Chimay

CHIMAY

Province : Hainaut
Additions : 1977 Baileux, Bailièvre, Boulers, Forges, L'Escaillière, Lompret, Rièzes, Robechies, Saint-Rémy, Salles, Vaulx, Villers-la-Tour, Virelles

Official blazon

(1823) -
(1838) De gueules à l'épée d'argent emmanchée d'or et posée en bande la pointe en haut.
(1978) De gueules à l'épée d'argent emmanchée d'or et posee en bande la pointe en haut.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on July 31, 1823, changed on June 30, 1838 and confirmed on May 24, 1978.

The arms show a sword, which is derived from a local legend. In 57 BC the local inhabitants, the Pleumosiens, acquired in a battle against the Roman army, the sword of Julius Cesar, and ever since the sword supposedly was the symbol of Chimay. Most likely the arms were created in the late middle ages based on this legend. The sword appeared for the first time on a seal dating from 1552. Previous seals showed the arms of the Croy family, Lords of Chimay.

The arms in a 16th century manuscript
The arms in a 17th century manuscript
The arms from 1823
The arms in the Koffie Hag/Café Hag albums +/- 1930
The arms on a police badge (source)

Literature: Servais, 1955

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