DOI 10.51255/2311–603X_2025_1_227

A. V. Ushakov. Fragments from the book about the Narva trade Nowgorodfahrer from Lübeck:
Fees on goods exported from Narva during the Livonian War // Petersburg historical journal,
no. 1, 2025, pp. 227–237

Abstract:

The article under scrutiny herein examines fragments from a handwritten merchant’s book
stored in the archive of the Nowgorodfahrer merchant association, which is one of the funds of the Archive of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. The book chronicles the commercial activities of a trading corporation in Narva during the Livonian War, providing insights spanning the years 1563 to 1577. The study focuses on the commodity lists for 1563, 1564, 1568 and 1577, which detail the internal charges applied to all goods arriving from Narva in Lübeck. The financial proceeds received from these merchants were allocated towards the organisation of collective commercial activities on behalf of the entire trade association. These activities included the maintenance of warehouses and wharves, the chartering of merchant ships, the remuneration of seafarers, mercenaries, scribes and servants, and the settlement of numerous other expenses. Utilising these records, an analysis was conducted of the product range that was characteristic of Narva exports during the Livonian War. Furthermore, a correlation was identified between fluctuations in the amount charged for these goods and the prevailing political situation in the Baltic region. The appendix to the article presents transcriptions of the studied product lists.

Key words: Nowgorodfahrer from Lübeck, Hanseatic League, hanseatic trade, Narva, Livonian War, Lubeck, merchant corporations, merchant books.

Author:

Ushakov, Artem Vladimirovich — Junior Research Assistant, Head Teacher of the Department
of World History and International Relations of Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University (Veliky Novgorod, Russia).
E-mail: demiardo13@gmail.com.

References:

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ATTMAN A. The Russian and Polish Markets in international trade. 1500–1650. Göteburg, 1973.

ATTMAN A. The Russian market in world trade, 1500–1860. In Scandinavian Economic History Review. 1981. Vol. 29, iss. 3., pp. 177–202.

ATTMAN A. The Struggle for Baltic Markets. Powers in Conflickt (1558–1618). Göteburg, 1979.

DOLLINGER P. Die Hanse. Stuttgart: Alfred Kröner Verlag, 2012.

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WITTHÖFT H. Umrisse einer historischen Metrologie zum Nutzen der wirtschafts und sozialgeschichtlichen Forschung. Maß und Gewicht in Stadt und Land Lüneburg, im Hanseraum und im Kurfürstentum/Königreich Hannover vom 13. bis zum 19. Jahrhundert. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1979.

WOLF T. Tragfähigkeiten, Ladungen und Maße im Schiffsverkehr der Hanse: vornehmlich im Spiegel Revaler Quellen. Köln; Wien: Böhlau Verlag, 1986. (Quellen und Darstellungen zur hansischen Geschichte; Bd. 31).

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