Bad Hersfeld

This page is part of the German heraldry portal Deutsche Wappensammlung	Heraldry of the World
German heraldry: National arms Arms of States Arms of historical territories and states Districts (Kreiswappen) Cities and municipalities German Colonies Ecclesiastical heraldry Military heraldry Corporate heraldry Studentika Other civic heraldry Total pages in the German section : 61,373 Of which images : 41,286	Selected collector's items from Germany: Heraldic postcards Heraldic stamps Heraldic albums Kaffee Hag albums Wappen-Sammlung Heraldic trade cards Arms, Flags and Types of Nations Heraldic coasters Heraldic cigar bands Heraldic artists Otto Hupp Münchener Kalender German heraldic literature

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

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

Seal from around 1900	Seal from around 1900	The arms by Hupp in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925
File:Hersfeld.him.jpg The arms on a 1960s matchox label	The arms in the Abadie albums	The arms on a postcard