Editing History of Cologne (section)

== Cologne in the Holy Roman Empire ==
{{Further|Electorate of Cologne}}

===Later Middle Ages===
Cologne's first Christian bishop was [[Maternus of Cologne|Maternus]]. He was responsible for the construction of the first [[Cologne Cathedral|cathedral]], a square building erected early in the 4th century. In 794, [[Hildebold of Cologne|Hildebold]] was the first bishop of Cologne to be appointed archbishop. [[Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne|Bruno I]] (925–965), younger brother of [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor]], founded several monasteries here.

The dynasty of the [[Ezzonids]], later [[Counts of Berg]], counted 7 archbishops during that period and consolidated the powers of the archbishopric over imperial affairs. The archbishops of Cologne became very influential as advisers to the Saxon, [[Salian]] and [[Hohenstaufen]] dynasties. From 1031 they also held the office of Arch-Chancellor of [[Italy]]. Their authority culminated{{Clarify|date=November 2013}} under Archbishop [[Engelbert II of Berg]], imperial administrator (Reichsprovisor) and tutor to the emperor's son. Between 1216 and 1225, Engelbert fought for the establishment and security of the archdiocese of Cologne both as an ecclesiastical authority and as a secular territory. This led to his murder in 1225.

Construction of the Gothic cathedral started in 1248 under [[Konrad von Hochstaden]]. The eastern arm was completed and consecrated in 1322. Construction of the western arm was halted in 1475, and it would remain unfinished until 1880.

In 1074 the [[Medieval commune|commune]] was formed. By the 13th century, the relationship between the city and its archbishop had become difficult, and after the [[Battle of Worringen]] in 1288, the forces of Brabant and the citizenry of Cologne captured Archbishop Siegfried of Westerburg (1274–97),<ref name="Catholic Encyclopedia">Harry de Quetteville. "[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04116a.htm History of Cologne]". ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', November 28, 2009.</ref> resulting in almost complete freedom for the city. To regain his liberty the archbishop recognized the political independence of Cologne but reserved certain rights, notably the administration of justice.

[[File:Haupthandelsroute Hanse.png|thumb|Main trading routes of the Hanseatic League, with Cologne (Köln) in the lower left]] Long-distance trade in the Baltic intensified as the major trading towns came together in the [[Hanseatic League]] under the leadership of [[Lübeck]]. The League was a business alliance of trading cities and their guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe. It flourished from the 1200 to 1500 and continued with lesser importance thereafter. The chief cities were Cologne on the Rhine, [[Hamburg]] and [[Bremen]] on the North Sea, and Lübeck on the Baltic.<ref>James Westfall Thompson, ''Economic and Social History of Europe in the Later Middle Ages (1300–1530)'' (1931), pp. 146–79</ref> Cologne was a leading member, especially because of its trade with England. The Hanseatic League gave merchants special privileges in member cities, which dominated trade in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Cologne's hinterland in Germany gave it an added advantage over the other Hanseatic cities, and it became the largest city in Germany and the region. Cologne's central location on the Rhine placed it at the intersection of the major trade routes between east and west and was the basis of Cologne's growth.<ref>Paul Strait, ''Cologne in the Twelfth Century'' (1974)</ref> The economic structures of medieval and early modern Cologne were based on the city's major harbor, its location as a transport hub, and its entrepreneurial merchants who built ties with merchants in other Hanseatic cities.<ref>Joseph P. Huffman, ''Family, Commerce, and Religion in London and Cologne'' (1998) covers from 1000 to 1300.</ref>

Cologne effectively became a [[City-state|free city]] after 1288, and in 1475 it was formally made a [[free imperial city]], a status that it held until annexed by France on May 28, 1796. The Archbishopric of Cologne was a state in its own right within the Holy Roman Empire, but the city was independent, and the archbishops were usually not allowed to enter it. Instead, they took up residence in [[Bonn]] and later in [[Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia|Brühl]] until they returned in 1821.
[[File:Cologn1411.jpg|thumb|550px|center|Cologne around 1411]]

[[Cologne Cathedral]] housed sacred relics that made it a destination for many worshippers. With the bishop not resident, the city was ruled by patricians (merchants carrying on long-distance trade). The craftsmen formed guilds, which sought to obtain control of the towns. The guilds were governed by strict rules. A few were open to women. Society was divided into sharply demarcated classes: the clergy, physicians, merchants, and various guilds of artisans; full citizenship was not available to paupers. Political tensions arose from issues of taxation, public spending, regulation of business, and market supervision, as well as the limits of corporate autonomy.<ref>David Nicholas, ''The Growth of the Medieval City: From Late Antiquity to the Early Fourteenth Century'' (1997), pp. 69–72, 133–42, 202–20, 244–45, 300–307</ref>

The first [[pogrom]] against the Jews of Cologne occurred in 1349, when they were used as scapegoats for the [[Black Death]].<ref>''[[Liber Chronicarum]]''</ref> In 1424 they were evicted from the city. They were allowed back again in 1798.