The Electorate of Cologne was the seat the Archbishopric of Cologne held in the College of Electors in the Holy Roman Empire. From 1238, the Archbishops of Cologne were consistently electors (permanently from 1263), and the Golden Bull of 1356 confirmed the Archbishops rights to partake in Imperial and German elections. The Archbishops of Cologne were the third electors, and they voted second.