Legal Definitions - hanse

Definition: A hanse (also known as hans) was a type of merchant guild that engaged in trade abroad. It was common in German history.

Merchants who were not part of the guild had to pay a fee, known as an impost, to enter. This fee was used to support the guild and its members.

One example of a hanse was the Hanseatic League, which was a powerful alliance of merchant guilds in northern Europe during the Middle Ages. The League controlled much of the trade in the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions.

Another example of a hanse was the Merchant Adventurers, a guild of English merchants who traded with the Netherlands and other countries in the 16th and 17th centuries.

These examples illustrate how hanse guilds were important for international trade and commerce. They allowed merchants to work together to protect their interests and increase their profits. The fees paid by non-members helped to support the guild and its members, making it a mutually beneficial arrangement.