Which three Cologne Carnival figures make up the Dreigestirn?

The three Cologne Carnival figures that make up the Dreigestirn are the Maiden, Prince and Peasant.

In German, these titles are Jungfrau, Prinz and Bauer. Together they form Cologne’s carnival triumvirate, a symbolic ruling team for the festivities. The Prince is the leading figure and traditionally heads the major parades, while the Peasant represents Cologne’s historic strength and civic independence. The Maiden symbolizes Colonia, the city personified as a protective mother.

The arrangement has deep roots in Cologne’s carnival tradition. All three figures appeared together by the 1820s, and the Dreigestirn has existed as a formal trio since 1883. Despite the title Jungfrau, or “maiden,” the role is traditionally performed by a man dressed in ceremonial costume; a beard or moustache is not permitted during the performance.

A common mix-up is to treat the trio as generic royal characters such as a king, queen and jester. Cologne’s version is distinctive: its Peasant is not a servant or comic extra, but one of the three central figures, alongside the Prince and Maiden.