HANSESTADT

Göttingen was established as a town in the 12th century, on  trade routes on the Leine river, and grew in economic importance over the next century.  The textile industry, in both linen and wool, was most important, and, having forged links with Lübeck, Frankfurt am Main and the Netherlands, it was invited to join the Hanseatic League in 1351.  Göttingen maintained a distance from the League, however, only becoming a full member in 1426, and withdrawing in 1572.