The Lübeck Magistrate 1594 Open Letters from the Russian State Archives of Ancient Documents

A rare collection of 16 open letters from the Lübeck City Council, dated 1594 and preserved in the Russian State Archives of Ancient Documents, sheds light on the Russian-Hanseatic trade dynamics following the Livonian War (1558–1583) and preceding the Trade Peace Agreement of 1603. These letters, issued to Hanseatic merchants traveling to Russia, served as certifications of goods' Hanseatic origin, providing critical insights into commodity exchange rules and German merchant privileges in Russian markets. The study reveals that these merchants were closely connected to Lübeck’s ‘Novgorod guests’ (Nowgorodfahrer), a prominent commercial association that played a pivotal role in late medieval and early modern trade between Russia and the Hansa. By comparing these letters with similar documents from Tallinn City Archives, researchers identified key features of this trade relationship, including possessory signs used by merchants. The analysis highlights the significance of archival materials in reconstructing economic interactions during this transitional period.

Ushakov, A. V. (2024). THE LÜBECK MAGISTRATE 1594 OPEN LETTERS FROM THE RUSSIAN STATE ARCHIVES OF ANCIENT DOCUMENTS. History and Archives, 6(2), 140–152. https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-6541-2024-6-2-140-152