Editing History of Cologne (section)

=== Cathedral construction interrupted and suspended ===

[[File:Kölner Dom, Fenster des nördlichen Seitenschiffs, 2 Petrus-Wurzel-Jesse-Fenster 5.JPG|thumb|Illusion of precious stones: Craftsmanship of the Cologne stained glass window (Petrus-Wurzel-Jesse window / detail, 1508)]]

When the city of Cologne mobilized all its forces in 1474 to arm itself against the advancing [[Charles the Bold|Duke of Burgundy]], the construction work at [[Cologne Cathedral]] needed to be interrupted as well. The craftsmen were obliged to reinforce the city fortifications. Johann Kuyn von Frankenberg, the last master mason of the cathedral in the Middle Ages known by name, had to dissolve the masonry (Dombauhütte). After the war, Archbishop [[Hermann IV of Hesse|Hermann of Hesse]] refrained from continuing construction for about 30 years due to the excessive over-indebtedness of the [[Electorate of Cologne]]. He apparently used the donations, which continued to flow in abundance, to regain the financial leeway of the [[Hochstift|prince-archbishopric]]. It was not until his successor, Archbishop [[Philip II of Daun-Oberstein]], that the cathedral masonry was re-established and the late gothic stained glass windows were installed in the north aisle of the Cathedral in 1508. They are considered to be of particularly high quality, for which the most respected representatives of the [[Cologne School of Painting]] created the designs. Eventually, the regular flow of construction activities stalled after 1525, because the most important financing instrument, the trade with [[indulgence]]s, dried up due to the [[Reformation]]. At the latest in 1560, the cathedral construction was entirely suspended — and was only resumed in 1823.<ref>Rüdiger Marco Booz: Kölner Dom, die vollkommene Kathedrale, Petersberg 2022, p. 142.</ref>