Walram of Jülich

The rulers of southern Westphalia had far-reaching connections however, particularly through their family relationships, and were soon able to escalate the conflict into a full-scale local war, to which in 1347 and 1349 it was eventually possible to negotiate a peace treaty.

This military activity put such a strain on Cologne's finances that the cathedral chapter exercised its right of co-rulership and bound the archbishop to seek its consent for all future decisions.

This curtailment of his powers, together possibly with a realisation of his personal weaknesses, persuaded him to withdraw from day-to-day government in 1347, leaving charge of the finances and later also of other administrative duties to the knight Reinhard von Schönau.

In 1344 he entirely rebuilt with improved defences the town of Menden after it was destroyed by Count Adolph II of the Marck, having granted it municipal rights earlier in his reign.

In 1349 he began a journey to France with a small retinue, ostensibly for the purpose of saving the chapter the great expenses of maintaining a court.