The History of Cologne Podcast

19/06/2025

05/06/2025

🐟 From early morning mists on the Rhine to fish markets, merchant quarrels, and the echo of church bells, this episode immerses you in the sounds, sights, and stories of a single day in the city’s economic center.

🏰 Learn how trade, guilds, and the legendary Staple Law shaped Cologne’s rise to power—and follow merchant Jakob’s anxious wait for his long-overdue ship.

🎧 The podcast „The History of Cologne“ is available everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🙂

08/05/2025

🕊️ 80 years ago today - the end of the Second World War

🗓️ The Second World War officially ended in Europe on 8 May 1945. In Cologne, the war ended a little earlier: American troops moved in as early as March and April 1945, depending on the side of the Rhine. What remained was an almost completely destroyed city - over 90% of the city centre lay in ruins.

And yet Cologne Cathedral towered seemingly unscathed amidst all the destruction. A symbol of hope that still fascinates today - but is deceptive!

🙏 The second picture shows American soldiers holding a service in the heavily damaged Cologne Cathedral - a quiet moment in the midst of the chaos. The building had taken 14 heavy bomb hits, large parts of the roof and some of the vaults had been destroyed, the north tower was battered and only stabilised by an emergency seal made of bricks. Only its massive Gothic structure, solid foundations and a steel roof truss saved it from further destruction.

👷‍♂️👷‍♀️ Even today, war damage is still being repaired there. Why not support the cathedral and become a member of the Zentral-Dombau-Verein zu Köln (ZDV)

📸 1.: Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln Historisches Archiv mit Rheinischem Bildarchiv
US Army, Kölner Dom in der Trümmerwüste bei Kriegsende, Kölnisches Stadtmuseum Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, Köln, Inv.-Nr. G 30910, Köln
3.: Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln, um 1945
Köln, Innenstadt, Panorama mit Blick auf den Dom, Fliegerschäden, Köln, um 1945, Rheinisches Bildarchiv, Inv.-Nr. RBA 072 449

04/05/2025

⚔️ In 1259, Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden seized power in Cologne, overthrowing the city’s patrician families and imprisoning several in Are Castle.

💀 After Konrad’s death in 1261, the patricians hoped his successor, Engelbert II von Falkenburg, would restore their rights. However, despite early promises, Engelbert betrayed them, maintaining the city’s control for himself. When relatives tried to free the prisoners, they were themselves captured.

🔥 Eventually, the prisoners escaped and, with help from the citizens, negotiated their return. But Engelbert demanded high payments and further tightened his grip. Tensions erupted on 8 June 1262 when Cologne’s citizens, alongside the patricians, rose up violently…

🎧 The podcast „History of Cologne“ is available everywhere you listen to podcasts. 😃

07/04/2025

🙏 In the 13th century, they were far more than just places of prayer: The convents of St Ursula, St Cäcilien and St Mary in the Capitol played a decisive role in shaping the spiritual, economic and cultural life of medieval Cologne.
In this episode, we take a look at the lives of the aristocratic canonesses, their influence on education, land ownership and urban development – and why these women’s convents can be seen as centres of female power in a male-dominated world.

🎙️ The new episode of „The History of Cologne“ is available everywhere you catch your podcasts.

04/03/2025

🥳 Happy Birthday!

🤯 It’s already have a decade since I started this podcast. Unbelievable. When I started back then I would never have thought to reach such an audience or even get on TV with it.

❤️ Thank you so much for your time. I know I haven’t posted here regularly. Social media got more and more complex over the years, content creation is way more costlier than in 2020. And time is scarce when doing this as a hobby.

🎙️Still, my heart and soul is my podcast about Cologne and not social media. You can find it via the link in the profile or everywhere you catch your podcasts. And then there is the algorithm that causes your content to get like no reach at all. -.-

👋 Auf Wiedersehen!

26/01/2025

🏰 In 1257, the city of Cologne becomes the stage for a dramatic clash between its powerful Erzbischof, Konrad von Hochstaden, and the influential Cologne Kleingedank family.

💪What begins as a calculated act of revenge soon spirals into a citywide conflict, testing the fragile balance of power between the city ruler, the archbishop, and the citizens of Cologne.

16/12/2024

🎯 1252: When Siege Engineers Built the Biggest Trebuchets... and the Rhine Won. Sorry for the Canva Skills of a 12 year old. 😂 Lack of historical images made me do this.

Hugo and his crew spent hours building massive siege engines, commissioned to bring Cologne to its knees. But when they fired, the stone projectiles soared through the air… and splashed harmlessly into the Rhine. 🦆 The birds were startled. Cologne? Not so much.

💰 Why did it happen? A bitter dispute over money. The Cologne Penny, the backbone of North-West Europe’s trade, was being devalued by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden. Merchants fought back, and what started as a coin controversy turned into one of Cologne’s greatest stand-offs.

🎙️ Want to know how a financial feud turned into flying stones and open rebellion? Tune in to the latest podcast episode! Learn why medieval power struggles weren’t all swords and glory—sometimes they were trebuchets, rivers, and an epic miss.

👉 Listen now! Link in bio.

04/12/2024

⚔️ 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!

🩸 Will it end in a great bloodshed? Find out in the latest episode of The History of Cologne. Listen in your favorite podcast app!

15/11/2024

😇 Feast Day of Albertus Magnus and why he is important for the city of Cologne

🎙️ Learn more about him in #79 of The History of Cologne Podcast

17/10/2024

🏰 One of a kind of his time

⛪️ Albertus Magnus, born around 1200, spent significant time in Cologne during his life. He became a Dominican friar and was appointed to teach at the newly established Dominican house of studies in Cologne in 1248.

🎓 There, he mentored notable students, including Thomas Aquinas. Albertus also served as the provincial of the Dominican Order in Germany and later as bishop of Regensburg, but he returned to Cologne, where he continued his scholarly work.

👨‍🏫 His time in the city marked a period of significant intellectual activity, blending Aristotle’s philosophy with Christian theology, and establishing Cologne as an important center of learning during the Middle Ages.

🎙️ Learn more about it in the latest episode. „The History of Cologne“ is everywhere available where you can find podcasts.

11/09/2024

🏗️ Why the Old Cologne Cathedral was demolished in 1248:

🔥 A deliberately lit fire destroys the the 500 year old Cathedral. It was a dramatic end of Cologne’s Old Cathedral in 1248. Discover how a catastrophic fire brought down this medieval masterpiece of a building, clearing the way for the iconic Gothic structure that would redefine the city’s skyline up until today.

🔗Link to the podcast episode in bio