Late Medieval Cologne

#102 A Stroll Through 1300: A Historical Walk Across Medieval Cologne

Cologne has won the Battle of Worringen in 1288. Let’s celebrate! A street-level walk through 14th-century Cologne. Follow the path of a medieval procession from the northern gates down to the riverfront markets, passing craft workshops, ancient Roman arches, and the unfinished Gothic cathedral along the way. Places we walk by on our route through medieval Cologne The Eigelstein Gate The Eigelstein Gate (Eigelsteintor) was the main … Continue reading #102 A Stroll Through 1300: A Historical Walk Across Medieval Cologne

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Allgemein, Late Medieval Cologne

#101 Founding of Düsseldorf and the Aftermath of Worringen

In this episode, we explore the aftermath of the Battle of Worringen and the bold move by Count Adolf V of Berg that changed the Rhineland forever. Discover how a power vacuum—created by the imprisonment of the Archbishop of Cologne—led to the birth of Düsseldorf as a town on August 14, 1288. We dive into the tactical errors and turning points of one of the … Continue reading #101 Founding of Düsseldorf and the Aftermath of Worringen

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Allgemein

#100 The Battle of Worringen

The Battle of Worringen Fought on June 5, 1288, the Battle of Worringen was the violent climax of the Limburg War of Succession, a conflict that had been raging for five years. It was one of the bloodiest and most brutal pitched battles of the Middle Ages, involving approximately 12,000 participants on the Fühlinger Heide north of Cologne. The battle represented a fundamental power struggle between two major factions: The Brabant … Continue reading #100 The Battle of Worringen

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Allgemein, High Medieval Cologne

#99 The Great Treason of 1288 – Cologne joins the Battle of Worringen

Imagine you are one of the most powerful rulers in the Holy Roman Empire. You sit in a sparsely furnished chamber, the flicker of a single oil lamp casting long shadows on the stone walls. Outside, the air is thick with the snorting of warhorses and the clatter of 3,500 knights. You are certain of victory—so certain, in fact, that you have brought hundreds of iron … Continue reading #99 The Great Treason of 1288 – Cologne joins the Battle of Worringen

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Allgemein

#98 A Who’s Who of the Battle of Worringen 1288

On 5 June 1288, the Battle of Worringen took place, serving as the violent climax to the Limburg War of Succession. This battle featured a “who’s who” of the north-western Holy Roman Empire and transformed the Rhineland from a chaotic mosaic of dominions into a new political reality. Rather than a tale of good versus evil, the conflict was a raw struggle for land, power, … Continue reading #98 A Who’s Who of the Battle of Worringen 1288

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Allgemein, High Medieval Cologne

#96 The Holy Roman Empire at the Time of the Battle of Worringen

How could such a violent battle at Worringen in 1288 happen? Just north of Cologne’s city limits? In this episode we take a short look at the Empire as a whole and how it was fundamentally changing on its way into the Late Middle Ages and affecting the events to unfold in the Battle of Worringen. The Interregnum – the era without an emperor 1250-1273 … Continue reading #96 The Holy Roman Empire at the Time of the Battle of Worringen

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Allgemein, High Medieval Cologne

#95 The 1275 Friendship Treaty: Siegfried von Westerburg and Cologne’s New Gothic City Seal

In 1275, Cologne entered an unexpected agreement that reshaped its relationship with one of the most powerful men in the empire: the new Archbishop of Cologne. At the same time, the city received a remarkable new Gothic seal—an object that tells us more about medieval identity, politics, and ambition than any charter ever could.How did all this come together? And why did it matter so … Continue reading #95 The 1275 Friendship Treaty: Siegfried von Westerburg and Cologne’s New Gothic City Seal

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Allgemein, High Medieval Cologne

#94 The Expulsion of the Wise Men and the Aftermath of the Battle of Ulrepforte

1271: Three years after civil war tore Cologne apart, the aging Dominican friar Albertus Magnus was sent to end the deadlock between a captive archbishop and an ambitious count. But peace always comes at a cost — and in Cologne, that cost would change the balance of power for a century. Albertus Magnus In 1271 Albertus Magnus is now in his 70s. Can he make … Continue reading #94 The Expulsion of the Wise Men and the Aftermath of the Battle of Ulrepforte

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Allgemein, High Medieval Cologne

#93 The Battle at Ulrepforte

On a dark October night in 1268, a secret tunnel, a betrayed alliance, and a struggle for power would decide the fate of medieval Cologne. What began as a feud between wealthy families turned into a bloody street battle beneath the city walls. Who dug the hole—and who paid the price? Join us as we uncover the forgotten story of the Battle of Ulrepforte. Matthias … Continue reading #93 The Battle at Ulrepforte

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High Medieval Cologne

#92 Retrospective: High Medieval Cologne and the Rise of the Citizenry

In this retrospective episode, we explore how medieval Cologne’s citizens gradually challenged the authority of their archbishops, built their own institutions, and laid the foundations for urban independence in the High Middle Ages. Timetable 10th century965: Death of Archbishop Bruno → connection of spiritual and secular power, foundation of archiepiscopal rule over the city. 11th century1074: Uprising against Archbishop Anno II → first sign of … Continue reading #92 Retrospective: High Medieval Cologne and the Rise of the Citizenry

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