In 1252 the citizens of Cologne are fighting each other against their city lord, the Archbishop, again. This time even with warships and trebuchets firing at the city! The topic of the dispute? Money! But not a certain amount, but money in general. The currency of Cologne, the Cologne Penny, a key currency in northwestern Europe is in danger!

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Konrad von Hochstaden

Figure of Konrad von Hochstaden at his grave in Cologne Cathedral

Konrad von Hochstaden, Archbishop of Cologne from 1238 to 1261, was a key figure in the historic Kleiner Schiedarbitration of 1252. A skilled yet polarizing leader, Konrad faced mounting financial pressures during his tenure, leading to his controversial decision to devalue the Cologne pfennig to alleviate debts and fund territorial ambitions. This move sparked fierce resistance from the city’s merchants, whose economic interests relied on the stability of the currency.

The escalating conflict culminated in the Kleiner Schied, a groundbreaking arbitration between Konrad and the citizens of Cologne. Remarkably, Konrad agreed to negotiate on equal footing with the city, marking a significant moment in medieval conflict resolution. His involvement in this process highlighted both his pragmatism and the deep tensions between secular and civic powers in the 13th century.

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The Cologne Penny

Here you can see a Cologne Penny made during the reign of Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden.

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The Cologne City Museum (Kölnisches Stadtmuseum) even has a comic that explains the whole conflict around The Small Arbitration (Der Kleine Schied) Can you spot the Trebuchet firing at Cologne? 🙂

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