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.

Since the late 12th century, Hamburg had military sovereignty (German: Wehrhoheit)—the right and the duty to defend itself—[1] and used this for the first time in 1394 to conquer the fortress of Ritzebüttel—since 1926 part of Cuxhaven.

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.

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).

This date is considered as the anniversary of the militia and was celebrated every year with a feast of the officers corps or a parade.

[3] Several occupational groups were excluded from the militia, among others priests, public teachers, physicians, bailiffs, members of the night watch and the police.

The duty regulations of 1814 emphasized, that the soldiers were citizens,[7] and at the beginning patriotism and enthusiasm filled the ranks of the militia, although the level of the officers corps sunk in the 1830s.