Cologne is one of the oldest cities in Germany, founded by the Romans in AD 50, when it was called “Colonia Claudia Ara Aggrippinensium”. Rome's imperial governor lived here and the city was quickly considered one of the empire's most important trade and manufacturing centres north of the Alps. Thereafter it was occupied by the Franks and was made an archbishopric (the office of an archbishop) by Charlemagne. It survived World War II and it is today considered a major cultural centre with museums ranking among the best in the world.