Hamburg Citizen Militia

Hamburg Citizen Militia Hamburger Bürgermilitär
Uniforms of the infantry in 1886, published by Adolph Schieck in Das Hamburgische Bürgermilitär im Jahre 1868
Active	1814 (1814)–1868 (1868)
Country	Hamburg
Type	Citizen militia
Role	Guarding Hamburg
Size	8,500 (1858)
Engagements	No
Disbanded	1868

The Hamburg Citizen Militia (German: Hamburger Bürgermilitär) or Hanseatic Citizen Guard (German: Hanseatische Bürgergarde) was a citizen militia of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, formed from conscripted citizens and inhabitants of the city. It was formed in 1814 and dissolved in 1868.

The Hamburg citizen militia should not be confused with the Hanseatic Legion (German: Hanseatische Legion). During their time of coexistence, the militia restricted itself to ejecting the French garrisons of Hamburg and the other Hanseatic League cities, whereas the Legion also participated in the rest of the campaign under Russian overall command.

Since the late 12th century, Hamburg had military sovereignty (German: Wehrhoheit)—the right and the duty to defend itself— and used this for the first time in 1394 to conquer the fortress of Ritzebüttel—since 1926 part of Cuxhaven. During the decades before the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), Hamburg had 50 to 100 men under arms.

The Bürgerwache or Bürgergarde (lit. citizen watch) was established around the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, and around 7,000 men (in 1617) were organized 19 companies, since 1619 in 4 battalions. The duties of the citizen watch included the defense of the city, to extinguish fires and general policing tasks. The men were conscripted, with exceptions only for holders of special offices or other privileged persons. During the 17th century the citizen watch was so undisciplined, that its tasks were to watch the fortification at night and to build fortifications only.

From 1810 to 1814 Hamburg was annexed by Napoleon. During the occupation, the Bouches-de-l'Elbe department formed the 127th Infantry Regiment, which was annihilated in the War of the Sixth Coalition (1812–14). The city was besieged for over a year by Allied forces (mostly Russian, Swedish and German). Russian forces under General Bennigsen finally freed the city in 1814.