Gavere

Belgium heraldry portal

This page is part of the Belgium heraldry portal	Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry: National arms of Belgium Arms of provinces and communities Arms of cities and towns Heraldic literature of Belgium Total pages in the Belgium section : 6,368 of which images : 5,138	Other heraldry: Ecclesiastical heraldry Military heraldry Educational heraldry Institutional heraldry Corporate heraldry Collector's items Heraldic postcards Heraldic stamps Personal arms

GAVERE

Province : Oost-Vlaanderen
Additions : 1977 Asper, Baaigem, Dikkelvenne, Semmerzake, Vurste

Official blazon

(1819) Van rood beladen met drie klimmende leeuwen van goud. Het schild is vermeerderd met de letter G van goud.
(1840) een gulden schild, met dry roode leeuwen, geklaeuwd en getongd met dezelfde kleur, den rand getand met zwart.
(1993) In keel drie leeuwen van zilver. Het schild getopt met een kroon met vijf fleurons van goud.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on October 19, 1819. changed on July 6, 1840 and again granted on February 16, 1993.

In 1813 the local council applied of these arms without any further explanation. The first grant was from 1819 and showed the three lions. In 1840 the arms were changed, the lions were now red and placed in a bordure. In 1993 the arms were corrected.

The arms from 1819

The arms from 1840

The three lions ar ethose of the Lords of Gavere, one of the most powerful families in the 13th century in Vlaanderen. The oldest seal of Gavere dates from 1326 and shows a catle with four towers. In front of the tower there is a small shield, but it can not be determined what was shown on the shield. The contra-seal shows three lions, up to the late 18th century.

Based on the latter seal the arms were granted with three golden lions and a letter G for Gavere, to distinguish the arms from Dikkelvenne, which had a D. In 1838 a wrong advise to the municipality resulted in new arms, with the thre elions in a bordure. Only in 1993 the three lions were retsored, now in the proper, silver, colour.

In 1993 a crown of a Prince was added, as the County Gavere was promoted to a Principality in 1540.