''

Godeffroy

* Johann Cesar VI. Godeffroy (1813–1885), Hamburg merchant

Hudtwalcker

* Johann Michael Hudtwalcker (1747–1818), Hamburg merchant *

Martin Hieronymus Hudtwalcker Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

(1787–1865) Hamburg senator * Nicolaus Hudtwalcker (1794–1863), Hamburg insurance broker

Jauch

* Johann Christian Jauch senior (1765–1855), Hamburg merchant and

Grand Burgher Grand Burgher aleor Grand Burgheress emale(from German: Großbürger ale Großbürgerin emale is a specific conferred or inherited title of medieval German origin and legally defined preeminent status granting exclusive constitutional privil ...

* Auguste Jauch (1822–1902), Hamburg benefactor to the poor * Carl Jauch (1828–1888), Grand Burgher, Lord of

Wellingsbüttel Wellingsbüttel (), a quarter in the Wandsbek borough in the city of Hamburg in northern Germany, is a former independent settlement. In 2020 the population was 10,935. History The first records on Wellingsbüttel are from 1296. Wellingsbüttel ...

and cavalry lieutenant in the Hamburg Citizen Militia * August Jauch (1861–1930), delegate of the grand burghers (') to the Hamburg parliament * Hans Jauch (1883–1985), German colonel and

Freikorps (, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, rega ...

-leader * Walter Jauch (1888–1976), founder of Aon Jauch & Hübener *

Günther Jauch Günther Johannes Jauch (; born 13 July 1956) is a German television presenter, television producer, and journalist. Career Jauch is known for a unique style of informing and entertaining people that is generally considered witty and funny. ...

(born 1956), German television host and producer

Jencquel

Justus

* Bartholomäus Justus (1540–1607), Hamburg notary public at St Petri district of Hamburg * Christoph Justus (1579–1652), Merchant in the Gröninger Straße, St Katharinen district of Hamburg * Friederich Justus (1683–1757), Merchant in Neukalen and Mayor of Neukalen in the state of Mecklenburg, Founder of the Tobacco business est in 1723 * Friederich Justus (1722–1784), Merchant and Tobacco Manufacturer in the Gröninger Straße,

, Oberalter St Katharinen, top 5 ranking member of the Hamburg Parliament, President of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce * Joachim Christian Justus (1732–1802), Merchant and Tobacco Manufacturer in Hamburg and in Riga * Georg Heinrich Justus (1761–1803), Merchant and Tobacco Manufacturer in the Gröninger Straße * Friederich Justus (1797–1852), Merchant and Tobacco Manufacturer in the Gröninger Straße, Consul General of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in Hamburg * Heinrich Wilhelm Justus (1800–1839), Merchant and Tobacco Manufacturer in the Gröninger Straße * Heinrich Eduard Justus (1828–1899), Owner of the first united steam shipping fleet on the Alster and the dockyard at Leinpfad Hamburg, Member of Hamburg Parliament * Johannes Wilheln Justus (1857–1943), Partner of the Latin America Trading Company "Riensch & Held" est 1845 in Hamburg and Mexico, Co-Founding Member of the Hamburg Golf Club in 1905 * Heinz Heinrich Ernst Justus (1894–1982), Partner of the Latin America Trading Company "Riensch & Held", member of the plenum of Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, First Lieutenant WWI, EK I and EK II

Kellinghusen

* Heinrich Kellinghusen (1796–1879), Hamburg merchant and first mayor

Lorenz-Meyer

Mann

* Thomas Johann Heinrich Mann (1840–1891), senator of Lübeck; fictionalized "Thomas Buddenbrook" in ''

'' *

Heinrich Mann Luiz Heinrich Mann (; 27 March 1871 – 11 March 1950), best known as simply Heinrich Mann, was a German author known for his socio-political novels. From 1930 until 1933, he was president of the fine poetry division of the Prussian Academy ...

(1871–1950), German novelist * Thomas Mann (1875–1955), German novelist *

Erika Mann Erika Julia Hedwig Mann (9 November 1905 – 27 August 1969) was a German actress and writer, daughter of the novelist Thomas Mann. Erika lived a bohemian lifestyle in Berlin and became a critic of National Socialism. After Hitler came to power ...

(1905–1969), German actress and writer * Klaus Mann (1906–1949), German novelist * Golo Mann (1909–1994), German historian

Merck (Hamburg branch of the Merck family)

* Heinrich Johann Merck (1770–1853), Hamburg senator * Carl Merck (1809–1880), Hamburg Syndicus (privy councillor) * Baron Ernst Merck (1811–1863), Hamburg merchant and cavalry chief of the Hamburg Citizen Militia

Moller (vom Baum)

* Barthold (Bartholomeus) Moller (1605–1667), mayor of Hamburg

Mutzenbecher

* Matthias Mutzenbecher (1653–1735), senator of Hamburg * Johann Baptista Mutzenbecher (1691–1759), privy councillor (') of Hamburg

Nölting

Overbeck

* Johann Daniel Overbeck (1715–1802), theologian and dean of the

Katharineum The Katharineum zu Lübeck is a humanistic gymnasium founded 1531 in the Hanseatic city Lübeck, Germany. In 2006 the 475th anniversary of this Latin school was celebrated with several events. The school uses the buildings of a former Francisca ...

Christian Adolph Overbeck Christian Adolph Overbeck (21 August 1755 in Lübeck – 9 March 1821 in Lübeck) was a German poet, and the Burgomaster of Lübeck. Life Family Overbeck was the son of the lawyer, Georg Christian Overbeck (1713-1786) and his wife Eleonor ...

(1755–1821), mayor of Lübeck, novelist * Christian Gerhard Overbeck (1784–1846), judge at the High Court of Appeal of the four free cities *

Johann Friedrich Overbeck Johann Friedrich Overbeck (3 July 1789 – 12 November 1869) was a German painter. As a member of the Nazarene movement, he also made four etchings. Early life and education Born in Lübeck, his ancestors for three generations had been Protes ...

(1789–1869), German painter, head of the

Nazarene movement The epithet Nazarene was adopted by a group of early 19th-century German Romantic painters who aimed to revive spirituality in art. The name Nazarene came from a term of derision used against them for their affectation of a biblical manner of c ...

* Christian Theodor Overbeck (1818–1880), senator of Lübeck * Johannes Overbeck (1826–1895), German archaeologist

Petersen

* Carl Friedrich Petersen (1809–1892), mayor of Hamburg * Carl Wilhelm Petersen (1868–1933), mayor of Hamburg *

Rudolf Petersen Rudolf Hieronymus Petersen (30 December 1878 in Hamburg – 10 September 1962 in Wentorf bei Hamburg) was a German businessman, politician ( CDU) and First Mayor of Hamburg (1945–46). Petersen's brother Carl Wilhelm Petersen was head of Ha ...

(1878–1962), mayor of Hamburg

Schlüter

Schröder

* Christian Matthias Schröder (1742–1821), mayor of Hamburg * Christian Mathias Schröder (1778–1860), Hamburg senator *

Johann Heinrich Schröder Johann Heinrich Schröder (12 December 1784 – 28 June 1883) was a member of the Hanseaten (class), Hanseatic Schröder family of Hamburg, who settled in London and founded Schroders, one of the United Kingdom's largest investment banks. Ear ...

(Freiherr John Henry Schröder) (1784–1883), Baron, Hamburg banker * Carl August Schröder (1821–1902), Hamburg judge and member of parliament * Carl August Schröder (1855–1945), mayor of Hamburg

Schuback

Nicolaus Schuback Nicolaus Schuback (February 18, 1700, Jork – July 28, 1783, Hamburg) was a lawyer from Germany. In the time from October 29, 1754 till August 28, 1782 he was Government of Hamburg, mayor of Hamburg. Upon his death his family minted a special c ...

(1700–1783), mayor of Hamburg

Siemers

* Edmund Siemers (1840–1918), Hamburg ship-owner * Kurt Siemers (1873–1944), Hamburg ship-owner and banker * Kurt Hartwig Siemers (1907–1988), Hamburg banker

Sieveking

* Georg Heinrich Sieveking (1751–1791), Hamburg merchant * Sir

Edward Henry Sieveking Sir Edward Henry Sieveking (24 August 1816 – 24 February 1904) was an English physician. Life Sieveking was born in Bishopsgate, London. He studied medicine at the University of Berlin under eminent physiologist Johannes Peter Muller, and als ...

(1816–1904), physician * Kurt Sieveking (1897–1986), mayor of Hamburg

Sillem

* Garlieb Sillem (1717–1732), mayor of Hamburg

Sloman

* Robert Miles Sloman (1783–1867), Hamburg ship-owner * Henry Brarens Sloman (1848–1931), Hamburg ship-owner

Stern

Tesdorpf

* Peter Hinrich Tesdorpf (1648–1723), mayor of Lübeck * Peter Hinrich Tesdorpf (1751–1832), mayor of Lübeck * Johann Matthaeus Tesdorpf (1749–1824), mayor of Lübeck * Adolph Tesdorpf (1811–1887), Hamburg senator *

Ebba Tesdorpf Ebba Tesdorpf (23 January 1851 – 22 February 1920) was an illustrator and watercolorist from Hamburg, Germany. Life Tesdorpf came from a Hanseatic family. She was the daughter of businessman Hans Peter Friedrich Tesdorpf and Antoin ...

(1851–1920), Hamburg illustrator and watercolourist

Literature

* Lu Seegers (2016): ''Hanseaten: Mythos und Realität des ehrbaren Kaufmanns seit dem 19. Jahrhundert. (Hanseatic class: myth and reality of the honorable merchant since the 19th century).'' in: Katalog des Europäischen Hansemuseums, Lübeck 2016, p. 106-110. * Lu Seegers (2014): ''Hanseaten und das Hanseatische in Diktatur und Demokratie: Politisch-ideologische Zuschreibungen und Praxen (Hanseatic League and the Hanseatic in Dictatorship and Democracy: Political-Ideological Attributions and Practices)''. in: Zeitgeschichte in Hamburg 2014, hrsg. von der Forschungsstelle für Zeitgeschichte in Hamburg (FZH), Hamburg 2015, p. 71-83.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanseaten (Class) Hanseatic Cities History of Bremen (city) Lübeck History of Hamburg Social history of the Holy Roman Empire Social class in Germany Social class subcultures Republicanism in Europe