Cologne collegiate feud

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The dispute between Archbishop Ruprecht of the Palatinate and the estates of the Archbishopric of Cologne , which began in 1473, is referred to as the Kölner Stiftsfehde, also known as the Stiftsfehde zu Köln , Neuss War or Burgundischer War . With the inclusion of Charles the Bold of Burgundy and, ultimately, the Holy Roman Empire , the matter took on a European dimension at times. It was finally over with the death of Ruprecht in 1480.

The siege of Neuss was an important part of the Cologne collegiate feud (illustration by Conradius Pfettisheim)

prehistory

The background was that after the death of Dietrich II von Moers, the estates in the secular territory of the Archbishop of Cologne merged to form so-called hereditary associations . Vest Recklinghausen also joined the Hereditary Land Association in the Archbishopric . In the Duchy of Westphalia a separate hereditary state association was agreed. The new archbishops had to swear to these agreements in their function as sovereigns. The Hereditary Land Association provided that the sovereign had to ask the estates for approval for important financial and general political issues. Although Ruprecht came from the middle of the cathedral chapter , he soon no longer adhered to the hereditary land association that he swore. Instead, he recruited mercenaries from the Palatinate, with whom he thought to recapture the properties pledged by previous archbishops. When he pledged to the cathedral chapter in the dispute over the imposition of a head tax and stove Zons was taking, the conflict broke out openly. He also tried to take the city of Neuss by force. The estates saw the archbishop's actions as a breach of the hereditary land union, invoked the right of resistance documented therein and deposed Ruprecht. In the spring of 1473 they elected Hermann von Hessen to be the monastery administrator in his place . The stands in the cities of Cologne and Neuss enjoyed strong support.

course

Ruprecht did not accept this. He also received support from small and medium-sized estates. The Hessian troops under Johann Schenk zu Schweinsberg , sent to support the monastery administrator, failed in their attempt to conquer the city of Brilon in the Duchy of Westphalia in 1473 , but then played a significant role in the defense of Neuss. Ruprecht's position also improved because he succeeded in winning Karl the Bold as a supporter. He was even appointed bailiff of the archbishopric.

For his part, Charles the Bold saw the opportunity to expand his sphere of influence in the conflict at the expense of the archbishopric. A large part of the neighboring territories was already in Burgundian hands. In addition, the Duchy of Cleves was one of his allies. After Charles the Bold had been in the possession of the Duchy of Geldern since 1473 , the existence of the archbishopric was threatened. In 1473, at the “Trier Meeting”, the position of Charles the Bold and that of the Emperor and the Elector should be clarified. This mediation attempt was unsuccessful. In April and May 1474 Ahrweiler was besieged by Ruprecht's troops. Walls and riflemen fended off the attacks.

Charles the Bold marched up with an army that was considered to be one of the largest and best equipped of the time. On the side of Charles the Bold stood Friedrich the Victorious of the Palatinate, brother of Archbishop Ruprecht and the Duchies of Geldern and Kleve . The allied troops numbered around 13,000 to 20,000 men. But instead of marching on Cologne as Ruprecht intended , the army advanced to Neuss. The city was defended by Hermann von Hessen and his troops, which totaled 4,000 men. The city was besieged by enemy troops in 1474/75 (see main article Siege of Neuss ). The siege was caused by the march of one of Emperor Friedrich III. summoned imperial contingent ended. The Neuss War was over, but not the penal feud.

After the withdrawal of the Burgundian troops, Ruprecht von der Pfalz still had some support in the upper monastery and in the Duchy of Westphalia. He therefore declined a task. However, his position was severely weakened by the deaths of Frederick the Victorious in 1476 and Charles the Bold a year later. In the area of ​​the archbishopric itself he could only maintain Kempen and Altenahr , and there were also some Westphalian areas. In 1478 he was captured by Hessian troops. Nevertheless, the Hessians initially did not succeed in really asserting themselves in Westphalia. The Duke of Kleve, who fought on Ruprecht's side, was even able to temporarily occupy Arnsberg and Eversberg .

After his capture, Ruprecht declared that he was ready to resign from the office of archbishop. However, it was a long time coming for confirmation from the Pope because of the difficult canon law situation - Ruprecht was not only the sovereign, but primarily a bishop. Renouncing the office of bishop was also questionable because it came about under external pressure. Ruprecht's death on July 26, 1480 ended the difficult situation.

literature

  • Monika Storm: The Duchy of Westphalia, Vest Recklinghausen and the Rhenish Archbishopric of Cologne: Kurköln in its parts . In: Harm Klueting (Ed.): The Duchy of Westphalia. Vol. 1: The Cologne Duchy of Westphalia from the beginnings of Cologne rule in southern Westphalia to secularization in 1803. Münster, 2009 ISBN 978-3-402-12827-5 pp. 350–352
  • Ferdinand Schmitz: The Neuss War 1474-1475. Reprint from the Rheinische Geschichtsbl Blätter. Bonn, 1896

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