Neunkirchen, Lower Franconia
Encyclopedia
Neunkirchen is a municipality
in the Miltenberg district
in the Regierungsbezirk
of Lower Franconia
(Unterfranken) in Bavaria
, Germany
and a member of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (Administrative Community) of Erftal, whose seat is in Bürgstadt
.
and Miltenberg
.
as its overlord. It was said to be a well-off farming community.
(as at municipal election held on 3 March 2002)
might be described thus: Per chevron embowed, argent dexter a helm in profile and sinister the head of an abbess’s staff gules, and gules a wheel spoked of six of the first.
The knight’s helmet stands for Umpfenbach, much of whose mediaeval
history was characterized by Imperial
, knightly fiefholders, the most important among whom were the Barons of Gudenus. They acquired the community quite late in Imperial history, in 1775 and rendered service thereto on into the 20th century. The abbess’s staff refers to Richelbach’s relationship with the Altmünster Convent, which was founded in the 8th century and known to have been in Riclelbach by the 13th century. The founding Abbess, Bihildis, is Richelbach’s church patron. The Wheel of Mainz
, and also the tincture
s argent and gules (silver and red) refer to the community’s long association with the Electoral state of Mainz
, which was landlord to almost all of Neunkirchen and the authority that dispensed law.
The arms have been borne since 1982.
Municipalities of Germany
Municipalities are the lowest level of territorial division in Germany. This may be the fourth level of territorial division in Germany, apart from those states which include Regierungsbezirke , where municipalities then become the fifth level.-Overview:With more than 3,400,000 inhabitants, the...
in the Miltenberg district
Miltenberg (district)
Miltenberg is an administrative district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the city of Aschaffenburg, the districts of Aschaffenburg and Main-Spessart, and the states of Baden-Württemberg and Hesse .-History:During the Middle Ages there was continuous...
in the Regierungsbezirk
Regierungsbezirk
In Germany, a Government District, in German: Regierungsbezirk – is a subdivision of certain federal states .They are above the Kreise, Landkreise, and kreisfreie Städte...
of Lower Franconia
Lower Franconia
Lower Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria , Germany ....
(Unterfranken) in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and a member of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (Administrative Community) of Erftal, whose seat is in Bürgstadt
Bürgstadt
Bürgstadt is a market community in the Miltenberg district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany and the seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Erftal.- Location :...
.
Location
The rural residential community of Neunkirchen lies in the Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald, between WertheimWertheim
Wertheim may refer to:* Wertheim vacuum cleaner, a brand of vacuum cleaner* Wertheim am Main, Baden-Württemberg, Germany* Wertheim , a chain of German department stores...
and Miltenberg
Miltenberg
Miltenberg is the seat of the like-named district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany.- Location :...
.
Constituent communities
Neunkirchen’s Ortsteile are Neunkirchen, Richelbach and Umpfenbach.History
In 1232, Neunkirchen had its first documentary mention, and for the longest time in its history had the Archbishopric of MainzArchbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
as its overlord. It was said to be a well-off farming community.
Amalgamations
The greater community of Neunkirchen came into being through the merger of the formerly self-administering communities of Neunkirchen, Richelbach and Umpfenbach on 1 July 1975.Town council
The council is made up of 13 council members, counting the parttime mayor.| WG Umpfenbach | WG | WG Richelbach | Total | |
| 2002 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 seats |
(as at municipal election held on 3 March 2002)
Coat of arms
The community’s armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
might be described thus: Per chevron embowed, argent dexter a helm in profile and sinister the head of an abbess’s staff gules, and gules a wheel spoked of six of the first.
The knight’s helmet stands for Umpfenbach, much of whose mediaeval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
history was characterized by Imperial
Holy Roman Empire
The 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...
, knightly fiefholders, the most important among whom were the Barons of Gudenus. They acquired the community quite late in Imperial history, in 1775 and rendered service thereto on into the 20th century. The abbess’s staff refers to Richelbach’s relationship with the Altmünster Convent, which was founded in the 8th century and known to have been in Riclelbach by the 13th century. The founding Abbess, Bihildis, is Richelbach’s church patron. The Wheel of Mainz
Wheel of Mainz
thumb|150px|version until 1992thumb|150px|version from 1992 - 2008thumb|150px|version from 2008The Wheel of Mainz or Mainzer Rad, in German, was the coat of arms of the Archbishopric of Mainz and thus also of the Electorate of Mainz , in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It consists of a silver wheel...
, and also the tincture
Tincture (heraldry)
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to emblazon a coat of arms. These can be divided into several categories including light tinctures called metals, dark tinctures called colours, nonstandard colours called stains, furs, and "proper". A charge tinctured proper is coloured as it would be...
s argent and gules (silver and red) refer to the community’s long association with the Electoral state of Mainz
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
, which was landlord to almost all of Neunkirchen and the authority that dispensed law.
The arms have been borne since 1982.
Honorary citizens
- 1898: Bishop Ferdinand von Schlör, Richelbach
- 1967: Headteacher Alfred Hauck, Richelbach
- 1975: Former Mayor Helmut Schell, Neunkirchen
- 1979: Father Georg Zenkert, Neunkirchen
- 1985: Former Mayor Rudolf Ditter, Richelbach
- 2003: Honorary Councillor Fritz Schmidt, Umpfenbach
- 2006: Honorary Councillor Alfons Wolf, Neunkirchen