Editing Rostock (section)

===15th to 18th centuries===
[[File:Rostock 1550-60.jpg|thumb|left|Rostock in the 16th century]]
[[File:Rostock um 1650.jpg|thumb|left|Rostock in the 17th century]]
At the end of the 15th century, the dukes of [[Duchy of Mecklenburg|Mecklenburg]] succeeded in enforcing their rule over the town of Rostock, which had until then been only nominally subject to their rule and essentially independent. They took advantage of a riot known as ''Domfehde'', a failed uprising of the [[poverty|impoverished]] population. Subsequent quarrels with the dukes and persistent plundering led ultimately to a loss of the city's economic and political power.
[[File:Plan von Rostock gez 1780-1790 J.M. von Tarnows.jpg|thumb|right|Rostock 1780–90]]

In 1565 there were further clashes with Schwerin that had far-reaching consequences. Among other things, the nobility introduced a beer [[excise]] that favoured the dukes. [[John Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg|John Albert I]] advanced on the city with 500 horsemen, after Rostock had refused to take the formal oath of allegiance, and had the city wall razed (slighted) to have a fortress built. The conflict did not end until the first [[Rostock Inheritance Agreement]] of 21 September 1573, in which the state princes were guaranteed hereditary rule over the city for centuries and recognizing them as the supreme judicial authority; this bound Rostock for a long time. The citizens razed (or slighted) the fortress the following spring.

From 1575 to 1577 the city walls were rebuilt, as was the ''Lagebusch'' tower and the ''Stein'' Gate, in the Dutch Renaissance style. The inscription ''sit intra te concordia et publica felicitas'' ("Let there be harmony and public happiness within you"), can still be read on the gate, and refers directly to the conflict with the Duke. In 1584 the Second Rostock Inheritance Agreement was enforced, which resulted in a further loss of former city tax privileges. At the same time, these inheritance contracts put paid to Rostock's ambition of achieving [[imperial immediacy]], as [[Lübeck]] had done in 1226.

The strategic location of Rostock provoked the envy of its rivals. [[Denmark|Danes]] and Swedes occupied the city twice, first during the [[Thirty Years' War]] (1618–48) and again from 1700 to 1721. Later in the early 19th century, the [[First French Empire|French]], under [[Napoleon]], occupied the town for about a decade until 1813. In nearby [[Lübeck]]-[[Ratekau]], [[Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher]], who was born in Rostock and who was one of few generals to fight on after defeat at the [[Battle of Jena]], surrendered to the French in 1806. This was only after furious street fighting in the [[Battle of Lübeck]], in which he led some of the [[cavalry charge]]s himself. By the time of the surrender, the exhausted [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]ns had neither food nor ammunition.