74 Sarnowsky
1369 and finally to the peace treaty of Stralsund on 24 May 1370 which marks
the zenith of the towns’ power. But this was less dramatic than it has been
termed by earlier researchers: the Hanseatic League did not really become a
‘great Northern European power’ though it gained considerable influence on
Baltic policies.
Denmark and the Hanseatic League after the Peace of Stralsund
The conditions for the restoration of peace were negotiated and the peace
treaty prepared on another assembly of the towns’ representatives at Stralsund
in February 1370 at which the Wendish towns, representatives from Pomerania,
Livonia, Prussia, the Zuiderzee area, Holland, and Zeeland, and members of
the Danish Council of the Realm under Henning Putbus were present.40 The
towns’ demands were moderate—contrary to that of the princes who had lost
their influence on the developments. King Waldemar had to renew the towns’
privileges in Denmark and Scania as they had been before the first war, only
that they now applied to the whole group of cities united in the ‘Confederation
of Cologne’ and to the other cities that participated in the German law of
unions.41 As a compensation for their expenses and losses, the towns should
receive two thirds of the incomes from the Øresund fortresses of Skanör,
Falsterbo, Helsingborg, and Malmø for the next 15 years, and they were allowed
to administrate the fortresses themselves for security.
Waldemar, who was not present, was required to confirm the treaties with
his great or majestic seal within one and a half years (29 September 1371) to
ensure their validity even under his successors.42 This was closely related to
the regulation that in case of Waldemar’s resignation or death his successor
had to be appointed only by consent of the towns (des ghelikes scole wy nenen
heren untfaen, yd en sy by rade der stede) and had to seal the treaties also with
his great seal.43 This did not mean that the Hanseatic League wanted to control
the election of the Danish kings; it rather tried to ensure the continuous valid-
ity of its privileges in Denmark.44 The importance of these conditions soon
became obvious when Waldemar succeeded in postponing his confirmation of
the peace until October 1371 and even then only used his small or secret seal.
40 Bøgh, Sejren, 29–33.
41 Hammel-Kiesow, Hanse, 109.
42 hr i 1, 530.
43 hr i 1, 524, S. 487.
44 Hoffmann, “Konflikte,” 75.