Soest

Soest stood at the meeting of long-distance roads across Westphalia and became one of the region's foremost medieval towns. Its merchants traded through the Hanseatic network as far as Scandinavia and Russia, while churches and town walls displayed the prosperity of the surrounding Börde. In 1253 Soest joined Dortmund, Münster and Lippstadt in an alliance to protect their common trade.

The town's independence brought it into conflict with its lord, the archbishop of Cologne. In 1444 Soest renounced his authority and sought the protection of Cleves, beginning a five-year feud. An arbitration in 1449 confirmed its allegiance to the Duke of Cleves. Although the citizens preserved their liberties, the city and its territory became increasingly isolated from their former trading connections, and Soest's regional importance declined.