The Siege of Godesberg kicked off the Cologne War in 1583. Godesberg w

The Siege of Godesberg kicked off the Cologne War in 1583. Godesberg was an important fortress, dating from the early 13th century. The Bavarians began the siege in hopes of controlling Godesberg, and thus the roads leading to and from Bonn, Cologne’s capital city, as well as the Rhine valley. It seemed to be an impossible task, as the fortress was believed to be impenetrable.

The Bavarians shot cannonball after cannonball into the fortress to no effect. Finally, they were able to tunnel through the basalt core of the mountain on which Godesberg sat, and blew up part of the fortress. Casualties were heavy on the defenders’ side, but the resulting rubble blocked a clear path for the Bavarians’ further assault. The siege wore on for nearly a month, until the attackers were able to enter the fortress through the latrine system. The commander in Godesberg negotiated a safe passage for himself, his wife, and his lieutenant, leaving the other defenders to their fate. Most were killed. Bonn fell to the Bavarians soon after.

1. The passage suggests that the people of Godesberg were

A. unaware that their fortress was under attack
B. surprised by the arrival of the Bavarians
C. complacent about the fortress’s supposed impenetrability
D. awaiting reinforcements from Bonn
E. unable to rouse a substantial defense after their fortress was partially blown up


2. The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. explain why there is still animosity between the Bavarians and Germans to this day
B. give an overview of the Siege of Godesberg
C. connect the Siege of Godesberg to the other events of the Cologne War
D. point out that one man’s lack of valor can affect hundreds of lives
E. reveal a major turning point in the history of Bonn


3. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the explanation of the Siege of Godesberg?

A. The entirety of the passage is based on historical documents.
B. Historians disagree about whether the attackers arrived through the latrine system.
C. Bonn never produced significant economic help to the Bavarians.
D. Newly discovered records from Godesberg indicate that the residents began to negotiate a peaceful takeover shortly after the Bavarians arrived.
E. Dental records indicate that a number of people living in the fortress died from scurvy.


4. According to the passage, Godesberg was built when?

A. In the 1200s
B. In the 1300s
C. Before Bonn
D. After 1800
E. By 1000