An Imperial Governor soon resided in the Ubier settlement and the Roman legion’s camp and the town developed rapidly into an important trading centre.
As the seat of the imperial Governor, the settlement was given Roman city rights in the year 50 A.D. This took place at the instigation of Agrippina the Younger who was born as the granddaughter of Marcus Agrippina and the daughter of Prince Germanicus in the years 15 of 16 A.D. and grew up in the camp.
Now, as she was the wife and the co-regent of the Emperor Claudius, she honoured her place of birth by bestowing city rights on it.
From now on, the place was now given the name "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium" abbreviated according to Roman lettering to CCAA. In English that means: The Claudian Colony of The Agrippians”. In the language of subsequent centuries, it was left at Colonia - Cologne.
You can still encounter Rome’s legacy at every turn. Beginning at the remains of the Roman town wall which was erected soon after the elevation to a city, up to the precious floor mosaics of the Roman houses.
The "Dionyses Mosaic", directly alongside the Cathedral, is one of the biggest north of the Alps. Also preserved there are the foundation walls of the governor’s palace, the "Praetorium" with various reception rooms, pantries, staircases and cisterns
Monumental tombs of lessees and veterans (for example the Poblicus memorial), a series of consecration alters and portrait busts preserve Roman history and memories.
Cologne represented Rome’s position in the European North-West: the more the antique world lost power and reputation, all the more important the city on the Rhine became for the maintenance of Roman rule.
City wallgate Hahnentor
The "Dionyses Mosaic"
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