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| Coat of Arms | Map of Germany |
|---|---|
| Data | |
| State | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
| County | no county; free city |
| Area | 180.99 km² |
| Population | 198,000 (2003) |
| Population Density: | 1094.33 people per km² |
| Altitude: | 13 m above sea level |
| Postal Code | 18001-18147 |
| Telephone Code | +49.381 |
| Location | 54° 04' North 12° 07' East |
| Car Code | HRO |
| City Council | Neuer Markt 1 18055 Rostock |
| Homepage | www.rostock.de |
| info@rostock.de | |
| Administration | |
| Mayor: | Arno Pöker (-Oct. 2004/resignated)
now Ida Schillen (substitute) |
Rostock (slavic origin: roztoc) is a city in northern Germany. It is the largest city in the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Rostock is located on the Warnow river; the quarter of Warnemünde 12 km north of the city centre lies directly on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
In the 11th century there was a Slavic settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc (which means broadening of a river); the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The DanishKongeriget Danmark ( In Detail) Motto of the Queen: Guds hjaelp, Folkets kaerlighed, Danmarks styrke (English: God's help, the love of the people, Denmark's strength) Official language Danish Capital Copenhagen Kobenhavn Monarch Margrethe II Prime Ministe king Valdemar IValdemar I ''the Great ( 1131- 1182) was King of Denmark from 1157 until 1182 He was the son of Canute Lavard a chivalrous and popular Danish prince. His father was murdered only days before his birth. As the rightful heir to the throne and with his rival set the town aflame in 1161Events Bartholomew Iscanus becomes Bishop of Exeter. Births Emperor Takakura of Japan Deaths Heads of states England Henry II Curt Mantle, King of England (reigned 1154 1189). France Louis VII, King of France (reigned 1137 1180).. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders.
The rise of the city began with its membership in the Hanseatic LeagueThe foundations of the Hanseatic League an alliance of trading cities that for a time in the later Middle Ages and the Early Modern period maintained a trade monopoly over most of Northern Europe and the Baltic, can be seen as early as the 12th century.. In the 14th century13th century 14th century 15th century more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. Events The transition from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age Beginning of th it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. In 1419Events January 19 Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England which brings Normandy under the control of England. July 30 Battle of Prague Hussite forces under Jan Zizka defeat the army of Emperor Sigismund, who is forced to withdraw from B the oldest university in Northern Europe, the University of Rostock, was founded.
At the end of the 15th century the dukes of Mecklenburg succeeded in capturing the town of Rostock, which had until then been independent. They took advantage of a riot known as Domfehde, a failed uprising of the impoverished population. Subsequent quarrels with the dukes and persistent plundering led ultimately to a loss of power.
In the 19th century Rostock regained much of its power, due to its shipyards, constructing the first propeller-driven steamers in Germany. The city grew, was almost entirely destroyed in World War II and became a major industrial centre of East Germany with the port being developed as the primary gate to the world.
In the 20th century, important airplane facilities were situated in the city, such as the Arado Works in Warnemünde and the Heinkel Works with facilities at various places. It was at their facilities in Marienehe where the world's first jet plane made its test flights. Airplane construction ceased at the end of the Second World War.
Following the reunification of Germany after 1989, Rostock lost its privilleged position as the principal seaport of East Germany and became just another medium-sized city, now located in one of the poorest regions of reunited Germany. Because of this, and despite large infrastructure investments, the city's economy has declined. More importantly, its population dropped from 253,000 in 1988 to less than 200,000 today, primarly due to emigration to more prosperous western regions of Germany but also to suburbanisation.