Brotherhood of Blackheads

The Blackheads ( sometimes Blackheads ) were mostly associations ( North ) German merchants in the Baltic cities of Riga, Reval, and Dorpat Pärnu, which had emerged in 1399 from the previously existing local St. George's fraternities. Initially, therefore, the Saint George ( patron of knights and warriors ) was the patron saint of this covenant. Later, this role took the Holy Mauritius, whose symbol, the Moor's head is received in the arms of the Blackheads. Nevertheless, it is not clear evidence that the latter was also the namesake of the Blackheads; others interpret this name as a counterpart to the "gray" or " white heads " of the older members in the Great Guild, others as an indication of the color of worn in medieval battles black balaclava, as the Blackheads yes also competed together in defense of their cities.

Today there are only the companies from Riga and Reval. Despite simultaneous creation and same statutes it had come later to a separate development, which resulted in different terms:

• The Company was in Riga company of the Black Heads;
• Society in Reval (now Tallinn) was called Brotherhood of the Blackheads.

These names are still used today.

Common features

The Blackheads were an association of journeymen purchase as it has given them comparable in other Hanseatic cities of the Baltic region. Condition for membership was that the apprentice had to be unmarried. The merger was primarily social purposes, but also had political function, such as the Blackheads appeared together in the defense of the city. Once they were married, have occurred among the merchants of the Great Guild.

In the Baltic countries has been strong always been the sense of community -related life forms. They joined together in the same household and merchant companies. Since the 13th century the citizens were united in brotherhoods. The big Marie Guild is detected in Riga first in 1354, in Tallinn in 1363, in Tartu in 1387. In addition, written shortly after, the brotherhoods of the Blackheads. The tradition was developed resistant and rich: Recording customs, farewell drink, contract customs, penny and Haupttrünke, carnival masks ( scho Düwel ), stinging, calendula race, Austanz ( dance parades ), tree delivery, Maigrafenbräuche, protecting companies ( since 1354 ), games of chance and games of skill.

The citizenry was organized in the two guilds: the Great or Marie guild, in which the merchants had together and the little ones and Antoni guild, which included the artisans. As a " third force " now was added the irregularly along kicking guild of unmarried purchase journeymen, just the Blackheads. At the top of the guilds was worth the evenings older man, who led meetings and represented the guild out. He was followed by a selected lifetime leadership group of four older men, for a preferred seniors committee, the disciplinary justice over the guild members had (Oldest Bank), and the group of ordinary members. The Blackheads wait well organized; even the title of their representatives denominated same.

Local merchants were not taken up by the black heads; these joined together in their own guild.

As a meeting place of Blackheads initially served the Arthurian courtyards of their precursors, the St. George's fraternities, and later the Blackheads houses.

Riga

Riga was founded in 1201 by Bishop Albert of Bremen Buxthoeven, the town was laid out along the lines of Bremen. Therefore, there is still striking similarities and centuries-old traditions common between the two cities. The Roland in front of the House of the Blackheads is it an obvious symbol.

During the Middle Ages Riga was a powerful seaport, the largest city in the Swedish Kingdom; during the 17th century the leading port for the Russian Empire; in the 18th and 19th centuries, the main center for trade in the region. This status was achieved early and strengthened by the membership in the medieval Hanseatic League, which is not so much felt as a covenant of cities, but as a covenant of merchant associations within the cities of Northern Germany and the Baltic states.

Since 1447 the Blackheads had rented the parade hall upstairs in the New House of the Great Guild by the City Council. We are regularly found events that were declared as " Umtrunke ", and, as it is documented, " during the shooting festivals to Mardi Gras and other days ". At each round of drinks took part up to 300 bachelors; which still preserves the list of participants for the years 1480-1573 - for not even 100 years - comprise approximately 2,000 pages.

In addition, the Blackheads at that time played a major role in the cultural scene. They organized in Riga jousting, carnival balls, city festivals, churches donated the pictures and the city of cannons for the park. The foreign merchants created itself in the distant homeland and influence. Because money had the Blackheads, which indeed had to be unmarried, enough.

By the way, offered the Ballet of the Black Heads young unmarried foreign merchants and accommodations. Places to visit are still the rooms and also the bridal chamber for newly married guild members in the restored House of Blackheads.

In the 20th century as a result of the Hitler -Stalin Pact, the German Balts in 1939 forced evicted and Compagnie deleted from the register of associations. Parts of the treasures could be taken. 1960, founded the Companie as " Company of the Blackheads Riga eV" first new in Hamburg, in 1980, she moved to Bremen. Even today, she adheres strictly to the old statutes ( articles of association of the Company from 1416 ) and preserves inter alia, the legendary silver treasure.

Once a year the showpieces from the showcase be fetched. In autumn, the Brüdermahl the 20 remaining Blackheads takes place. For the Rigische Will Come a richly decorated silver giant tankard, as is the 74 cm high St. George's reliquary of 1507 and the pomp jug in the shape of St. Maurice on a hippocampus of 1665, comes from 1616 on the table, the black principal on all the treasure pieces of the Compagnie emblazoned. Since 1987, the treasure of the 34 individual items is out of this annual event permanent loan to the Roselius -Haus in Böttcherstrasse in Bremen.

" Maintenance and promotion of old traditions " requires the Statute of the now well- scattered and grown old members. Today, the limited primarily to the annual feast, in which only very rarely new members are accepted.

Reval / Tallinn

A prominent place among the Hanseatic cities took Reval one due to a unique privilege: all goods passing by had to be stacked on the outskirts of the city. Reval merchants deserved so on forced intermediate trade between East and West. Soon the city became the fortress, armed with 35 towers. A major part in the city's history had the Brotherhood of the Blackheads. This 've been here a union of unmarried (mostly foreign ) Purchase journeymen who could ascend as members of the Great Guild in the patrician class of the city after her marriage and Selbständigwerdung. Over time it became customary that adjoined the Brotherhood increasing number of unmarried sons of citizens of the city.

The members of the brotherhood left Tallinn in the 1940s. In Germany, the company was re-founded as the " Brotherhood of the Blackheads from Reval eV". But it is also again in Tallinn resident ( as " Mustpeade Maja" ), namely as before 26, at the House of the Blackheads is located at the address Pikk.

We know that there was a very early interesting relationships between the Dominicans and the Brotherhood of the Blackheads. The black heads were valuable ordered from Bruges and Brussels altars in St. Catherine's Church. These altars are still preserved; they have been exhibited in the museum and concert hall of St. Nicholas Church.