Historical figures in Cologne

The atlas holds 13 people and 19 moments here, from 308 to 2005. The most recorded lives are Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Albrecht Dürer. Among them Writers, Philosophers and Political Leaders, across the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration.

Notable people

1. Karl Marx

   from 1842 to 1849

   3 moments here

   German philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. Born in Trier, Marx studied in Bonn and Berlin, worked in Cologne, and…

2. Friedrich Engels

   from 1842 to 1849

   3 moments here

   German philosopher, political theorist, revolutionary socialist, businessman, and Karl Marx’s lifelong collaborator.…

3. Albrecht Dürer

   in 1520

   2 moments here

   German painter, printmaker, and theorist of the Northern Renaissance. Born and died in Nuremberg, Dürer trained there before traveling through the…

4. Constantine the Great

   from 308 to 313

   2 moments here

   Roman emperor from 306 to 337. Born at Naissus, Constantine served under Diocletian and Galerius in the eastern empire, joined his father in Britain,…

5. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

   in 1763

   1 moment here

   Austrian composer and performer of the Classical era. Born in Salzburg, Mozart toured Europe as a child prodigy, made three formative journeys to…

6. Ludwig van Beethoven

   in 1778

   1 moment here

   German composer and pianist whose life was centered first in Bonn and, from 1792, in Vienna.…

7. Fyodor Dostoyevsky

   in 1862

   1 moment here

   Russian novelist, journalist, essayist, and former military engineer whose life moved between Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Siberian imprisonment and…

8. George Orwell

   in 1945

   1 moment here

   George Orwell was the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, an English novelist, essayist, journalist, critic, and democratic socialist.…

9. Thomas Aquinas

   in 1248

   1 moment here

   Italian Dominican friar, priest, theologian, and philosopher. His documented movements connected family residences in southern Italy, Dominican and…

10. Pope Benedict XVI

    in 2005

    1 moment here

    Joseph Alois Ratzinger (1927–2022), Pope Benedict XVI, was a German Catholic theologian, archbishop, cardinal, prefect of the Congregation for the…

11. Giuseppe Verdi

    in 1876

    1 moment here

    Italian composer whose career transformed nineteenth-century opera. Born near Busseto, Verdi studied and worked in Busseto and Milan, then traveled…

12. Peter Paul Rubens

    in 1577

    1 moment here

    Flemish Baroque painter, designer, humanist, collector, and diplomat. Rubens was born at Siegen, spent formative years in Cologne and Antwerp, worked…

13. Petrarch

    in 1333

    1 moment here

    Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) was an Italian scholar, poet, cleric, diplomat, and foundational humanist.…

Moments

1. 308 Bridges the Rhine at Cologne Constantine the Great
2. 313 Returns to Cologne Constantine the Great
3. 1248 Study and teaching with Albertus Magnus in Cologne Thomas Aquinas
4. 1333 Visit to Cologne Petrarch
5. 1520 First stay in Cologne Albrecht Dürer
6. 1520 Second stay in Cologne Albrecht Dürer
7. 1577 Reported baptism in Cologne Peter Paul Rubens
8. 1763 Stops in Cologne Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
9. 1778 Child-prodigy concert in Cologne Ludwig van Beethoven
10. 1842 Moves to Cologne for journalism Karl Marx
11. 1842 First meeting with Marx Friedrich Engels
12. 1848 Neue Rheinische Zeitung editor Friedrich Engels
13. 1848 Returns to Cologne during the revolution Karl Marx
14. 1849 Return to Cologne Friedrich Engels
15. 1849 Stands trial in Cologne Karl Marx
16. 1862 Visited Cologne on his first European tour Fyodor Dostoyevsky
17. 1876 Conducts Requiem in Cologne Giuseppe Verdi
18. 1945 War-correspondent visit to Cologne George Orwell
19. 2005 World Youth Day visit Pope Benedict XVI

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