The History of Cologne, Germany's oldest major city, can be broken into several periods: Map of Germany showing Cologne Cologne skyline at night. ...

The Romans

In 39 BC, the tribe of the Ubii entered into an agreement with the Roman forces and settled on the left bank of the Rhine. Their headquarters was Oppidum Ubiorum - the settlement of the Ubii, and at the same time an important Roman military base. In 50 AD, Agrippina the younger, wife of the Emperor Claudius, who was born in Cologne, asked for her home village to be elevated to the status of a colonia - a city under Roman law. It was called Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis (a "colony of Claudius and the altar of Agrippina"), or Colonia Agrippina, "the Colony of Agrippina." In 80 AD water supply was built, the Eifel Aqueduct, one of the longest aqueducts of the Roman Empire, which delivered 20,000 cubic metres of water to the city every day. Ten years later, the colonia became the capital of the Roman province of Lower Germany Germania Inferior. Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC 40s BC - 30s BC - 20s BC 10s BC 0s 10s 20s Years: 44 BC 43 BC 42 BC 41 BC 40 BC - 39 BC - 38 BC 37 BC 36 BC 35 BC... The Ubii were a Germanic tribe first encountered dwelling on the right bank of the Rhine in the time of Julius Caesar, who formed an alliance with them in 55 BC in order to launch attacks across the river. ... The Rhine canyon (Ruinaulta) in Graubünden in Switzerland Length 1,320 km Elevation of the source Vorderrhein: approx. ... Events Londinium is founded by the Romans, taking over as capital of the local Roman province, from Colchester (approximate date) Roman Emperor Claudius appoints Agrippa II governor of Chalcis. ... Julia Vipsania Agrippina or Agrippina Minor (Latin for the younger) (November 6, 15/16-March, 59 AD), often called Agrippinilla to distinguish her from her mother, was the daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina Major. ... Emperor Claudius Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar Drusus (August 1, 10 BC - October 13, 54), originally known as Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, was the fourth Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from January 24th 41 to his death in 54. ... A colonia was a Roman outpost, usually established by veterans of a Roman Legion, who received land as a part of their retirement from the Legions. ... For other uses, see number 80. ... The route of the Eifel aqueduct, with its average slope. ... Pont du Gard, France, a Roman era aqueduct circa 19 BC, it is one of Frances top tourist attractions at over 1. ... Germanía or jerigonza is the term used in Spanish to refer to the argot used by criminals or in jails. ...

In 260 Postumus made Cologne the Capital of the Gallic Empire which included the German and Gallic provinces, Britannia and the provinces of Hispania. The Gallic Empire lasted only twenty years. Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus was emperor of the Gallic Empire from AD 259 to 268. ... The Gallic Empire (in Latin, imperium Galliarum) is the modern name for the independent realm that lived a brief existence during the Roman Empires Crisis of the Third Century, from 259 to 274. ...

By the 3rd century, 20,000 people lived in and around the town.. In 310 AD, the Emperor Constantine had a bridge over the Rhine constructed; this was guarded by the castellum Divitia (nowadays "Deutz"). (2nd century - 3rd century - 4th century - other centuries) Events The Sassanid dynasty of Persia launches a war to reconquer lost lands in the Roman east. ... Events While Constantine was campaigning against the Bructeri, Maximian attempted to make himself emperor at Arles. ... Constantine. ...

Franks, Merovingians and Carolingians

In 355 AD, the Salian Franks besieged the town for 10 months. In 455, they finally captured Cologne and made it their capital city. The Franks were one of several west Germanic tribes who entered the late Roman Empire from Frisia as foederati and established a lasting realm in an area that covers most of modern-day France and the region of Franconia in Germany, forming the historic kernel of both these two modern... For other uses of the term Merovingian, see Merovingian (disambiguation). ... The Carolingians were a dynasty of rulers that eventually controlled the Frankish realm and its successors from the 8th to the 10th century, officially taking over the kingdom from the Merovingian dynasty in 751. ... Events November 6 - Julian is promoted to Caesar. ... The Salian Dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire was founded by Conrad II (c. ... The Franks were one of several west Germanic tribes who entered the late Roman Empire from Frisia as foederati and established a lasting realm in an area that covers most of modern-day France and the region of Franconia in Germany, forming the historic kernel of both these two modern... Events June 2 - Gaiseric leads the Vandals into Rome and plunder the city for two weeks. ...

The Prince-Bishops of Cologne

Archbishop Konrad of Hochstaden's
Cologne Cathedral

Cologne's first Christian bishop was Maternus. He was responsible for the construction of the first cathedral, a square building erected early in the 4th century. In 794, Hildebald (or Hildebold) was the first Bishop of Cologne to be elevated to Archbishop. Bruno I (925-965), younger brother of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, founded several monasteries here. Subsequent 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. Between 1159 and 1167, Rainald von Dassel was Archbishop of Cologne, as well as being Imperial Chancellor and adviser to Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The Archbishopric of Cologne was one of the major ecclesiastical principalities of the Holy Roman Empire. ... Better image, by uploader File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The rear of the cathedral, viewed from across the Rhine Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom) is one of the most well-known architectural monuments in Germany and has been Colognes most famous landmark for centuries. ... (3rd century - 4th century - 5th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... Events Kyoto becomes the Japanese capital. ... Brun or Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne from 953 until his death in 965 and Duke of Lotharingia from 954, was the brother of Otto I, king of Germany and later Holy Roman Emperor. ... Buddhist monastery near Tibet A monastery is the habitation of monks. ... The Salian Dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire was founded by Conrad II (c. ... Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of Kings of Germany, many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Dukes of Swabia. ... Events Collapse of the Moorish Caliphate of Córdoba. ... Events Heiji Rebellion in Tunis is conquered by the Almohad caliphs. ... Events Taira no Kiyomori becomes the first samurai to be appointed Daijo Daijin, chief minister of the government of Japan Peter of Blois becomes the tutor of William II of Sicily Absalon, archbishop of Denmark, leads the first Danish synod at Lund Absalon fortifies Copenhagen William Marshal, the greatest knight... Frederick in a 13th century Chronicle Frederick I Hohenstaufen (1122 – June 10, 1190), also known as Frederick Barbarossa (Frederick Redbeard) was elected king of Germany on March 4, 1152 and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on June 18, 1155. ...

By the 13th century, the relationship between the city of Cologne and its archbishop had become difficult, and after the battle of Worringen in 1288, Cologne effectively became a free city (though this status would not be formally confirmed until 1475) and the Archbishops removed their residence to Bonn. They would not live in Cologne again until 1821. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Events February 22 - Nicholas IV becomes Pope. ... A city-state is a region controlled exclusively by a city. ... Events August 29 - Treaty of Picquigny ends a brief war between France and England. ... Bonn is a city in Germany (Population (2004 est): 313,605 ; the 19th largest city in Germany), in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, located about 20 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine. ... 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The Hanseatic League

Cologne was a leading member of the "Hanse", especially through trading with England. The foundations of the Hanseatic League (German: Hanse), an alliance of trading cities that for a time in the later Middle Ages and the Early Modern period maintained a trade monopoly over most of Northern Europe and the Baltic, can be seen as early as the 12th century, with the... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion...

The French

In 1794, the French occupied Cologne. 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The Prussians

In 1814, Cologne was occupied by Prussian and Russian troops. In 1815, Cologne and the Rhineland were allocated to Prussia. 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The national name Prussia (in Prussian: Prusa, German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian Prusai, Latin: Prussia or Borussia) was used by a wide variety of political factions during the 2nd millennium. ... 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (German: Preußen or Preussen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: Prūsai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad exclave of Russia and...

The Nazis

At the beginning of the Third Reich, Cologne was seen as difficult territory by the Nazis, because of deep-rooted communist and catholic influences on the city. The Nazis were always struggling for control of the city. Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ...

During the war, an anti-Nazi youth gang was active, the Edelweisspiraten. The Edelweiss Pirates (Edelweißpiraten) were members of a loosely organized youth culture in Nazi Germany that emerged in western Germany in the late 1930s in response to the strict regimentation of the Hitler Youth. ...

On the 10th of November 1944, six boys, 16 years of age, were hanged in public, amongst them Bartholomäus Schink, called Barthel. Fritz Theilen survived. 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Fritz Theilen, born September 27, 1927, was a German member of the anti-Nazi resistance group the Edelweißpiraten during World War II. Born to working-class parents, he joined the Jungvolk of the Hitler Youth in 1937, and was excluded for resisting orders in 1940. ...

Bookseller Gerhard Ludwig, who worked for the influential publishers Neven du Mont in 1941, when he got into trouble with the Gestapo for political reason, was dismissed immediately. Upon his release from concentration camp Sachsenhausen, and his return to Cologne in 1946, editor Neven du Mont spotted him and complained about the release of prisoners from the camps - he still saw them as "criminals". Gerhard Ludwig (1909–1994) was a German bookseller. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Gestapo was the official secret police force of Nazi Germany. ... Sachsenhausen may refer to a quarter of Oranienburg in Germany, see Sachsenhausen (Oranienburg), and a detention facility here a quarter of Frankfurt am Main in Germany, see Sachsenhausen (Frankfurt am Main) a municipality of Weimarer Land, see Sachsenhausen (Thüringen) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other... Map of Germany showing Cologne Cologne skyline at night. ... 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

Jews in Cologne

As early as 321 AD, an edict by the Emperor Constantine allowed Jews to be elected to the City Council. The first pogrom against the Jews was in 1349, and in 1424 they were evicted from the city, but were allowed back again in 1798. Events Publication of the first blue law by Constantine I of the Roman Empire: trade is forbidden on Sundays; agriculture is allowed The Roman Catholic church is allowed to hold property Births Deaths Categories: 321 ... Constantine. ... The Russian word pogrom (погром) refers to a massive violent attack on people with simultaneous destruction of their environment (homes, businesses, religious centers). ... -1... Events August 17 - Battle of Verneuil - An English force under John, Duke of Bedford defeats a larger French army under the Duke of Alençon, John Stuart, and Earl Archibald of Douglas. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the Jewish population of Cologne was about 20,000. By 1939, 40% of the city's Jews had emigrated. The vast majority of those who remained had been deported to concentration camps by 1941. 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... A concentration camp is a large detention center created for political opponents, aliens, specific ethnic or religious groups, civilians of a critical war-zone, or other groups of people, often during a war. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

On Kristallnacht in 1938, Cologne's synagogues were set on fire. Kristallnacht, also known as Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht and in English as The Night of Broken Glass, was a massive nationwide pogrom in Germany and Austria on the night of November 9, 1938 (including early hours of the following day). ... 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... A synagogue (from Greek συναγωγη, transliterated sunagoge, place of assembly literally meeting, assembly) is a Jewish house of prayer and study. ...

See also: University of Cologne After the introduction of tuition fees for long-time students, the University of Cologne (German Universität zu Köln) is now the second-largest university in Germany with approximately 45,000 students; it is surpassed only by Munich University and followed by the University of Münster. ...