Hinrich Castorp

Hinrich Castorp was a wealthy merchant and diplomat of Lübeck.

Born in Dortmund, Castorp moved to Lübeck as a 30 years old man where he joined the Merchants’ Company and quickly became prominent in the business affairs. His business activities were initially focused in three main areas: Flanders, the east (Prussia and Livonia) and Brandenburg. The typical Hanseatic trade conducted between east and west via Lübeck represented the main source of his wealth.

Using the wealth acquired in commerce, Castorp eventually decided to withdraw from commercial activities and became active in the field of investments in credit and annuity operations. In 1461 he tried to found a municipal bank in partnership with his brother and four other merchants, but the enterprise failed ten years later. He was also involved in the moneylending to the king of Denmark and to various other merchants.

His fortune is estimated at 25,000 marks which made him one of the richest businessmen in Lübeck.

Castorp was also active in political and diplomatic affairs of the Hanseatic League. From 1462 he served as councilor, and in 1472 he became a burgo-master of Lübeck. Among other things, he was a member of the Hanseatic delegation in Danzig and Thorn in 1464 which acted as mediator to bring to an end the war between Poland and the Teutonic Order. Also, he was the leader of the Hanseatic delegation which negotiated the Peace of Utrecht in 1474 after the Anglo-Hanseatic War.

One of his sayings is often quoted as expressing the whole spirit of the Hansa: “Let us meet and talk; for though it is easy to hoist the ensign, it is difficult to lower it with honour”.