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Bayreuth County (Germany)

Kreis Bayreuth, Oberfranken District, Bavaria

Last modified: 2014-03-18 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: bayreuth county | ebermannstadt county | pegnitz county | eagle(red) | chief(lozengy) | lion(black) | quartered | key | base(wavy) |
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[Bayreuth County banner (Germany)] 5:2 image by Stefan Schwoon, 9 Aug 2001
approved 27 February 1962, confirmed 21 February 1974
See also:

Bayreuth County

Red-white, adopted . Although Bayreuth swallowed Pegnitz and parts of Ebermannstadt County its symbols were confirmed in 1974 after the 1972 municipal reform.
Sources: Linder and Schmidt 2000, arms image from Stadler 1964, p.16
Stefan Schwoon, 9 August 2001

The coat of arms was approved on 27 September 1962. The arms display the red eagle of Brandenburg as a symbol of the importance of the Burgraves of Nürnberg, who ruled the largest part of the county until 1791. Burgrave Friedrich of Nürnberg took the eagle in 1415 as his arms, after he acquired Brandenburg. The chief displays the arms of Bavaria and is representing the area around Kemnath, which belonged to the Wittelsbach kin, the Bavarian Royal family.
Source: Stadler 1964, p.16
Santiago Dotor, 11 July 2003

Ebermannstadt County Banner until 1972

[Ebermannstadt County banner 1972 (Germany)] 5:2 image by Stefan Schwoon, 9 Aug 2001
approved 19 October 1965

Black-white-black. The county was dissolved in 1973, parts going to Forchheim and other parts to Bayreuth.
Sources: Linder and Schmidt 2000, arms image from Stadler 1964, p.29
Stefan Schwoon, 9 August 2001

The coat of arms was approved on 18 March 1957. The key in the lower part of the arms refers to the Lords of Schlüsselberg ('key-mountain'), who owned many estates and castles in the area before 1347. In 1347 most of their possessions were acquired by the Bishops of Bamberg, represented by the black lion in the 1st quarter. The 2nd quarter displayss the arms of the (Hohen-)Zollern kin, who held some estates in the north-eastern part of the county.
Source: Stadler 1964, p.29
Santiago Dotor, 11 July 2003

Pegnitz County Banner until 1972

[Pegnitz County banner 1972 (Germany)] 5:2 image by Stefan Schwoon, 10 Aug 2001
approved 19 April 1966, abolished 30 June 1972

Black-yellow-blue. Annexed to Bayreuth county under the 1972 municipal reform.
Sources: Linder and Schmidt 2000, arms image from Stadler 1964, p.73
Stefan Schwoon, 10 Aug 2001

The shield combines in the chief the arms of the Hohenzollern kin, quartered of silver and black as Burgraves of Nürnberg, and the lion of the Bishopric of Bamberg. Both the Hohenzollern kin as well as the Bishops of Bamberg held many estates in the county until the end of the 18th century. The blue base wavy is symbolizing the Pegnitz river.
Source: Stadler 1964, p.73
Santiago Dotor, 15 July 2003

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