The column was erected in 1654 by the council and citizens of the city of Kronach as a gesture of thanks to the Bamberg Prince-Bishop Melchior Otto Voit von Salzburg. The two sculptors Johann Brenck and Hans Georg Schlehendorn were the creators. The coat of arms of the city of Kronach, held by two "disturbed men" who carry their skin under their arms, adorns the uppermost cover plate. This "new" coat of arms, as well as a golden chain of office and a special dress of honour, called the Spanish habit, was bestowed on the Kronach officials by Bishop Melchior Otto in 1651 because of their bravery during the three sieges of Kronach (1632, 1633, 1634) in the Thirty Years' War been.
The two "abused men" as shield holders go back to an incident in the Thirty Years' War, when during the first siege of Kronach in 1632, some citizens of Kronach wanted to "nail" the enemy guns in the event of a failure, and were caught by the Saxon-Coburg besiegers and helped them was skinned (flayed) while alive.
A few details: The sculptural top of the column with coat of arms, crest and the two shield holders was probably only made later, because the coat of arms on the back bears the year 1667. When the Americans invaded in April 1945, the (from the front) left shield holder figure of the Head shot off and subsequently replaced or supplemented by a cement replica. This "concrete head" seems to have turned out well and is hardly noticeable from below, so that it adorns the head of the figure to this day.