The granting of city rights

"Utrecht's city law has its origins in a dispute between the Utrecht merchants and Bishop Godebald of Utrecht. The latter wanted to dam the Kromme Rijn in order to mine the peat lands, which threatened shipping on this river. The bishop proposed to the citizens of Utrecht to dig a canal to the Lek, the Vaartsche Rijn, for which he wanted to levy tolls.

During Pentecost in 1122, a fight broke out between servants of the bishop and courtiers of Emperor Henry V, who was staying in the imperial palace of Lofen. The citizens of Utrecht sided with the emperor, and the bishop was punished and imprisoned. In return for their help, the city of Utrecht received privileges such as exemption from some of the tolls and its own court.

On June 2, 1122, this agreement was ratified in a charter, although it did not include all the rights. In addition to the construction of the city wall and the establishment of the Utrecht court, the tolls were also established in a second charter issued the same day."