Unteröwisheim

UNTERÖWISHEIM

State : Baden-Württemberg
District (Kreis ) : Karlsruhe (until 1973 Bruchsal)
Incorporated into : 1971 Kraichtal

Official blazon
German	In Blau ein linksgewendeter goldener Hasenkopf, hinterlegt mit einem schräglinken goldenen Abtsstab.
English	blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

Unteröwisheim was first mentioned in 1277 as Owensheim inferius. The area was owned by the monastery of Maulbronn in the 13th and 14^th century.
In 1556 the village was transferred to Württemberg and finally in 1806 to Baden.

It is not known whether Unteröwisheim ever officially was granted city rights, but in the 15^th century the town seems to have had a similar government as a full city. Only in the 17^th century Unteröwisheim is first mentioned as being a city.
The first seal of Unteröwisheim dates from between 1412 and 1416; in 1412 it was mentioned that the local government did not have a seal, whereas in 1416 a seal was mentioned. The oldest existing seal dates from 1421 and shows an abbot's crosier. All later seals show the stick and a head of a hare (see figure). The hare may be an older village sign, which was combined with the crosier, symbolising the rule of the monastery in Maulbronn. It has been stated that originally was a head of a mule, taken from the arms of Maulbronn, but the old seals clearly show a hare, not a mule.

The seal from 1421-1438	The seal from 1499-16127
The seal from 1677-1688	The seal from 1695
The seal from 1797	The seal from the 19th century
The seal from 1898

The arms were also used in architecture and other documents besides in seals. Most often the arms were the same as the present arms, but sometimes the stick was omitted. The colours on the other hand changed regularly, the hare has been proper, white, black and red. The crosier gold, black and red. The present colours were granted in 1960.

Wappen von Unteröwisheim/Coat of arms (crest) of Unteröwisheim

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

Literature: Stadler, 1964-1971, 8 volumes.

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