Philipp Gail

Philipp Gail and his son Philipp. “Cologne School” 16th century

Philipp von Gail (born January 11, 1525 in Cologne , † November 29, 1574 there ) was a German businessman , politician , councilor and mayor of the Free Imperial City of Cologne .

family

Gail family coat of arms

Philipp and Andreas von Gail (Geyl, Gayll) were sons of Philipp I von Gail and Katharina von Mülheim. Her father was initially a small Cologne dealer whom Hermann von Weinsberg is said to have called a “simple shopkeeper ”.

Despite the humble family, Gail Senior gave his children a good education. Philipp Gail thus developed into a businessman who was able to record exceptionally large business successes. In addition to his supraregional trade in spices , his stalls were mainly on the southern cathedral forecourt at the archbishop's residence , on which the stalls (also known as "Gaden") of his guild stood massed .

Andreas Gail died on December 11, 1587, his tomb was in St. Brigiden in front of the high altar. In 1806 it was transferred to the Jesuit College through the city and then to the Archbishop's General Vicariate.

Career

Philipp became one of the wealthy Cologne spice wholesalers who were disrespectfully referred to as "pepper sacks" by the population. His reputation in the business world, but also his marriages, gave him access to the upper classes of Cologne society.

In his relatively short life, Gail was married three times to daughters from leading Cologne families. From his marriages with Elisabeth Pilgrum, Katharina Hasselt and Katherina von Reidt a total of 10 children emerged. Some of these were later councilors, such as Caspar jun., Gerhard jun. and Melchior; The latter was mayor of Cologne between 1621 and 1630. During this time Gail became a representative of his gaff (the fish office). As such, Gail was a council member between 1558 and 1574 and was elected mayor of Cologne six times .

literature

Johann Jakob Merlo : The Kamphof in Cologne . In: Yearbooks of the Association of Friends of Antiquity in the Rhineland 57 (1876).
Ludwig Arentz, H. Neu and Hans Vogts ; Paul Clemen (ed.): The art monuments of the city of Cologne . Volume II, extension volume on the former churches, monasteries, hospitals and school buildings of the city of Cologne. Verlag L. Schwann, Düsseldorf 1937. Reprint 1980. ISBN 3-590-32107-5 .

Individual evidence

^ According to information from the Cologne City Museum
↑ JJ Merlo: Der Kamphof zu Köln, in: Year books of the Association of Friends of Antiquity in the Rhineland 57 (1876), p. 101.
^ Paul Clemen: Die Kunstdenkmäler der Rheinprovinz, on behalf of the Provincial Association. Cologne II 1, p. 35.
↑ Hermann v. Weinsberg: Anno 1571, on May 29th, Philips Geil held a banner dinner and had 3 dishes with 13 schotteln on small chussels and bowls, and 2 dishes, and gave me the krentzlin. [1]

personal data
SURNAME	Gail, Philipp
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Gail, Philipp von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Mayor of Cologne
DATE OF BIRTH	January 11, 1525
PLACE OF BIRTH	Cologne
DATE OF DEATH	November 29, 1574
Place of death	Cologne

[1] According to information from the Cologne City Museum

[2] JJ Merlo: Der Kamphof zu Köln, in: Year books of the Association of Friends of Antiquity in the Rhineland 57 (1876), p. 101.

[3] Paul Clemen: Die Kunstdenkmäler der Rheinprovinz, on behalf of the Provincial Association. Cologne II 1, p. 35.

[4] Hermann v. Weinsberg: Anno 1571, on May 29th, Philips Geil held a banner dinner and had 3 dishes with 13 schotteln on small chussels and bowls, and 2 dishes, and gave me the krentzlin. [1]