Hanseatic Legion

Hanseatic Legion
Hanseatische Legion
Image of military unit
Hanseaten. Hamburg contingent of the Hanseatic Legion and Hamburger Bürgermilitär. 1813–14
Active1813 (1813)–1815
CountryBremen, Hamburg and Lübeck
Nickname(s)Hanseaten
EngagementsBattle of the Göhrde
in the Napoleonic Wars
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Karl August Friedrich von Witzleben
Sir Neil Campbell

The Hanseatic Legion was a military unit, first formed of a group of citizens from Hamburg. They had met in 1813 on the instigation of General Friedrich Karl von Tettenborn, in order to fight in the War of the Sixth Coalition. This association of volunteers was joined immediately by volunteers from Hamburg's Hanseatic sister cities Bremen and Lübeck.

The Legion should not be confused with the Hamburger Bürgermilitär (Hamburg Citizen Militia). During their time of coexistence, the militia restricted itself to ejecting the French garrisons stationed in Hamburg and the other two Hanseatic cities, whereas the Legion also participated in the rest of the campaign under Russian overall command.