The right of choosing this great prelate belonged, under certain limitations, to the Chapter of the Cathedral.
The Archbishop was also Bishop of Liege, of Munster, and of Hildesheim.
His dominions were extensive, and included several strong fortresses, which in the event of a campaign on the Rhine would be of the highest importance.

In time of war he could bring twenty thousand men into the field.

Lewis had spared no effort to gain so valuable an ally, and had succeeded so well that Cologne had been almost separated from Germany, and had become an outwork of France.

Many ecclesiastics devoted to the court of Versailles had been brought into the Chapter; and Cardinal Furstemburg, a mere creature of that court, had been appointed Coadjutor.
In the summer of the year 1688 the archbishopric became vacant.
Furstemburg was the candidate of the House of Bourbon.

The enemies of that house proposed the young Prince Clement of Bavaria.