Baltic Trade Uncertainty

Following the conclusion of the Danish-Hansa trade war, the state of Baltic trade is very unstable. What seemed like an unstoppable Hansa force was pushed back by the states of Denmark and Brandenburg, highlighting the growing weakness of the Hanseatic League. This has caused much concern among the burghers of the Baltic Sea, and traders in general, who have witnessed the weakening of the Hansa for years now. This, combined with the growing influence of the Rhenish trade league, has caused many traders to start moving south, towards the Rhine.

Denmark has shown itself to be the true power of the region, able to face off against both the Empire by occupying a free city without consequence, and its navy performing well above its capabilities. How it will use this asserted authority is unknown, especially after they have discovered concrete documented proof of Sweden’s contributions to the Hansa… [19/20]

Brandenburg also proved itself in the war, successfully putting down rebellion in all of its Hanseatic cities, and defeating the invading Hanseatic force. However, their position in the Empire seems to be at risk, after a rapid and confusing announcement by the Emperor granting free city status to all 15 rebellious cities, before rescinding said announcement. All of Brandenburg is aligning fully with their Prince-Elector [99/100], they can expect full support should they try to do something… drastic… to remedy this imperial dilemma.

Meanwhile the rest of the Baltic states are feeling the strain of decreased trade. Logbooks note a thirty percent drop in trade efficiency over the last few months, and already the port cities of the Baltic not affiliated with the new main players are seeing trade shrink away, and traders leaving for more prosperous locations (-1 to trade pips of all Baltic sea provinces). How they will respond to this issue is still a mystery, especially because…

Hansa cities have started dropping out of the League! Support for the Hanseatic League has plummeted [5/20], and [113/130] cities have voiced that they would leave if given the chance! Many are looking much more favorably on the Rhenish trade league [16/20], and 27 cities have actually asked to join! What the response of these two leagues will be is yet to be seen…