Schwyz
SCHWYZ (Canton and City)
Boroughs/villages in the city: Rickenbach
Official blazon
In Rot ein silbernes Kreuzchen im linken Obereck.
Origin/meaning
The arms of Schwyz canton and city are identical and are based on the oldest arms, and banner, of the inner part of the present canton. The oldest known description of the arms dates from 1481, when it is described as a red shield. The cross first appears on the seal of the district in 1729, and later on coins issued in 1730. Until the beginning of the 19th century the cross was placed in the upper right corner, ever since in the left corner.
The cross is a simplified version of the scene of the crucifixion of Jesus, which was often placed in the upper left corner of the banner. The arms were formally described and adopted in 1815, but the size of the cross was not described. This has resulted in images with very small to very large crosses, until, in 1963, the size of the cross was finally determined.
The seals of Schyz did not show the arms, but the patron saint, St. Martin of Tours, see below.
Image gallery
The first seal (used from 1281)
The second seal (used from 1351)
The third seal (used from the 16th century)
The arms in the Armorial Jörg Rügen (1495)
The arms in a manuscript from 1576
The arms on a 16th century coin
The arms on a 1629 coin
The arms on a 1730 coin
The arms on a 1810 coin
The arms on a 1844 coin
The arms in the Wapen- en Vlaggenboek van Gerrit Hesman (1708)
Variation of the arms in the Kaffee Hag albums 1914-1960
Variation of the arms in the Kaffee Hag albums 1914-1960
Variation of the arms in the Kaffee Hag albums 1914-1960
Literature : Mühlmann, L. : Wappen und Fahnen der Schweiz, Bühler Verlag, Lengnau, 1977 and 1997.
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