1360

Emperor Karl IV graciously granted the right to the "judges, lay assessors, councilors and all residents of the free city of Cologne", to hold a fair twice a year. Since the Stapelrecht proved to be a great deal more effective in securing the supremacy of Cologne as a trading place, the trade fairs soon withered to become ordinary annual fairs. It was much more lucrative for the Cologne merchants to visit the other German and European trade fairs with their wares.