| In 1474/75 it came to a test of strength between the German Empire and Burgundy. Ruprecht of Palatinate, the new Archbishop of Cologne was at conflict with the aristocracy, the towns and the chapter. Herman of Hesse was appointed "captain and protector" of the chapter. A part of the aristocracy as well as the towns of Neuss and Cologne joined him. It came to a war with the Archbishop, who had already joined with Karl of Kühnen, the Duke of Burgundy. The emperor was on Herman of Hesse's side. On the 29th of July 1474, the Burgundian army attacked the city of Neuss. While the emperor's troops hadn't arrived yet, the outer wall of the Rhinegate fell quickly. The people of Neuss tried to find a refuge in their patron saint and moved in a proccesion with the shrine of Quirinus to the Rhinegate, where they prayed to God. The Rhinegate was renamed to Quirinus-Gate and also got a new inscription. The gate was successfully protected after that. On the 7th of January 1475, the Empire finally declared war on Karl of Kühnen. In May 1475, the | |
imperial army moved forward to the river Erft. On the 29th of May 1475 a final agreement was reached. The Duke should give up the siege of Neuss and drop his protégé Ruprecht of Palatinate. The city was handed over to the emperor and the pope. On the 5th of June peace was announced. Everyone was convinced that the patron Quirinus had helped the people of Neuss against their enemies. After the announcement of peace, the Quirinus sanctuary was opened again and a holy mass took place. Both the citizens of Neuss and the armies of the King and the Duke gathered to make a sacrificial offering to Quirinus. The citizens wanted to thank for the protection, the armies wanted to thank Quirinus that, although they were enemies, they hadn’t been harmed. Between 1475 and 1525 more than 50 churches, altairs and places of worship were founded. After the successful defending of Neuss, Emperor Friedrich III. made some citizens "Knights of Quirinus". After that, the citizens in general were called servants of Saint Quirinus. Even before the siege, Saint Quirinus was announced by the citizens to be the patron of Neuss. In the year 1217 the Army of Neuss fought the Sarazens in Potugal. When they got into a hazardous storm, they called for their Patron and luckily reached the harbor of an island. Even in the year 1050, when the relics of Saint Quirinus had just arrived in Neuss, the council of the city appointed the Saint as a special protector and patron of the town. The holy Quirinus is now portrayed on all the 3 seals of Neuss.