Electorate of Cologne (Kurfürstentum Köln)

“A theocratic stronghold of electors, holy warriors, and cloistered power, ruling the Rhine’s countryside from the archiepiscopal throne-city of Bonn.”

Type: Ecclesiastical Principality • Seat: Bonn • Imperial Status: Prince-Elector
Alignment: LN (theocratic, orderly, hierarchical)

Overview

The Electorate of Cologne is one of the most prestigious ecclesiastical states of the Holy Roman Empire. The realm is governed by the Prince-Archbishop of Cologne, who holds spiritual authority, territorial jurisdiction, and the coveted dignity of Imperial Elector. Despite his title, the archbishop exercises no authority within the Free Imperial City of Cologne; instead, he rules a constellation of rural lands, abbeys, villages, and river fortresses from his court in Bonn.

The Electorate’s identity is defined by the interplay of canon law, noble privilege, monastic wealth, and political ceremony. Cloisters and cathedral schools shape its intellectual life, while knightly households and river fortifications secure its borders.

Territory

The Electorate consists of scattered holdings along the Middle and Lower Rhine, including:

Bonn, the administrative residence and de facto capital
Ecclesiastical estates, abbeys, and monastic domains
Fortified towns and river crossings controlling regional trade
Outlying districts held in feudal or religious tenure

The city of Cologne remains a separate, independent entity.

Government & Authority

Rule is vested in the Prince-Archbishop, supported by:

The Cathedral Chapter (canon clergy and noble clergy)
Ministerial officials and monastic stewards
Knightly vassals responsible for military service
Ecclesiastical courts enforcing strict legal order

The governance of the Electorate blends spiritual oversight with pragmatic territorial management.

Imperial Role

As one of the Empire’s elite Electors, the prince-archbishop participates directly in selecting the Holy Roman Emperor. This privilege grants the Electorate an influence far beyond its size and makes Bonn a regular center of diplomatic activity.

Economy

The principality maintains a stable, land-based economy built upon:

Monastic estates and agricultural production
Rhine toll stations and river traffic
Tithes, rents, and ecclesiastical incomes
Artisanal workshops in episcopal towns

The Electorate’s economic strength lies in reliability, not urban dynamism.

Culture & Identity

The realm’s culture is deeply shaped by its religious institutions. Cathedrals, monasteries, and libraries foster learning, piety, and administrative expertise. Nobility and clergy intertwine socially and politically, reinforcing a strongly hierarchical order grounded in religious legitimacy.

Military

The Electorate maintains:

Knightly retinues sworn to the archbishop
Rural levies raised from episcopal estates
Castle garrisons guarding river routes
Limited siege capability and fortified strongholds

Its forces prioritize defense, border security, and enforcement of ecclesiastical authority.

Relations with the Free Imperial City of Cologne

The Electorate coexists uneasily with the wealthy, self-governing city that expelled the archbishop’s authority after 1288. Tensions persist over toll rights, trade, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and political prestige. The rivalry is one of city-republic vs. theocratic principality, shaping regional dynamics for centuries.

Settlement Modifiers

(For the Electorate as a whole; adjust for local communities.)

Corruption: +1
Crime: –1
Economy: +2
Law: +3
Lore: +2
Society: +1

Pathfinder Settlement Statblock

Electorate of Cologne
Large City-State (Theocratic Principality); LN

Population: 32,000 (Bonn 12,000; remainder in estates and villages)
Notable Races: Humans (majority), dwarves (masons), halflings (river traders), minority communities
Government: Theocratic (Prince-Archbishop & Cathedral Chapter)

Qualities: Academic, fortified, holy site, pious, prosperous estates, seat of power, river-trade hub
Dangers: Political intrigue, outlaw knights, heretical movements, smuggling, border tensions

Marketplace

Base Value: 6,000 gp
Purchase Limit: 40,000 gp
Spellcasting: Up to 6th level (higher within cathedral precincts)
Minor Items: 3d4
Medium Items: 1d6
Major Items: 1d4 (often restricted, usually ecclesiastical treasures or relics)

Major Sites

Archiepiscopal Palace & Bonn Cathedral – seat of the Elector and spiritual authority
Castle Godesburg – river fortress controlling key Rhine traffic
Monasteries of Siegburg and Heisterbach – centers of learning and scriptoria
Chapter Archives – political records, theological manuscripts, and restricted relic vaults
Rhine Toll Stations – lucrative, heavily regulated river checkpoints

Key NPCs

Prince-Archbishop (LN male human cleric 13) – devout, diplomatic, formidable in politics
Canon Provost (LN male human expert 8/aristocrat 2) – master of bureaucracy and finance
Knight-Marshal (LG female human paladin 10) – commander of episcopal martial forces
Monastic Scholar (N male dwarf cleric 7) – keeper of relics and esoteric lore