Women Merchants in the Hanseatic League
The women of the Hanseatic cities were, in many ways, more active in business than the women of other European cities of the time. The Lübeck law, the Lübisches Recht, gave women substantial rights in matters of inheritance, property, and contract, and the legal position of women in the Hanseatic cities was, by the standards of the time, relatively favourable. The women of the cities took advantage of these rights, and the women of the cities played important roles in the commercial life of the cities.
Widows in business
The principal business activity of women in the Hanseatic cities was the continuation of their husbands’ businesses. A widow could continue her husband’s business, she could enter into new contracts, and she could even travel to the foreign kontore to conduct business. The widow was, in this sense, an important figure in the commercial life of the city, and the widow’s rights were protected by the Lübeck law.
The widow’s role in the business was, in many ways, a continuation of her role as the co-manager of the household. The merchant’s wife was, in the first instance, the manager of the household, and the household was, in many cases, a business. The merchant’s wife was responsible for the day-to-day management of the household, the supervision of the servants and apprentices, the purchase of supplies, and the keeping of accounts. The merchant’s wife was also responsible for the entertainment of guests, and the entertainment was, in many cases, an important part of the business.
The widow’s role was, accordingly, a natural extension of the wife’s role, and the widow was often the most experienced person in the business. The widow was, accordingly, in a strong position to continue the business, and the widow was often the principal figure in the business after her husband’s death.
Daughters in business
The unmarried daughter could also be active in business. A daughter could be sent to a foreign kontor to learn the trade, she could enter into contracts, and she could manage property. The daughter could also inherit the family business, and the daughter could, in some cases, continue the business after her father’s death. The daughter’s role in the business was, in many ways, similar to the widow’s role, and the daughter’s role was an important part of the commercial life of the cities.
The limits of women’s business activity
The women’s business activities were, however, also limited. A married woman could not, in most cases, enter into contracts without her husband’s consent, and her property was, in most cases, under her husband’s control. A woman could not hold public office, and she could not serve on the city council. A woman could not testify in court in the same way as a man, and her testimony was given less weight than a man’s.