Lusatian League
The Upper Lusatian Six Towns League included the cities of Bautzen, Görlitz, Kamenz, Lauban, Lobau and Zittau. He was from 1346 to 1815.
Development
To protect the public peace in the later Upper Lusatia area called the cities of Bautzen, Görlitz, Kamenz, Lauban, Lobau and Zittau merged to form an eight alliance on 21 August 1346. Probably went from the founding of Charles IV, whose country Vogt is mentioned in the deed as an impetus donors. 1350, the alliance was renewed. A similar alliance had already in 1339 King John of Bohemia donated between oberlausitzischen (without Zittau ) and Silesian towns. Thirty years later, it did him after his son Karl. Likewise, Duke John of Görlitz tried a oberlausitz - Silesian land covenant of peace, and even the beginning of the 15th century was one such. IV Under King Wenceslas to 1398 or 1399 the six towns joined first at some Upper Lusatian men, then all the nobles for the purpose of land preservation of peace. However, there remained only the permanent connection of the six cities. It developed into a history of the region over the centuries strongly influencing institution.
The heyday of Cities fell in the first 200 years of its existence. During this time, Görlitz and Zittau came into the possession of the sovereign jurisdiction in their administrative territories. Lobau succeeded his soft image jurisdiction on the estates of the decaying rule Kittlitz enforce. Furthermore, the still of Charles IV created Oberlausitzer Fehmgericht is ( a country justice of the peace, not to be confused with the Westphalian free courts) in his early days as the court interpreted the Six Cities and Towns. In parallel with the strengthening of state structures circumstances intensified in the late 14th century and the communication among the organizations within League of Six royal towns of Upper Lusatia. 1547 power development of cities restricted the sovereign Ferdinand I in the so-called Oberlausitzer Pönfall a strong. While the cities were able to consolidate their position in the following decade back, but their excess weight in national politics was not recoverable.
As in 1815 as a result of the provisions of the Vienna Convention Lusatia was divided and Görlitz and Lauban fell to Prussia, the existence of the Six Towns League ended after almost 500 years. The League of Six was thus the longest existing German cities alliance. The remaining cities in Saxony received the "Four Cities and Towns ", but who possessed less importance and 1868 ended.
On 21 June 1991, the federal government has been revived for the 770 anniversary of the city of Lobau. The first of Cities meeting was held in the Convention Room of the Town Hall Löbauer. Its members are now taken exactly seven cities, since the former Görlitz district today, the independent Polish town of Zgorzelec is east of the Neisse. Political significance of this merger has a symbolic character. The League of Six today stands for joint initiatives for an attractive region, also across national borders, especially in the fields of art, culture, sport and tourism.
Internal structure of the Six Cities
Within the Alliance is no pronounced hierarchy began to emerge, even if mainly economically strong distinction the Federal cities. A prominent position took Bautzen as a seal of the covenant leader and Lobau as by far the most frequent meeting a. In addition, Görlitz, because of its economic and political importance was demonstrated by the fact that the city in the 15th century alone, a third of the federal budget muster while Zittau and Bautzen shared their third with Lauban respectively Kamenz. Lobau came on for the expenses of the meetings. On these regularly, often weekly meetings held to further the more remote towns and Kamenz Lauban were occasionally represented by Bautzen and Görlitz. As a manifestation of the building on reputation and influence ranking of the six cities of the manufactured around 1680 Six Towns League Cup can be viewed. On it the coats of arms of all six cities are arranged in two superimposed rows as follows:
In addition to the cities of days on which the Affairs of maintaining peace, the semi-feudal politics and disputes of the cities were negotiated with each other and with third parties, was among the six cities brisk legation and messenger relationships. Correspondence was exchanged via messenger couriers. Due to its efficiency, this system became particularly pronounced in times distance rule is of great importance for the exercise of state power in Upper Lusatia.