Roeselare: Difference between revisions

Roeselare became a city in the middle of the 13th century. The oldest known seal dates from 1309 and shows St. Michael, the patron saint of the city, with two patriarchal crosses. On seals from the 16th century onwards, the cross appears on a shield, with an angel (St. Michael ?) and two lions as supporters. In 1819 the arms were granted based on this seal. In 1841 the arms were confirmed, but with the lions facing backwards, as on the historical seals. In 1981 the crown was changed to a mural crown, indicating the long city character of Roeselare.

The meaning of the cross is not known. It may be derived from the arms of [[Ieper]], as in the middle of the 13th century Roeselare belonged to the Ieper district of Vlaanderen, so when Roeselare received city rights, they may have taken the cross of Ieper.