I
City (pop., 2002 est.: city, 540,950; metro. area, 849,800), northwestern Germany.
Located on the Weser River , it was established as a diocese in 787 by Charlemagne and was the seat of an archbishopric from 845. In the 10th century it became an economic centre of northern Germany, especially after entering the Hanseatic League in 1358. It joined the German Confederation in 1815 and the reconstituted German Empire in 1871. It suffered extensive damage in World War II; after the war Bremen, with nearby Bremerhaven (pop., 2002 est.: 195,863), became a state of West Germany. Today the state, covering 156 sq mi (404 sq km), forms an integral part of the German economy and serves as headquarters for many industries.
II
Former duchy, Germany.
Lying between the lower Elbe rivers and northwest of the former duchy of Brunswick -Lüneburg, it covered an area of about 2,000 sq mi (5,200 sq km). It was made an archbishopric in the 13th century, and in 1648 became a duchy under the supremacy of Sweden. In 1715 it became part of the electorate of {{link=Hanover, house of">Hanover .