City of Essen (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Stadt Essen

Last modified: 2001-12-21 by santiago dotor
Keywords: north rhine-westphalia | nordrhein-westfalen | essen | stadt essen | crown: royal open | coat of arms: 2 | coat of arms (eagle: double-headed) | coat of arms (eagle: black) | coat of arms (sword) |
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5:2 by Stefan Schwoon Coat-of-arms adopted 1886

• Description

See also:

• County and Municipal Flags (North Rhine-Westphalia / Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)
• North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)
• Germany

Yellow-blue with the arms, also in banner [hanging flag] form. The arms consist of two shields united under a crown. Its history is told in Ralf Hartemink's International Civic Arms website. Sources: flag from Staack 1997, arms from Stadler 1964-1971.

Stefan Schwoon, 23 February 2001

From Ralf Hartemink's International Civic Arms website:

The arms of Essen are unique, as they show two shields under a single crown [not really, see Brandenburg]. The original arms, a shield with a sword, are known since 1399, but were rarely used. (...) In 1623 the German Emperor granted the city the right to use the Imperial Eagle. Normally the shield would be divided or the original arms were placed on the eagle (...). This never officially happened in Essen, although sometimes both arms are combined in a single shield in books and maps. The crown indicates the foundation of the freedom of the monastery (with the rank of Prince) in 852. The arms were granted in 1886.

Literature: Stadler 1964-1971 and Nagel 1986.

Santiago Dotor, 19 December 2001