Coat of arms of Württemberg
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Württemberg
shows an impalement of the three black antler
s that represent Württemberg on the dexter (viewer's left) side; and the three black lions passant of medieval Swabia
on the sinister (viewer's right) side, both on a gold field.
It was formally adopted by King William
on 30 December 1817, lasting between 1817 and 1922, occasionally seen on state flag
s of this period.
This version derived from the escutcheon
found in the centre of the much larger and more elaborate coat of arms that was used when Württemberg was elevated to the status of a kingdom
in 1806. Württemberg had recently acquired several territories under the mediatisation
system, and incorporated their heraldries into its arms, resulting in an overcomplicated design. This caused the need to choose something much simpler, and the 1817 arms had the two essential elements – 3 lions for the whole region of Swabia, and 3 antlers for its largest ruling dynasty
.
By 26 December 1816, the Kingdom had also settled on the colours red and black for its flag; gold and black being too similar to the ruling Habsburg
dynasty of Austria
, and red and gold being the colours of Würzburg
, their allies in the Napoleonic Wars
.
antler
motif had been used for at least five centuries previously by the Counts of Württemberg. From 1495 the royal dukedom's
coat of arms included the 4 quarters shown below. Their symbolism is:
Other quarterings
were added in the 18th century.
continued to use the three antlers motif and the former kingdom's flag on its coat of arms. Today the larger version of the Coat of arms of Baden-Württemberg
includes the three Swabian lions and a small shield on top with the three antlers of Württemberg. The arms can even be seen today in the trade mark of Porsche
, a local car firm .
Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
shows an impalement of the three black antler
Antler
Antlers are the usually large, branching bony appendages on the heads of most deer species.-Etymology:Antler originally meant the lowest tine, the "brow tine"...
s that represent Württemberg on the dexter (viewer's left) side; and the three black lions passant of medieval Swabia
Swabian Circle
The Swabian Circle was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire established in 1500 on the territory of the former German stem-duchy of Swabia. However, it did not include the Habsburg home territories of Swabian Austria, the member states of the Swiss Confederacy nor the lands of the Alsace...
on the sinister (viewer's right) side, both on a gold field.
It was formally adopted by King William
William I of Württemberg
William I was the second King of Württemberg from October 30, 1816 until his death.He was born in Lüben, the son of King Frederick I of Württemberg and his wife Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel .-First marriage:...
on 30 December 1817, lasting between 1817 and 1922, occasionally seen on state flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
s of this period.
This version derived from the escutcheon
Escutcheon
In heraldry, an escutcheon is a shield which forms the main or focal element in an achievement of arms. The word is used in two related senses....
found in the centre of the much larger and more elaborate coat of arms that was used when Württemberg was elevated to the status of a kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
in 1806. Württemberg had recently acquired several territories under the mediatisation
German Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
system, and incorporated their heraldries into its arms, resulting in an overcomplicated design. This caused the need to choose something much simpler, and the 1817 arms had the two essential elements – 3 lions for the whole region of Swabia, and 3 antlers for its largest ruling dynasty
Rulers of Württemberg
This is a list of the rulers of the German state of Württemberg, originally a county and eventually a kingdom until the ruling dynasty was overthrown in 1918.- Counts of Württemberg to 1495 :* Konrad I 1089–1122...
.
By 26 December 1816, the Kingdom had also settled on the colours red and black for its flag; gold and black being too similar to the ruling Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
dynasty of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and red and gold being the colours of Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, their allies in the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
The ducal arms 1495-1806
The deerDeer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
antler
Antler
Antlers are the usually large, branching bony appendages on the heads of most deer species.-Etymology:Antler originally meant the lowest tine, the "brow tine"...
motif had been used for at least five centuries previously by the Counts of Württemberg. From 1495 the royal dukedom's
Dukes in Italy, Germany and Austria
-Germany:Although the titled aristocracy of Germany no longer holds a legal rank, nearly all ducal families in Germany continued to be treated as dynastic for marital and genealogical purposes after 1918...
coat of arms included the 4 quarters shown below. Their symbolism is:
Arms
- On a field of gold, three black stag's antlers of 4 branches - The County/Duchy of WürttembergWürttembergWürttemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
, whose seat was in the original Württemberg castleWürttemberg (mountain)The Württemberg is a mountain on the territory of the German city of Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Württemberg...
on a hilltop near StuttgartStuttgartStuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. It is based on the arms of their cousins, the Counts of NellenburgStockachStockach is a town in the district of Konstanz, in southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-Location:It is situated in the Hegau region, about 5 km northwest of Lake Constance, 13 km north of Radolfzell and 25 km northwest of Konstanz....
[3 blue antlers on a field of gold], which was in turn based on the arms of their cousins, the Counts of VeringenVeringenstadtVeringenstadt is a town in the district of Sigmaringen, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 10 km north of Sigmaringen.- Municipality :...
[3 red antlers on a field of gold]. - Lozengy (a geometric field of lozenges - or wide diamond shapes) in bend (shown angled from the top right to lower left) of black and gold – the Duchy of Teck, acquired in 1381. The later morganatic Dukes of TeckDuke of TeckDuke of Teck was, in medieval times, a title borne by the head of a principality named Teck in the Holy Roman Empire, centered around Teck castle in Germany. That territory was held by a branch line of the Zähringen dynasty from 1187 to 1439, known historically as the first House of Teck...
(1871-1918) differenced the arms as Lozengy in bend sinister (shown angled from the top left to lower right). - On a blue field, a standard flying (a flag shown waving in the breeze) a black eagle on a field of gold – membership of the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman EmpireThe Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. - On a red field, two gold fishes addorsed (two animals depicted back-to-back), haurient ("breathing" - a fish shown palewise (vertical) and head upwards), and embowed (shown bent, flexed, or curved) – County of MompelgardMontbéliardMontbéliard is a city in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It is one of the two subprefectures of the department.-History:...
, an exclave property that passed by marriage to the Württemberg royal family in 1397; now modern-day Montbéliard, Franche-ComtéFranche-ComtéFranche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Crests
- The dexter (right-hand side) crest atop the ducal arms [a red hunting horn stringed (having a rope sling of a different color) gold, enguiché (a bugle with a mouth of a different color) black, and from the mouthpiece issuant (coming up from) three plumes (feathers): red, black, and yellow] represents Bad UrachBad UrachBad Urach is a town in the district of Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 14 km east of Reutlingen, at the foot of the Swabian Alb, and is known for its spa and therapeutic bath.-History:...
, acquired in 1260. Bad Urach's arms were [a red hunting horn with a blue baldrick (leather strap) and enguiché (a bugle with a mouth of a different color) white, and from the mouthpiece issuant (coming up from) three plumes (feathers): red, white, and blue] - The center crest [a demi-Maiden (a female bust) couped (shown cut off with a clean edge) at the waist or thighs, crined (having hair or mane of a different color) gold and crowned (wearing a crown on the head) habited in (wearing clothes) a red gown, with fish for arms shown naiant ("swimmming" - a fish shown fesswise (horizontal) with the head facing the left-hand side) and reflexed (bent in an "s" shape) gold] represents MompelgardMontbéliardMontbéliard is a city in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It is one of the two subprefectures of the department.-History:...
. - The sinister (left-hand side) crest [a dog's head erased (shown cut off with a ragged edge with three flaps of skin hanging from the base) lozengy black and gold] represents TeckTeckTeck was a ducal castle in the kingdom of Württemberg, immediately to the north of the Swabian Jura and south of the town of Kirchheim unter Teck , taking its name from the ridge, 2544 feet high, which it crowned. It was destroyed in the German Peasants' War...
.
Other quarterings
Quartering (heraldry)
Quartering in heraldry is a method of joining several different coats of arms together in one shield by dividing the shield into equal parts and placing different coats of arms in each division....
were added in the 18th century.
Used after 1918
After the abdication of the last king in 1918, the Free People's State of WürttembergFree People's State of Württemberg
The Free People's State of Württemberg was a state of Germany during the Weimar Republic in Württemberg.-1918 revolution:As Germany underwent violent revolution near the end of World War I, the Kingdom of Württemberg was transformed from a monarchy to a democratic republic without bloodshed; its...
continued to use the three antlers motif and the former kingdom's flag on its coat of arms. Today the larger version of the Coat of arms of Baden-Württemberg
Coat of arms of Baden-Württemberg
The coat of arms of the German state of Baden-Württemberg features a greater and a lesser version.-History:The coat of arms of Baden-Württemberg was determined after the merging of the former German states Baden, Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern, that were divided due to different...
includes the three Swabian lions and a small shield on top with the three antlers of Württemberg. The arms can even be seen today in the trade mark of Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
, a local car firm .
See also
- History of WürttembergHistory of WürttembergWürttemberg developed as a political entity in south-west Germany, with the core established around Stuttgart by Count Conrad . His descendants managed to expand Württemberg, surviving Germany's religious wars, changes in imperial policy, and invasions from France. The state had a basic...
- Origin of the coats of arms of German federal states
- UradelUradelThe German and Scandinavian term Uradel refers to nobility who can trace back their noble ancestry at least to the year 1400 and probably originates from leadership positions during the Migration Period.-Divisions of German nobility:Uradel : Nobility that originates from leadership positions held...