Parma

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PARMA

Region: Emilia-Romagna
Province : Parma
Additions : 2002 Vigatto

Official blazon

D'oro alla croce piana d'azzurro, patente sulle punte.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on

The first arms of Parma city, showed a little black bull on a red field, an homage to the podestà Torello da Strada, whose name meant "little bull". This gentleman, coming from Pavia, had the new Commune Palace built, and the Parmesans adopted his arms as a symbol of strength, freedom and independence. After the 12th February 1248, the motto HOSTIS TURBETUR QUIA PARMAM VIRGO TUETUR ("May the foes tremble because the Virgin supports Parma"), referring to historic victory of Parmesans on the army of Emperor Frederick the II, who had besieged the town for 232 days.

During the 13^th century the bloody struggle between the Guelph and Ghibelline parties caused numerous victims, and on Christmas day 1264 Parma was terrified by every kind of violence and arsons. After this event in 1266 the tailor Giovanni Barisello, recruited 500 people from the Guelph party and restored the peace in the town, threatening of death all the Ghibellines not swearing loyalty to the Pope. This company was named "Società dei Crociati" (The Crusaders' Society), and for some years it was the most powerful party in Parma. His arms showed an azure cross on a golden shield (ancient arms donated by the pope Silvestro I) approved by Charles d'Anjou. In the 14^th century the primitive bull was coming alongside with the Crusaders' Society arms, and was finally completely replaced by it. On the 13th June 1811 Napoleone Bonaparte, who at the time was sojourning in Saint Cloud, allowed the use of these arms to the town; in 1809 the Emperor had decreed the norms of French Imperial Heraldry, Parma was included in the first class so acquiring the right to add three golden bees on a red chief, and a stone crown with seven merlons overhanging a dawning eagle as crest. Nowadays the crown has been replaced with a simple ducal crown to remember the status of capital of Farnese and Borbone Duchy. The previous arms, with the old crown are shown below.