Victual Brothers
14th century seafarers in the North and Baltic Seas / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Victual Brothers, Vitalien Brothers[2][3] or Vitalian Brethren[4] (German: Vitalienbrüder,[1]: 146 [5][6] Norwegian: Vitaliebrødrene[7]) were a loosely organized guild of 14th century Germanic privateers. They initially included Mecklenburg nobility, but later became an organisation of commoners, and later evolved into piracy.[1]: 146ff [5][better source needed][8] The guild had a clear historical effect in that era on maritime trade in the North and Baltic Seas.[3][5][better source needed] As privateers, they provisioned blockaded locations[7] and otherwise served as a naval contingent on behalf of regional rulers,[9] with clients that included the Queen of Denmark, and rulers of Mecklenburg and East Frisia.[3][1]: 146f As their activities turned to piracy, the aims changed to personal enrichment.[3]
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Vitalienbrüder | |
Named after | French: vitailleurs (provisioners, Hundred Years' War)[1]: 146 |
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Formation | ca. 1393 |
Dissolved | ca. 1440[citation needed] |
Headquarters | Visby, Gotland, Sweden |
Location |
|
Region | Northern Europe |
Methods | Privateering, blockade running, piracy |
Membership | ca. 1400 persons |
Official language | (Middle) Low German |
The pledge of their adopted base of Gotland to the Teutonic Order by King Albert of Sweden led to Gotland's invasion and the destruction of Visby by Konrad von Jungingen and the Order in 1398.[10][verification needed] This disruption, the executions of some of their band in Hamburg,[3] and the Hanseatic League's continuing effort to control and make safe trade on the Baltic Sea led to changing maritime influences and a decline of the band.[citation needed]
The Victual Brothers band either were sometimes known[1]: 147 or possibly became a somewhat distinct group known as the Likedeelers.[citation needed] Klaus Störtebeker was identified with both, as a subordinate in the Victual Brothers[2][5][better source needed] and as one in command in the Likedeelers.[not verified in body]