# Treaty of Berlin (1715)

The Treaty of Berlin was concluded on 2 May 1715, during the [Great Northern War](https://www.edgepedia.org/great-northern-war). It formalized an alliance between [George I of Great Britain](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-i-of-great-britain), acting in his role as Elector of Hanover, and Denmark-Norway, in return for the cession of the Swedish dominion of [Bremen-Verden](https://www.edgepedia.org/bremen-verden) to Hanover, a territory that had been occupied by Denmark<sup>[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/xvii.lxvii.443)</sup>.

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and place | Concluded at Berlin on 2 May 1715, during the Great Northern War<sup>[3](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/detailAction?detailid=v3436361)</sup> |
| Parties | George I of Great Britain as Elector of Hanover, and Denmark-Norway<sup>[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/xvii.lxvii.443)</sup> |
| Hanover's reward | Cession of the Swedish dominion of Bremen-Verden, then occupied by Denmark<sup>[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/xvii.lxvii.443)</sup> |
| Denmark's reward | Assured gain of the yet-to-be-conquered Stralsund<sup>[2](https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/xvii.lxvii.443)</sup> |
| Ratification | Ratifications exchanged on 17 July 1715 in the camp before Stralsund<sup>[1](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/showArchivalDescriptionDetails.action?archivalDescriptionId=3436361&request_locale=de)</sup> |

## Negotiation and conclusion

The alliance took shape only after the Hanoverian position changed with the British crown.

The treaty was "adjusted" at Berlin on 2 May 1715 by the plenipotentiaries Lieutenant General von Dewitz for Denmark and Councillor Heusch for Hanover, with some reservations and side clauses; the date entered in the surviving instruments is retrodated to that adjustment<sup>[1](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/showArchivalDescriptionDetails.action?archivalDescriptionId=3436361&request_locale=de)</sup>.

## Ratification and sources

The ratification documents were exchanged on 17 July 1715 in the camp before Stralsund, where the allied armies were operating against the Swedish stronghold<sup>[1](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/showArchivalDescriptionDetails.action?archivalDescriptionId=3436361&request_locale=de)</sup>. The Hanoverian instrument of ratification was issued by Georg I, King of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover, countersigned by Hattorf; the Danish instrument was issued by Friedrich IV, King of Denmark, countersigned by D. Wiebe<sup>[1](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/showArchivalDescriptionDetails.action?archivalDescriptionId=3436361&request_locale=de)</sup>.

The treaty text was printed from the two negotiators' copies in R. Drögereit, *Quellen zur Geschichte Kurhannovers im Zeitalter der Personalunion mit England 1714-1803*, part 1 (Hildesheim, 1949), pages 16-24<sup>[1](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/showArchivalDescriptionDetails.action?archivalDescriptionId=3436361&request_locale=de)</sup>. The surviving ratification instruments are held in the Lower Saxony State Archive, Hanover, under the former signature Cal. Or. 31 Dänemark Schrank III Kapsel 7 Nr. 8<sup>[1](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/showArchivalDescriptionDetails.action?archivalDescriptionId=3436361&request_locale=de)</sup>.

## References

1. [Arcinsys, Nds. Landesarchiv, Abt. Hannover, Bestand Hann. 10, Nr. 1.1715: Offensiv- und Defensivbündnis zwischen Dänemark und Hannover gegen Schweden](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/showArchivalDescriptionDetails.action?archivalDescriptionId=3436361&request_locale=de)
2. [The Baltic Expedition and Northern Treaties of 1715, doi.org](https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/xvii.lxvii.443)
3. [NLA HA Hann. 10 Nr. 52 – St. James Offensiv- und Defensivbündnis zwischen Dänemark und Hannover gegen Schweden, Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv (Arcinsys)](https://www.arcinsys.niedersachsen.de/arcinsys/detailAction?detailid=v3436361)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › International law › Historical treaties by era and place › Named-by-place treaty families › Berlin and The Hague treaty families › Early-modern Treaties of Berlin (1715–1800s)*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license