Editing Hanseatic League (section)

=== Kontors ===
[[File:Hansehausantwerpen.jpg|thumb|The [[Oostershuis]], a [[kontor]] in Antwerp]]

A Hanseatic ''[[Kontor]]'' was a settlement of Hansards organized in the mid-14th century as a private corporation that had its treasury, court, legislation, and seal. They operated like an early [[stock exchange]].<ref>{{cite book
 |editor-last= Northrup
 |editor-first= Cynthia Clark
 |date= 2015
 |orig-date= 2005
 |edition= Reprint
 |title= Encyclopedia of World Trade: From Ancient Times to the Present
 |volume= 2
 |chapter= Hanseatic League
 |location= London and New York
 |publisher= Routledge
 |quote= To facilitate trade in foreign countries, the Hansa established counters (Kontore) [...]. [...] The counters operated as the equivalent of an early stock exchange.
 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LXkGCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA-
 |via= books.google.com
 |access-date= 19 February 2018
 |isbn= 978-0-7656-8058-7
 |archive-date= 12 July 2024
 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240712083919/https://books.google.com/books?id=LXkGCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA-
 |url-status= live
 }}</ref>{{rp|443–446}} Kontors were first established to provide security, but also served to secure privileges and engage in diplomacy.<ref name="Burkhardt">{{cite book
 |last= Burkhardt
 |first= Mike
 |title= 'Kontors' and Outposts
 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sfhyBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA127
 |pages= 127–161
 |archive-date= 24 November 2024
 |access-date= 5 January 2025
 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20241124164442/https://books.google.com/books?pg=PA127&id=sfhyBgAAQBAJ
 |url-status= live
 }} in {{harvnb|Harreld|2015}}</ref>{{rp|pages=128–130, 134–135}} The quality of goods was also examined at Kontors, increasing trade efficiency, and they served as bases to develop connections with local rulers and as sources of economic and political information.<ref name="Wubs-Mrozewicz2010">{{cite book
 |last= Wubs-Mrozewicz
 |first= Justyna
 |title= De Kantoren van de Hanze: Bergen, Brugge, Londen en Nowgorod
 |trans-title= The Kontors of the Hanseatic League: Bergen, Brugge, London and Novgorod
 |date= 2010 
 |page= 91
 |url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=T5e68QReeykC |page=91}}
}} in {{harvnb|Brand|Egge|2010}}</ref>{{rp|page=91}}{{efn|name=kantq1}} Most contours were also physical locations containing buildings that were integrated and segregated from city life to different degrees. The [[kontor of Bruges]] was an exception in this regard; it acquired buildings only as of the 15th century.<ref name="Burkhardt"/>{{rp|pages=131–133}} Like the guilds, the ''Kontore'' were usually led by ''Ältermänner'' ("eldermen", or English [[aldermen]]). The [[Stalhof]], a special case, had a Hanseatic and an English alderman. In [[Peterhof (Novgorod)|Novgorod]] the aldermen were replaced by a ''hofknecht'' in the 15th century.<ref name="Dollinger2000 tensions" />{{rp|pages=100–101}} The contours statutes were read aloud to the present merchants once a year.<ref name="Burkhardt"/>{{rp|pages=131–133}}

In 1347 the ''Kontor'' of Bruges modified its statute to ensure an equal representation of League members. To that end, member communities from different regions were pooled into three circles (''Drittel'' ("third [part]"): the [[Germania Slavica|Wendish]] and [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxon]] Drittel, the [[Westphalia]]n and [[Prussia (region)|Prussian]] Drittel as well as the [[Gotland]]ian, [[Livonia]]n and [[History of Sweden|Swedish]] Drittel). Merchants from each ''Drittel'' chose two aldermen and six members of the Eighteen Men Council (''Achtzehnmännerrat'') to administer the ''Kontor'' for a set period.<ref name="Wubs-Mrozewicz2010" />{{rp|page=91, 101}}<ref name="Burkhardt"/>{{rp|pages=138–139}}

In 1356, during a Hanseatic meeting in preparation for the first (or one of the first) ''Tagfahrt'', the League confirmed this statute. All trader settlements including the ''Kontors'' were subordinated to the Diet's decisions around this time, and their envoys received the right to attend and speak at Diets, albeit without voting power.<ref name="Wubs-Mrozewicz2010" />{{rp|page=91}}{{efn|name=kantq2}}