It is shortly after Easter, the highest feast of Christianity, in the year 1074 AD. Just then, Archbishop Anno of Cologne celebrated the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord together with the Bishop of Münster. But when he sends out his servants to confiscate his guest an ideal Rhine ship that does not even belong to him for the guest’s journey home, the situation in Cologne escalates in just one day. In the evening Anno should remain under siege by an angry mob outside in Cologne Cathedral, while the mob incessantly tries to tear down the cathedral portal to kill him. How this escalated so quickly, you will learn in this episode.

#46 Enough is enough! – The Revolt of 1074 AD against Archbishop Anno II in Cologne – The History of Cologne

In 1074, the people of Cologne rose up in revolt against the city's ruler and archbishop, Anno II. What happened in these April days in the city has written city history that you should not miss.

Anno’s Escape

The red line shows how Anno fled Cologne Cathedral in 1074 AD. In the middle of the night 23/24th April of 1074 he snucked out of Cologne Cathedral protected by darkness and left through an unknown hole in the city wall to safety. Here seen from today’s point of views:

The Anno Hole

Anno escaped through this hole in Cologne’s Roman city wall in 1074, which has since been bricked up.

The Roman city wall is underground due to the nowadays higher cathedral plateau and is part of the underground parking under the Cologne Cathedral.

The Roman city wall is underground due to the nowadays higher cathedral plateau and is part of the underground parking under the Cologne Cathedral.

So where are the other images?

This episode is just about one single event in Cologne’s long history. Sadly, cameras were not yet invented in 1074 AD. Next time, there will be more, promise!