Editing History of Cologne (section)

=== Frankish rule ===
[[Image:Alter Dom Köln - Rekonstruktion nach Essenwein.jpg|thumb|left|Reconstruction of the Carolingian cathedral, consecrated in 873]]

Colonia was pillaged several times by the Franks in the 4th century. Two lavish burial sites located near the [[Cologne Cathedral|Cathedral]] date from this period. In 355 AD the [[Alemanni]] tribes besieged the town for 10 months, finally taking and plundering it. At the time, the garrison of Colonia Agrippina was under the generalship of Marcus Vitellus. The Romans re-occupied the city several months afterwards by [[Julian (emperor)|Julian]]. The city finally fell to the [[Ripuarian Franks]] in 462 AD.

Cologne served as a base for the Carolingian conversion of the [[Saxon Wars|Saxons and Frisians]]. In 795 the chaplain to [[Charlemagne]], [[Hildebold of Cologne|Hildebold]], was elevated to the newly created [[Archbishop of Cologne|archbishopric of Cologne]]. After the death of Charlemagne, Cologne became part of [[Middle Francia]]. Archbishop [[Gunther (Archbishop of Cologne)|Gunther]] was excommunicated in 863 for his support of the divorce and remarriage of [[Lothair II]]. In 873 Gunther's successor [[Wilbert (archbishop of Cologne)|Wilbert]] consecrated what would become known as the ''Alter Dom'' (old cathedral), the predecessor of Cologne Cathedral. With the death of Lothair in 876, Cologne fell to [[East Francia]] under [[Louis the German]]. The city was burnt down by [[Vikings]] in the winter of 881/2.

In the early 10th century, the dukes of [[Lorraine (duchy)|Lorraine]] seceded from East Francia. Cologne passed to East Francia but was soon reconquered by [[Henry the Fowler]], deciding its fate as a city of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (and eventually [[Germany]]) rather than France.