Gräfenberg

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Germany - Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)

GRÄFENBERG

State : Bayern
District (Kreis) : Forchheim
Additions : 1959 Guttenburg; 1976 Walkersbrunn; 1978 Lilling, Thuisbrunn

Official blazon

In Rot über grünem Dreiberg eine silberne Zinnenmauer, die mit einem gespaltenen Schild belegt ist; darin vorne in Gold ein halber, rot gezungter schwarzer Adler am Spalt, hinten fünfmal schräg geteilt von Rot und Silber; darüber ein wachsender, doppelschwänziger, golden gekrönter und blau bewehrter silberner Löwe.

Origin/meaning

Gräfenberg belonged in the 14^th century to the Kings of Bohemia. They granted the city rights in 1371. The arms thus show the Bohemian lion behind city walls. The same combination was already seen on the oldest seals of the city, which are known from 1437 and 1463.

As vassals a rich family from Nürnberg ruled the city. In the middle of the 16^th century the city of Nürnberg acquires the city from the Bohemian Kings. The arms were then augmented with the small arms of Nürnberg and the canting mountain (Berg) in the base of the shield. The new combination appears on seals in 1561 and as arms in 1609.

The third seal of the city, from 1560.

The arms have thus not changed since, except that in the early part of the last century, when the city became part of Bayern, the Nürnberg arms were temporarily removed.

The arms in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925

Literature : Stadler, K. : Deutsche Wappen - Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Angelsachsen Verlag, 1964-1971, 8 volumes.