Dukes · Archbishopric of Cologne · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Cologne in Westphalia

Since 1180 the archbishop of Cologne holds the ducal title over Westphalia and Engern in the dioceses of Cologne and Paderborn: the right to summon and lead the host, build castles, hold the high courts and keep the peace of the land.

The charter fixed no borders and settled no rights, so every count and bishop disputes what it means. On the ground the archbishop holds Soest, the largest and richest town of Westphalia and his capital there, with its palace and the Soest Börde; the market town of Medebach on the Hessian edge; the church manors of Attendorn on the Bigge and Werl on the Hellweg; the castles of Hachen, Padberg (held by its ministerial lords) and Volmarstein on the Ruhr (likewise); and a chain of ministerial families along the Hellweg (Erwitte, Störmede). He is overlord of the counts of Arnsberg (since 1166), of Tecklenburg castle (sold to Archbishop Philip in 1184 and given back as a fief) and of Pyrmont (built by Archbishop Philip in 1180 or 1184 and held by a Schwalenberg cadet line since 1194), and on 12 July 1198, the day of the coronation, Otto and his brothers recognised Cologne's rights to the duchy of Westphalia and renounced any claim to their father's property within the archdiocese.

Who he is

Name
Adolf I of Altena
Title
Archbishop of Cologne, duke of Westphalia and Engern
Since
archbishop since 1193; the see has held the ducal title since the Gelnhausen charter of 13 April 1180
Born
not pinned
Family
Son of Count Eberhard I of Berg-Altena. Brother of Count Arnold of Altena (the Isenberg line) and of the late Count Frederick of Altena (died 1198 or 1199); uncle of young Count Adolf of Altena (the line later called Mark). The genealogies make Oda, wife of Count Simon of Tecklenburg, his sister.
Confidence
high

The maker of Otto's kingship: he organised the election at Cologne (9 June 1198) and crowned Otto at Aachen (12 July 1198). By late 1199 his diocese had been ravaged, Richard I's money had ended with Richard's death (6 April 1199), and he was weighing a move to Philip; a papal letter praising Otto's cause held him back, and a charter of his from 1200 is dated without Otto's regnal years. He changes sides only in November 1204.

The cologne realm record (lrh) has the full prince; this record covers his Westphalian lands and ducal rights.

Overlord

The king, from whom the duchy was granted in 1180.

What it holds

  • Soest: the town, the archbishop's palace and the Soest Börde between the Haar and the Lippe
  • Medebach: market town under Soest market law (1144), charter confirmed by Archbishop Rainald in 1165 (both documents' authenticity disputed); burned by Bernhard of Lippe and Widukind of Rheda on 28 October 1179
  • Attendorn: the archbishop's church and manor on the Bigge (town rights only in 1222)
  • Werl: a village on the Hellweg with salt springs, given to the Cologne church by Count Liupold in 1100 (town rights only in 1218)
  • Hachen castle on the Röhr (later bought back by the counts of Arnsberg; date not pinned)
  • Padberg castle on the Diemel heights, bought before 1120, held by its ministerial lords (see Padberg)
  • Volmarstein castle on the Ruhr, built about 1100, held by its ministerial lords (see Volmarstein)
  • Ministerial families of the Hellweg and the Börde (Erwitte, Störmede), from whom the later marshals come
  • Overlordship of the county of Arnsberg (since 1166), of Tecklenburg castle (since 1184), of Pyrmont (since 1180/84) and of fiefs held by Lippe and Altena
  • The ducal rights of 1180: host, castle-building, high justice and the peace of the land in the dioceses of Cologne and Paderborn
  • The Welf recognition of 12 July 1198: Otto and his brothers acknowledge Cologne's duchy and renounce their father's property in the archdiocese (renewed 3 February 1201; challenged by Count Palatine Henry in May 1202)

How it was acquired

Soest and Medebach are old Cologne possessions; Volmarstein built about 1100; Werl given in 1100; Padberg bought from the widow of Count Erpo after 1113; Arnsberg taken in 1166 and its counts made Cologne's vassals; the duchy granted at Gelnhausen on 13 April 1180; Pyrmont built by Archbishop Philip in 1180 (or 1184); castles bought and given back as fiefs under Archbishop Philip (1167-1191).

Allies and rivals

Allies: his brother Arnold of Altena and his nephew Adolf; his brother-in-law Simon of Tecklenburg; Bishop Bernhard of Paderborn and Bishop Thietmar of Minden in Otto's party. Doubtful: Count Gottfried of Arnsberg, who nearly left his and Otto's cause. Old enemies: the Lippe (Bernhard II fought Archbishop Philip in 1177-1179 and destroyed Medebach), now on Otto's side with him; the bishop of Paderborn, who resents Cologne's ducal claim over his diocese; Count Hermann of Ravensberg, firmly for Philip.

How things stand that morning

On 1 January 1200 Adolf's men hold Soest, Medebach and his Westphalian castles firmly; the archbishop himself is privately wavering between the kings while remaining Otto's crowner and chief prop. Count Gottfried of Arnsberg is being brought back to obedience with difficulty. Within days Adolf will be at Dortmund, the king's town, to win Bishop Hermann of Münster for Otto. Across his Westphalian borders: west, Count Adolf of Berg (lrh) and the Altena lands; north, Münster; east, Lippe and Paderborn; south-east, Waldeck and the landgrave on the Eder and the Diemel (hes); south, Siegen and Wittgenstein (mre).

Wealth

Soest's markets, salt and long-distance trade; the Werl salt springs; the Hellweg road from the Rhine to the Weser; Medebach's market on the road to Hesse; mints at Soest; dues and fines of the ducal courts. No figures.

Military

The ducal summons of the Westphalian vassals; ministerial castle men at Volmarstein, Padberg and Hachen; Soest's walls (built about 1180). No numbers.

Threats

  • Arnsberg's half-hearted loyalty
  • The bishop of Paderborn's resistance to the ducal claim
  • Ravensberg, firmly for Philip
  • Debt and the loss of English money since Richard's death

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. early January 1200 (day not pinned)Adolf meets Bishop Hermann of Münster at Dortmund and wins him for Otto.Depends on: Adolf still holding to Otto despite his doubts. Stopped by: Adolf going over to Philip first.
  2. 29 September 1200Adolf raises Rüthen to a town on an Arnsberg farm settlement, using his ducal right to fortify; the count of Arnsberg is given half the town's income, and neither side may build a castle there or make war from it. The town follows Soest law and becomes the seat of Cologne's marshal in Westphalia.Depends on: The settlement with Count Gottfried of Arnsberg (amends, an oath of fealty and hostages). Stopped by: Gottfried's defection or a war with Lippe and Paderborn.
  3. about 1200 (not pinned)Adolf buys his brother Arnold's share of the family castle of Altena, which loses its importance as the Altena counts move to Isenberg and Burg Mark.Depends on: Arnold's need for money and his building at Isenberg. Stopped by: A family quarrel.
  4. autumn 1200Through Conrad of Mainz's mediation the Rhenish princes agree a truce until Martinmas (11 November); after 20 October a further meeting between Koblenz and Andernach, with Adolf, Trier and Hermann of Münster, achieves nothing.Depends on: Conrad's mediation (he dies on 25 or 27 October 1200). Stopped by: Otto's refusal to negotiate.

Places of note

  • Soest: the archbishop's palace: Cologne's Westphalian capital.
  • Medebach: Cologne market town on the Hessian edge.
  • Hachen castle: Cologne castle on the Röhr, facing Arnsberg.
  • Werl: Salt village of the Cologne church on the Hellweg.
  • Rüthen (site): An Arnsberg farm settlement; Cologne's town and the marshal's seat from 29 September 1200.

Where the sources disagree

  • campaign notes Part 6 D give Adolf as WELF. True for 1 January 1200 in public, but the study of Archbishop Adolf (ch. IV) shows him privately ready to change sides in late 1199 and dating a 1200 charter without Otto's regnal years. The GM may want a private event for him early in 1200.

Evidence: The ducal grant and the main possessions are well known; the exact extent of the archbishop's Westphalian demesne in 1200 is not, and later Cologne towns (Brilon, Attendorn, Werl, Geseke, Rüthen) must not be back-projected.

On the map: The ducal rights covered far more than the archbishop held: only his own towns, manors and castles are coloured. Volmarstein and Padberg are drawn in their lords' records.

Primary sources for Cologne

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

2 more in the sources library for The Rhineland, the Low Countries and the Swiss Lands.

Sources and studies

  1. Herzogtum Westfalen, de.wikipedia
  2. Adolf I. von Altena, de.wikipedia
  3. Rüthen, de.wikipedia
  4. Medebach, de.wikipedia
  5. Werl, de.wikipedia
  6. Otto IV., NDB/ADB article, Deutsche Biographie
  7. Study of Archbishop Adolf I of Cologne, ch. IV: his politics while allied with Otto, summer 1198 to autumn 1202 (pp. 38-56), digitised by ULB Düsseldorf
  8. Study of Archbishop Adolf I of Cologne, ch. V: Adolf's break with Otto (pp. 56-64), digitised by ULB Düsseldorf

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.