GIFTS OF THE KING. “HANSEATIC” BRONZE BOWLS IN THIRTEENTH CENTURY ESTONIA: SIGNS OF DANISH CRUSADES?

Abstract

The Virumaa province in northeast Estonia is the area with the biggest concentration of ‘Hanseatic bowl’ finds in Europe. The finds originate mostly from deposits, often consisting of sets of numerous items. This article suggests a connection between these finds and the Danish crusade to Estonia in 1219, interpreting the bowls as the king’s gift to new subjects for their loyalty, also looking at a possible broader context, and drawing hypothetical parallels with the Danish crusade to Samland and Prussia in 1210. Key words: bronze bowls, Estonia, Denmark, Samland, crusade, mission, gifts for loyalty. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v24i0.1568