Ieper
Country: Belgium Province: West-Vlaanderen Additions:
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Dutch |
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English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
The arms were granted on October 20, 1819, confirmed on February 26, 1844, changed and confirmed on March 31, 1925 and again on March 1, 1988.
Previous arms
The double cross is the oldest symbol of the city of Ieper. The oldest use of the cross dates from a seal of the city from 1199. On the oldest seal the cross is surrounded by two eagles, a star and crescent as well as two lions of Vlaanderen.
The present arms, with a second cross of vair in the lower half, appeared for the first time on the seals in 1372. The shield was supported by two lions of Vlaanderen. All later seals and images have shown the same shield, however, sometimes the shield is divided, sometimes the small cross is shown in chief.
The supporters have changed regularly during the centuries. The present lion and column appear in the late 18th century and have remained unchanged since, only in 1988 the column was replaced by a cannon as a reference to the battles during the First World War.
Since 1925 the town is entitled to use the French and British military crosses around the shield, which also symbolise the heavy fighting around the city during four years.
The cross in the chief is the symbol used by the city and was used by the citizens of Ieper during the Guldensporenslag on July 11, 1302. whay the city chose this specific cross is not known.
The cross in the lower half is derived from the arms of the burggraves ('governors') of Ieper from the Belle family. The family already used this cross in the early 13th century.
The lion supporter is the lion of Vlaanderen, the meaning of the column is not known.
Image gallery
The arms in a 16th century manuscript
The arms in the Wapen- en Vlaggenboek van Gerrit Hesman (1708)
The arms in the Koffie Hag/Café Hag albums +/- 1930
The arms on a police badge (source)
The arms on the statue of Jacob van Artevelde on the Vrijdagmarkt in Gent
The arms in the city (source)
The arms on a Jubilé cigar bond
The arms on a sticker
The arms on a Roulertas Confiserie label
The arms of a VéGé (matchbox labels) matchbox label
The arms of a trade card
Literature: Servais, 1955
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