Dorsten

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DORSTEN

State : Nordrhein-Westfalen
District (Kreis) : Recklinghausen
Amt : Amt Hervest-Dorsten (until 1975)
Additions : 1943 Hervest, Holsterhausen; 1975 Altendorf-Ulfkotte, Amt Hervest-Dorsten, Deuten, Feldmark, Hardt, Lembeck, Östrich, Rhade, Wulfen

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

Dorsten received city rights in 1251 from the Archbishop of Köln, Konrad von Hochstaden. The oldest seal dates from the same year and shows the Bishop of Köln sitting on a throne. All seals until 1400 only show the bishops. From 1400 onwards the black cross of the State of Köln appears in the seals and arms. Similarly, the shield was combined with a second shield, showing the key of St. Peter, the patron saint of Köln.

In the 18^th century the two shields were combined to the present arms. At the time the armorial bearings also included a helmet, mantling and crest, but these were abandoned in the late 19^th century.