Protected by Churches and Canons - Hamburg in the Thirty Years' War

The surge in development experienced by Hamburg during the 17th century would not have been possible without trade, and the construction of new fortifications proved particularly effective in promoting this. The improved accuracy and enormously increased range of modern muzzle-loading guns forced cities throughout Europe to renew their protective walls. To this end, Hamburg secured the services of Jan van Valckenbourgh, a master fortification builder from the Netherlands who was in great demand at the time. In the years from 1616 to 1625, he turned the city into a construction site of hitherto unknown proportions. Since the plans took likely growth into account, the new fortifications enclosed both the old settlement and an area the same size again for the city's future development. The aim of the project was admirably achieved, even before the building work was fully complete. Few other cities survived the Thirty Years' War with as little damage. In the middle of the conflict, Hamburg formed an island of peace for overseas trade by water and by land, attracting traders like a magnet. In the mid-16th century, Hamburg's population was barely 17,000. But by 1616, the figure had grown to 40,000. Only a small number of these possessed full civil rights or political influence through guilds or the city council. As representatives of such a hugely successful community, the city council soon began to develop tastes and forms of ostentatious display to match those of Renaissance and Baroque princes.