Alsfeld marketed!Market rights for Alsfeld

In the Middle Ages, trade was considered a municipal affair. Guilds in particular supervised it; the focus was on protectionist measures to shield local products. Specifically, this meant that free trade was prevented and outside competition was kept away. One means of maintaining economic isolation was the so-called “market compulsion” (Marktzwang)—the regulation that the sale of all essential goods, including craft products, had to take place publicly in the municipal marketplace. In addition, there were other important legal regulations such as “staple rights,” “ban mile rights,” and “guest rights.” Middleman trading was frowned upon, usury was considered reprehensible and prohibited in almost all cities, and selling prices were determined by price assessments.

Since Alsfeld already had coinage rights around 1170, it can be assumed that markets had existed for much longer. A distinction was made between the municipal market and so-called “free” markets, which could be weekly markets or annual fairs. These were also freely accessible to foreign traders, so that anyone who was “healthy and honest” could offer and sell their goods. The oldest right to hold a “free” market in Alsfeld was granted to the city by Landgrave Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel in 1497; market day was Saturdays (“sonnobints”). (MNic)