League of the Three Seas
The League of the Three Seas was a short lived trade alliance between the cities of Eisenfelde, Leopoli, and Freiburg.
Text
We, the hereunder signed representatives of the City of Eisenfelde, the Most Serene Republic of Leopoli and the Free City of Freiburg (hereafter as „Cities“), declare before God our intention to set aside our religious differences and instead focus on the strength of our cities, on our honest and hard-working merchants. Therefore, we form the League of the Three Seas, an alliance of merchants united in their wish for free trade and friendly competition between all.
Hereby follows the Charter of the League.
Article I) The Cities will allow free trade between their merchants and will not impose any tariffs, tolls, taxes or other such instruments on the merchants from other Cities that would cause harm or injustice to the merchants from other Cities.
Article II) The Cities, in order to streamline trade from the whole world, will each act as a centre of trade of their respective zones. The zones shall be defined as follows:
The City of Eisenfelde shall be the centre for The Holy Archadian Empire, The Principality of Vlachia and the Grand Principality of Volodymir-Korolevets.
The Most Serene Republic of Leopoli shall be the centre for the Kingdom of Verduro, the Banovina of Arkestrija, Montdrian and Karlsbund.
The Free City of Freiburg shall be the centre for the Sultanate of Haram, the lands of the Order of St. Castor of Karden, the Empire of Nosamo and the Beylik of Karantiniyye.
Article III) The Cities shall, through means which they deem appropriate, disadvantage merchants that are not from other Cities or their respective trade zones as defined in Article II.
Article IV) When any City deems it necessary, it shall call for a meeting of the League representatives. Such a meeting must occur at least once every 4 years. The meeting place shall rotate between the City of Eisenfelde, the Most Serene Republic of Leopoli and the Free City of Freiburg, in this order.
Any decision that the League wishes to make must be made on such a meeting and the vote must be unanimous.
Article V) Any breach of the Charter shall mean an immediate annulment of the same.
Signed in the City of Eisenfelde on the sixth day of January in the year of the Sun 2137, or the year 842 by the Archadian custom.
Signed
August Niemann, Oberbürgemeister der Stadt Eisenfelde
Baldassare Velisario, Gonfaloniere della Signoria, Archonto Emerito di Serenissima Reppublica di Leopoli
Heinrich Köting, Bürgermeister der Freistadt Freiburg
Reaction
The Archadian Empire reacted swiftly, imposing tariffs and trade barriers on Eisenfeld:
Ab Octavio Makesino, Praefecti Primi Archadiani
Good people of Archadia and merchants from all over the world,
following the rise of the League of the Three Seas and the incursion of Eisenfelde ships in the harbour of our glorious city, the Council believes that steps protecting our interests and cultural heritage must be taken. In order to stop the sudden increase of merchants from Eisenfelde, who do not even bother to learn our language and customs, and to see the traders from Leopoli returning, the Council of Prefects of the City of Archadia has agreed on the following:
I) Effective from tomorrow, the export and import tariffs payable by Leopoli merchants are decreased to 2 % of goods value.
II) Effective from tomorrow, the export and import tariffs payable by Eisenfelde merchants are increased to 20 % of goods value.
III) Ships from Eisenfelde sailing under contract from Societá Makesini are exempt to the increased tariffs and will be liable to the current tariffs of 5 % of goods value.
We hope that the increase of tariffs is temporary and that once the status quo is reset, the tariffs will return to their original values.
Signed
Ottavio Makesini, preffeto primo di Archadia
Dat. V. non Ian. anno 843 AIC
The league was dissolved soon after. Leopoli instituted a free trade policy.
