Editing University of Cologne (section)

===1388–1798===
The university of [[Cologne]] was established in 1388 as the fourth university in the [[Holy Roman Empire]], after the [[Charles University of Prague]] (1348), the [[University of Vienna]] (1365) and the [[Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg]] (1386). The charter was signed by Pope [[Urban VI]].<ref name=":2" /> The university began teaching on 6 January 1389, and operated for several hundred years.

In 1798, the university was abolished by the [[French First Republic]], who had invaded Cologne in 1794, because under the new French constitution, many universities were abolished all over France. The last rector [[Ferdinand Franz Wallraf]] was able to preserve the university's Great Seal, now once more in use.