Hamburg

Primary culture

Lower Saxon (Germanic)

Capital province

Hamburg (44)

Government

Free City

State religion

Catholic

Technology group

Western

Hamburger ideas

Traditions:

+10% National tax modifier

+10% Light ship combat ability

Hanseatic City

+15% Global trade power

Burgher Republic

+0.3 Yearly republican tradition

Walls of Hamburg

+25% Fort defense

First Constitution of Hamburg

−1 National unrest

School of the Johanneum

−10% Idea cost

Berenberg Bank

+10% Production efficiency

−0.5 Interest per annum

Shipyards of the Elbe

−10% Ship cost

Ambition:

+25% Naval force limit modifier

Hamburg is a free city of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 1444 start it is in a trade league under Lübeck.

Decisions[edit]

id

Form Hanover

Now that we control the key provinces of this region, local nobles have no other choice but to accept our leadership. When they fall in line, the united duchy of Hanover will become the leading power of the region.

Potential requirements Playing with normal or historical nations. The country: has not been an end-game nation. has not formed any German regional nation. has not enacted this decision before. is not the Papal State, Lübeck, or Saxony. has Lower Saxon primary culture. is not a colonial nation. is player-controlled, unless it: owns core provinces Lüneburg and Hanover. is not a custom nation. is not a former colonial nation. Hanover does not exist.	Allow The country: has an administrative technology of at least 10. is not a subject nation other than a tributary state. is not a nomad nation. is not at war. owns core provinces Lüneburg and Hanover. owns at least 8 core provinces in North Germany region with Lower Saxon culture. has at least 100 total development.

Effects If the province Hanover is part of the Holy Roman Empire, but the country is not a member, then: the province is removed from the Empire. the Holy Roman Emperor: gets the opinion modifier “Removed provinces from the Empire” towards the country, worth −50 opinion with a yearly decay of 1. loses 1 imperial authority. The country: becomes Hanover. moves its capital to Hanover, which gains 1 base tax. gets the modifier “Increased Centralization” for 20 years, with the following effects: −0.05 Monthly autonomy change +1 National unrest gets permanent claims on all unowned provinces in North Germany region with Lower Saxon culture, except Braunschweig and Weser areas. gains 25 prestige. increases rank to kingdom, if it is an elector of the Holy Roman Empire or is not a member. gets new missions. gets the event ‘New Traditions & Ambitions’, unless it is a custom nation.

id

Form German Nation

Regardless of the absence of a strong, central authority, our nation is prospering. The Hanseatic League, formed by hundreds of towns in northern Germany, has contributed to the prosperity of our nation. Intellectual growth, combined with sea and overland trading, has also helped spur the development and transform our country into a wealthy manufacturing center.

Potential requirements Playing with normal or historical nations. Germany does not exist. The country: has not been an end-game nation. is not The Papal State. is not a colonial nation. has a primary culture in the Germanic culture group. does not have Dutch primary culture. If the country is AI-controlled then it: has at least 15 cities. has an administrative technology of at least 20. is not a former colonial nation. is not a theocracy. is not a custom nation.	Allow The country: has an administrative technology of at least 20. is not a subject nation other than a tributary state. is not a nomad nation. is not at war. is not the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. owns core provinces: Berlin, München, and Brunswick Augsburg or Stuttgart Nürnberg or Frankfurt Niederhessen or Köln Königsberg or Straßburg Hamburg or Lübeck Dresden or Erfurt owns 50 core provinces across the North Germany and South Germany regions.

Effects The country: becomes Germany. leaves the Holy Roman Empire. increases rank to empire. gets new missions. gets permanent claims on all unowned provinces in the North Germany and South Germany regions. gains 25 prestige. gets the modifier “Increased Centralization” for 20 years, with the following effects: −0.05 Monthly autonomy change +1 National unrest gets the event ‘New Traditions & Ambitions’, unless it is a custom nation. The emperor of the HRE: gets the opinion modifier “Left the Holy Roman Empire” towards Germany worth −150 opinion with a yearly decay of 1. gets the event ‘Germany breaks out of the Empire’.

Strategy[edit]

The below is one of many player suggested strategies for Hamburg. Bear in mind, due to the dynamic nature of the game, it may unfold differently for other players.

Hamburg has many advantages that allow the potential for it to become a major power; including its trading bonuses as a Hanseatic Trade port, naval ideas, its position near the edge of the Holy Roman Empire and its access to the New World.

It is one of the 8 starting free cities in the Holy Roman Empire. This means the Emperor will normally defend it from attack by other empire members, as well as those from outside. Free cities also have a development bonus that allows it to grow rapidly. The City of Cities achievement is quite doable with a Free City. Free City status is lost if the nation grows to more than one province. In the early game, it is usually best to maintain these benefits and grow the city significantly before expanding. If this is done after the Renaissance triggers, growth can also be used to greatly accelerate adaptation long before it makes its way there from Italy. Since the Austria Expansion, it is important to keep an eye on Burgher Estate influence. It will be high to start due to the estate's high land share, Free City status, and high trade power. Growing past 30 development will bump it 10 points higher still, and it can easily surpass 100 and initiate an estate disaster if one grants too many privileges and diets, and/or does not confiscate some Burgher land.

As a Free City with both an estuary and an entrepot, Hamburg starts with considerable trade power. Unfortunately, as a member of Lubeck's trade league it shares half of this. Unless the emperor is weak, it is advisable to immediately leave the league as it is not needed for protection and seriously hampers your trade income.

Free City status can be maintained if the player vassalizes a neighbor in a war and then grows the vassal by making claims, transferring them to the vassal, and pressing claims in wars. Just be sure to only use one vassal, as it will be difficult for Hamburg's single province to maintain the loyalty of two expanding vassals. Care must always be taken to not expand within the empire too quickly, especially by annexing nations (eliminating a prince usually draws the Emperor's ire and brings penalties). Expanding up into Denmark is a good play, supporting Sweden's independence to weaken it and gain an ally. Note that this alliance is not likely to last once Sjælland is taken by Hamburg (or its vassal), as Sweden will covet it and is likely to become a rival.

By this time Hamburg will likely have to expand itself and lose Free City status, and can diplomatically annex its vassal.

Hamburg can use its naval and trade strengths and ocean access to become a Colonial power using the exploration ideas. It first needs trade node access to the New World. The easiest is through the North Sea trade node and its access to Canada. Taking Norway's Bergenhus should be a priority if this is the desired strategy. The first New World provinces to come within colonizing range are in the Amazon Delta. There is typically enough time to set up colonial nations from there to the Caribbean, Eastern America and finally Canada before anyone cuts you off. The player can then try for a trade port or two in the Ivory Coast node and on to Asia. In this way, Hamburg is a good pick to get the Market Control achievement. An extensive trade network is also necessary to get the Bunte Kuh achievement.