RICH MIDDLE-CLASS TOWN

The dispute between the inhabitants and the archbishop escalates with the murder of Archbishop Arnold von Selenhofen (r. 1153-1160) by the citizens of Mainz. Emperor Frederick I. Barbarossa then had most of the city wall destroyed.

Nevertheless, Mainz once again flourished. The city wall was repaired and now also included the southern settlement area of Selenhofen. The Mainz area was also responsible for reconstructing and securing individual sections of the wall. The lively building activity also included the further decoration of the cathedral as well as richly furnished secular buildings.

Mainz again became a capital city in the empire with important imperial assemblies and imperial congresses. The highlight was the Mainz Court Festival on the Maaraue at Whitsun 1184. It is considered to be the largest, most glamorous and most famous court festival of the Middle Ages, attracting secular and clerical princes from all over the empire and Europe.