Charleroi

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Wapen van Charleroi/Arms (crest) of Charleroi
The arms from 1847
Wapen van Charleroi/Arms (crest) of Charleroi
The current arms
CHARLEROI

Country : Belgium
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Province :
Hainaut
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Additions:


Official blazon

  • (1847) De sable au lion d'or, armé d'un sabre de même, au chef d'argent, chargé d'une fleur de lys de gueules. L'écu sommé d'une couronne à sept perles. Pour support,à senestre de l'écu, un lion assis, au naturel, la patte dextre armée d'un sabre d'argent, garni d'or, le tout reposant sur un tertre de sinople.
  • (not official) De sable à la silhouette d'une forteresse hexagonale d'argent, entournée de douze étoiles à cinq rais d'or rangées en crcle, le tout surmonté de quinze points d'échiquier alternativement de gueules et d'argent rangés en fasce huit et sept; au chef diminué d'argent à une fleur de lys de gueules.

Origin/meaning

The old arms were granted on August 28, 1847. The current arms are not officially granted.

The oldest known arms of Charleroi date from 1680 and show a black shield with a silver chief. In the Armorial Général from Hozier there is an image of Saint Christopher in the lower part, see below. These arms were derived from the Isenghien family of Gent, at the time Lords of Charleroi. In 1697 the Spanish King (Belgium at the time was part of Spain) granted the lion of Namur in the lower part of the shield. In 1847 the fleur-de-lis was added as a French symbol.

After the merger in 1977 new arms were needed. The fleur-de-lis was retained as a symbol of France's involvement in the initial development of the fortress. The castle of Vauban, the centre of the city is shown in the lower part of the arms. The castle is surrounded by 12 stars, derived from the flag of European Towns. Under the chief is a chequered bar with 15 squares, one for each of the former municipalities.
The rooster supporter is the symbol of the French-speaking part of Belgium.

Image gallery

Literature: Servais, 1955; Information from the Charleroi council


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