Albrecht Giese

Albrecht Giese ( IV ) ( born February 10, 1524 Danzig † August 1, 1580 ) was an Danziger councilman and diplomat and was from the famous Gdansk patrician Giese family. One of his relatives was the Hanseatic League merchant Georg Giese, another of Bishop Tiedemann Giese, the personal friend of Nicolas Copernicus, who worked at the nearby castle wife. The merchant family Giese held public office in Gdansk City Council.

Life

Albrecht Giese studied at the universities of Greifswald, Wittenberg and Heidelberg. As it was customary for the Hanseatic towns, he traveled for several years through various countries to learn languages ​​and trading business. 1564, he returned to Danzig, where he was alderman. The next six years he represented his home town as a delegate to the Hanseatic Days in Lübeck. He took on his most difficult role, as he in his negotiations with the Polish king which took place in Petrikau, accompanied the Gdansk Mayor Johann Brandes. As an independent city in agreement with the Polish king Danzig refused to accept the changes submitted by the unrecognized Union of Lublin of their rights and insisted on their autonomous rights of the previously concluded with the Polish crown contracts.

After 1560 tried Sigismund II Augustus of Poland to establish a Polish war fleet in Gdansk. Danzig government saw this as a violation of the independence of the city, which led to a crisis. The Danziger delegation remained of the Polish delegation has steadfastly and signed a document which establishes wrote a reduction Danziger rights. The crown of Poland informed the delegation under pressure. The Danziger delegation was detained for several weeks and topped with speech ban. In 1569 they were deported to Krakow and detained another year. Councilman Giese, Mayor George Kleefeld and the other mayor and councilor were being held at different locations. Gdańsk City Council could not be blackmailed and after further negotiations, the mayors were again left in their offices after 100,000 florins were paid for their release.

Then Stefan Batory tried to take the city of Danzig, but Danzig did not recognize him. Danzig was placed under military occupation in 1577, but the city held out, but had to pay another 200,000 guilders. Danzig had successfully obtained his evangelical faith and his autonomy. Johann rabbit slayer wrote at the time the song O, Gdansk, hold you firm.

Albrecht Giese was determined in 1579 by the Polish king to the royal castle counts of Gdansk. As such, he oversaw the legal system of the Free City of Danzig. Because of their anticipated close to the royal family, he was criticized.