Electorate of Cologne

Cologne was the seat of a bishopric by the 4th century and an archbishopric by the 5th century, although it’s authority was, at first, strictly ecclesiastical. In the mid 10th century, the Archbishopric was recognized as the secular ruler over most of the left bank of the Rhein between Bonn and Neuss, including the city of Cologne itself. Over the next three centuries, the Archbishopric gained secular control over more territories on the left bank of the Rhein to the south (e.g., Andernach in 1167 and the County of Are in 1246) and some on the right bank of the Rhein (e.g., Deutz and Linz).

 

In 1230, a new system of electing a Holy Roman Emperor was introduced that made the Archbishop one of six electors who could cast a vote (the number grew over time to ten). From that time on, the secular domain of the Archbishop was known as the Electorate of Cologne, which served both to elevate the Archbishop of Cologne above all but two other Archbishops (Trier and Mainz, also designated as electors) and to more clearly distinguish his secular domain from his ecclesiastical domain. Despite the change in nomenclature, the Electorate remained part of Ecclesiastical Germany.

 

Eventually, the territories near the Rhein were divided between the Oberes Erzstift (Upper Archbishopric, located south of Cologne with its capital in Andernach) and the Niederes Erzstift (Lower Archbishopric, located north of Cologne with its capital in Neuss). In 1180, the Archbishopric acquired the Duchy of Westphalia and in 1230 it acquired Vest Reckinghausen. Neither were located near the Rhein. I recognize those four regions as major subdivisions of the Electorate with the simplified names of Oberstift, Niederstift, Westfalen, and Recklinghausen.

 

In 1288, however, the Electorate suffered a defeat in the Battle of Worringen and lost control over the city of Cologne. The Archbishop rotated among several seats until 1597, when Bonn became the permanent capital. (I use Bonn as part of the simplified country name (Cologne-Bonn) even before 1597 because I need a single descriptor to distinguish it from the Imperial City of Cologne and Bonn was arguably the most important of the Elector’s residences, as evidenced by its eventual selection as the single capital.)

 

In 1331, the Electorate acquired the County of Hülchrath, which bridged a gap between the Oberstift and Niederstift. Shortly thereafter, it settled a dispute with the Duke of Jülich over Liedberg and acquired the Ämter of Linn and Uerdingen, further consolidating its territory in the Niederstift. After 1546, when its dispute with Jülich over Rheinbach was settled, only very minor boundary changes occurred. (I nevertheless delay starting the database until 1559 in order to avoid accounting for some changes in the foreign administration of territories under the Electorate’s sovereignty—described here.)

 

Subdivisions of the Electorate of Cologne
  • OBERES ERZSTIFT
  • Stadt and Amt Andernach
  • Quasi-Gericht Andernach1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Buchholz1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Waldorf1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Wehr1559 - 1794
  • Stadt and Amt Ahrweiler
  • Quasi-Gericht Ahrweiler1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Vettelhoven1559 - 1794
  • Amt Altenahr
  • Dingstuhl Kirchspiel Altenahr1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Brück1559 - 1794
  • Vogtei Hönningen1559 - 1794
  • Vogtei Kesseling1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Liers1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Burgsahr1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Kirchsahr1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Vischel1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Wensburg1559 - 1794
  • Oberamt Bonn
  • ___HAUPTSTADT & AMT BONN
  • Hauptstadt Bonn1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Buschhoven1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Dottendorf1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Duisdorf1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Waldorf1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Widdig1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Bornheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Endenich1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Flerzheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Heimerzheim auf der Swist1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Lüftelberg1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Müggenhausen1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Miel1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Neukirchen an der Sürsch1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Niederdreis1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Schwarzrheindorf1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Sürsch1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Villich1559 - 1803
  • ___AMT GODESBERG-MEHLEM
  • Amt Godesberg1559 - 1794
  • Gericht Witterschlick1559 - 1794
  • Amt Mehlem1559 - 1794
  • Pfandschaft Amt Wolkenburg1559 - 1803
  • Burggrafschaft Drachenfels1559 - 1794
  • ___OTHER PRIMARY SUBDIVISIONS
  • Stadt und Herrlichkeit Meckenheim1559 - 1794
  • Stadt and Amt Rheinbach1559 - 1794
  • Amt Brühl
  • Quasi-Gericht Brühl1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Berzdorf1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Esch1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Gleuel1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Keldenich1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Kendenich1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Roesberg1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Schwadorf1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Walberberg1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Weilerswist1559 - 1794
  • Amt Hardt
  • Dingstuhl Arloff1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Kuchenheim1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Mudscheid1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Stotzheim und Zingsheim1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Weyer1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Büllesheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Ringsheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Abtei Steinfeld1559 - 1794
  • Amt Lechenich
  • Stadt Lechenich1559 - 1794
  • Gericht Kirchspeil Blatzheim1559 - 1794
  • Gericht Kirchspiel Borr1559 - 1794
  • Gericht Lechenich1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Wichterich1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Bliesheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Buschfeld1559 - 1757
  • Herrschaft Friesheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Gymnich1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Hermülheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Müddersheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Liblar1559 - 1794
  • Herrschaft Strassfeld1559 - 1794
  • Amt Altenwied
  • Kirchspiel Ansbach1559 - 1718
  • Kirchspiel Neustadt1559 - 1718
  • Kirchspiel Windhagen1559 - 1718
  • Herrschaft Lahr1559 - 1718
  • Herrschaft Schönstein1559 - 1718
  • Amt Linz
  • Stadt und Kirchspiel Linz1559 - 1718
  • Stadt Unkel1559 - 1718
  • Herrschaft Dattenberg1559 - 1718
  • Herrschaft Erpel1559 - 1718
  • Amt Neuerburg1559 - 1718
  • Oberamt Linz
  • Kirchspiel Asbach1718 - 1803
  • Kirchspiel Neustadt1718 - 1803
  • Kirchspiel Windhagen1718 - 1803
  • Herrschaft Lahr1718 - 1803
  • Herrschaft Schönstein1718 - 1803
  • Stadt und Kirchspiel Linz1718 - 1803
  • Stadt Unkel1718 - 1803
  • Herrschaft Dattenberg1718 - 1803
  • Herrschaft Erpel1718 - 1803
  • Amt Neuerburg1718 - 1803
  • Amt Nürburg
  • Schuldheissenamt Adenau1559 - 1794
  • Schuldheissenamt Reifferscheid und Vogtei Barweiler1559 - 1794
  • Schuldheissenamt der vier Honschaften auf der Schuld1559 - 1794
  • Schultheissenamt Uersfeld1559 - 1794
  • Schultheissenamt Welcherath1559 - 1794
  • Unterherrschaft Kaltenborn-Hochacht1559 - 1794
  • Stadt Rhens1661 - 1794
  • Amt Zeltingen1559 - 1794
  • Amt Zülpich1559 - 1794
  • NIEDERES ERZSTIFT
  • Amt Deutz1559 - 1803
  • Amt Hülchrath
  • Unteramt Erprath1680 - 1794
  • Hauptgericht Esch1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Fürth1559 - 1794
  • Gräfliches Land1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Hülchrath1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Rommerskirchen1559 - 1794
  • Erbvogtei Köln1683 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Kriel1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Mauenheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Merheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Müngersdorf1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Niehl1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Ossendorf1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Uedesheim1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Worringen1559 - 1794
  • Oberamt Kempen-Oedt
  • Amt Kempen1559 - 1794
  • Amt Oedt1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Anrath, Neersen und Hülsdonk1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Hüls1559 - 1794
  • Amt Königsdorf
  • Quasi-Gericht Königsdorf1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Brauweiler1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Junkersdorf1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Kenten1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Lövenich1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Quadrath1559 - 1794
  • Amt Liedberg
  • Dingstugl Liedberg1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Giesenkirchen1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Gustorf-Frimmersdorf1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Holzheim1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Kleinenbroich1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Kaarst1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Kehn1559 - 1794
  • Dingstuhl Schiefbahn1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Horst1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Schlich1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Zoppenbroich1559 - 1794
  • Stadt and Amt Linn
  • Stadt Linn1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Bockum (Süd)1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Büderich1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Heerdt1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Fischeln1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Lank1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Osterath1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Willich1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Nierst1559 - 1794
  • Amt Uerdingen
  • Stadt Uerdingen1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Bockum (Nord)1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Hohenbudberg1559 - 1794
  • Amt Neuss
  • Hauptstadt Heuss1559 - 1680
  • Unteramt Erprath1559 - 1680
  • Hauptstadt Neuss1680 - 1794
  • Amt Rheinberg
  • Stadt und Amtsgericht Rheinberg1559 - 1794
  • Bauerschaft Buchholz1559 - 1794
  • Kirchspiel Menzelen1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Issum1559 - 1794
  • Herrlichkeit Kamp1559 - 1794
  • Stadt and Amt Zons1559 - 1794
  • VEST RECKLINGHAUSEN
  • (forthcoming)
  • HERZOGTUM WESTFALEN
  • (forthcoming)