City of Bremen

Die Freie und Hansestadt Bremen
Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen

Conventional short name:
Local:	Die Freie und Hansestadt Bremen
English:	Bremen
Organizations:	Holy Roman Empire

Die Freie und Hansestadt Bremen, or Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen. First noted in the campaigns of Karl der Große or Charlemagne in the 8th century. In 788 Bremen is reputed to have become a bishopric, though this is questionable.

The power of the Bremen Archbishops was challenged by Heinrich der Lowe. His campaign against bremen was sucessful and he became ruler of the town, causing a shift from the clerical to civil government.

Bremen quickly became a shipping centre, harrying the traffic of the Hanseatic League, a trade alliance that began in the Baltic but expanded into the North Sea. In the 14th century Bremen ships regularly pillaged Hansa ships, but to avoid an outright war, Bremen Aldermen went to the Hansa Council and agreed to become members of the League.

There was conflict with Frisia in the early 15th century, which nearly lead to the expulsion of Bremen as a member of the League, but there was a successful diversion, and Bremen remained a member of the League.

Bremen is split between Bremenstadt and Bremerhaven. Bremen is also the international headquarters of Lufthansa.