Lastadie

Lastadie was a quarter of central Königsberg, Germany. Its territory is now part of Kaliningrad, Russia.

Etymology

The name Lastadie is derived from the Medieval Latin Lastagium, referring specifically to sailing ballast and generally to loading docks. In Old High German it became ladastat and in Middle Low German Lastadie. In the Low Prussian dialect of Königsberg it was pronounced Lastaadje. While medieval docks were also built by Kneiphof (in Vordere Vorstadt) and Löbenicht (in neighboring Anger), the usage of "Lastadie" in Königsberg referred almost exclusively to those of Altstadt built south of Laak.

History

The oldest docks of Königsberg were located on an island then known as Vogtswerder within the Pregel River. The 1286 charter of Altstadt allowed the town to build these initial docks (later known as the Kai, meaning quay) on the western coast of the island, connected to Altstadt by the Grüne Brücke (Green Bridge). With the establishment of Kneiphof on the island Vogtswerder as a rival town in 1327, however, Altstadt was forced to move its dock operation.