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How did the guilds gain power in Cologne’s government after 1396?
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Cologne
The Hohenzollern rail and pedestrian bridge over the Rhine River, Cologne, Germany, with the city's cathedral in the background.
In 1396, the guilds in Cologne gained power through a bloodless revolution that ended the long-standing political dominance of the city’s wealthy patrician families.1
Prior to this event, the government of Cologne had been controlled by an oligarchy of merchants who excluded guild members from political participation. Following the 1396 uprising, a new municipal constitution was established that fundamentally restructured the city's governance. Under this system, the 22 branches of the guilds became the foundation of the government. These branches were empowered to elect a council that held authority over all of the city's internal and external affairs.21