Richerzeche

Richerzeche was founded in the 12th Century in the Free Imperial City of Cologne as a secular brotherhood or a corporation of all the wealthy patricians, which gradually absorbed in their hands the direction of the city's government.^[1] They lost their power in the middle of the 14th century.

Diagram showing the distribution of power in Cologne during the 12th century, when the Richerzeche held significant influence.