Bad Hersfeld

BAD HERSFELD

State : Hessen
District (Kreis) : Hersfeld-Rotenburg (until 1976 Hersfeld)
Additions : 1918 Kalkobes; 1972 Allmershausen, Asbach, Beiershausen, Eichhof, Heenes, Hohe Luft, Johannesberg, Kathus, Kohlhausen, Petersberg, Sorga

Official blazon

German	Im gespaltenen Schild vorne in Blau der linksgewendete, goldgekrönte und -bewehrte, neunmal von Silber und Rot geteilte hessische Löwe, hinten in Silber ein rotes Doppel­ kreuz mit dreispitzigem Fuß.
English	blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

The arms are a combination of the lion of Hessen and the cross, which is derived from the arms of the Hersfeld abbey. The arms are known as such since 1559, when they appear in the seals of the city. Hersfeld was conquered by Count Philipp of Hessen in 1525 and the seals between 1525 and 1559 only showed the lion of Hessen. Before 1525 the city belonged to the State of Mainz.

The oldest known seal of the city, which is known since 1256, but it is probably older. The seal shows St.Wigbert as the patron saint. The smaller seals from the 14^th century show the two patron saints of the Hersfeld abbey, St. Simon and St. Thaddeus. They each hold a small shield, one with the arms of Mainz, the other with the cross, the arms of the abbey. In a later seal only the shield with a cross was placed, without the saints. These seals have been used until 1525.

There exists a local verse on the arms :

Hersfeld der Stadt/ein Kreuz im Schild

Darneben steht ein Löwen wild;

In Kreuz und leid hab' Loewenmuth

Und trau auff Gott/ es wird wol gut.

Which translates freely as :

the city of Hersfeld/a cross in a shield

accompanied by a wild lion;

the cross gives lion's courage

and with faith to God/it will be good

• 

  The arms on a 1621 coin

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  The arms in a manuscript from +/- 1730

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  The arms in an 1884 book

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  The municipal stamp shown in 1892

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  Seal from around 1900

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  Seal from around 1900

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  The arms by Hupp in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925

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  The arms in the Abadie albums

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  The arms on a 1960s matchox label

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  The arms on a postcard

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  The arms with Šumperk

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This page is part of the German heraldry portal Deutsche Wappensammlung	Heraldry of the World
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Literature: Stadler, 1964-1971, verse mailed by Tom Schultz (libtom@hotmail.com)