Electoral Cycle on the Rhine Banks - Mainz 🚴♂️
The Electoral Cycle consists of eight battlemented figures. The king/emperor and the seven electors (three secular and four ecclesiastical) are depicted. Since the Archbishops of Mainz had also served as Imperial Archchancellors since the 10th century, they played a decisive role in the election. Because they were the last to cast their votes, they could therefore potentially tip the scales. But Cologne wanted to challenge Mainz for this role. Proud Mainz, however, set a precedent by depicting the Archbishop of Mainz as the first of the electors. 🚴♂️🚴♂️