History of Köln(Cologne), Germany

Cologne is the oldest of the major German cities. Its name goes back to the Romans, who gave their city the name of “Colonia” in 50 A.D.. Rome's imperial governor resided here and the city quickly developed into one of the empire's most important trade and manufacturing centres north of the Alps. The Romans also brought Christianity to Cologne and it quickly became a diocesan town. Following the confusion of the transitional period in which the city came under the rule of the Franks, Charlemagne founded the archbishopric of Cologne in 785. The Archbishop of Cologne, one of the most important feudal lords in the Holy Roman Empire, became Chancellor for Italy (11th C.) and Elector (14th C.).

In the Middle Ages the city experienced a new heyday; from around the 12th to the 15th Century it was the most populous and one of the richest cities in the German-speaking world. Since 1288 and their military victory over the archbishop and ruler of the city, the citizens of Cologne took political and economic power into their own hands, even though Cologne's status as a free imperial city was only confirmed de jure in 1475.