The great destruction of 1689

Ferdinand then assumed the reign after the death of his uncle Ernst of Bavaria (1612). He very skilfully guided Bonn through the vicissitudes of the Thirty Years’ War, the city was spared major catastrophes. 

Things were much less peaceful under his successor Max Heinrich (1650-1688). In 1673 the city that was allied with France was bombarded and seized by imperial troops for the first time.

After Max Heinrich's death (1688) the city became embroiled in the conflicts of the War of Palatinian Succession between France and the empire. The Electorate of Cologne that was pro-French due to the policies of the brother of Fürstenberg elects Wilhelm Egon of Fürstenberg as its electoral prince, however Pope Innocence XI appointed the member of the Wittelsbach dynasty Joseph Clemens of Bavaria. The dichotomous election of a successor leads to war once again in 1689, when Bonn was almost completely destroyed and the Habsburg dynasty appointed their candidate Joseph Clemens of Bavaria as the electoral prince.