Last modified: 2014-03-18 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: rhoen-grabfeld | koenigshofen county | bad neustadt county | chief | coronet | fess(wavy) | crosses(3) | triple mount | tower(black) | franconian rake | crown(imperial) |
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![[Rhön-Grabfeld County banner (Germany)]](../images/d/de-ns_.gif)
5:2
image by Stefan Schwoon, 14 Aug 2001
Red-white-green stripes. The seat of the county is Bad Neustadt an der Saale. Bad Neustadt county merged with Mellrichstadt and Königshofen counties into the new county Rhön-Grabfeld in the 1972 municipal reform.
Sources: Linder and Schmidt 2000, arms image from Linder and Olzog 1996
Stefan Schwoon, 14 Aug and 8 Oct 2001
Quite a gloomy arms, Grabfeld meaning graveyard...
Santiago Dotor, 9 Oct 2001
Actually, the three crosses on a hill ar symbolizing the Calvary (Kreuzberg), a landmark and pilgrimage centre in the Rhön mountains. The Grabfeld area is represented by the crown. Unfortunately, I was unable to find out the origin of the name Grabfeld. Personally, I agree the association of the cross with graves is obvious — I would not be surprised if that aspect played a part at least unofficially when the arms were designed, but that is pure speculation.
From Ralf Hartemink's International Civic Arms website:
"The arms show in the upper part a crown, which symbolises the former Royal estate in Königshofen in Grabfeld as well as the Imperial estate near Neustadt an der Saale. The wavy fess symbolises the many rivers in the district, especially the Saale. The fess also symbolises the two parts of the county, the Rhön and the Grabfeld areas. The crosses in the lower half represent the Kreuzberg, one of the major landmarks in the Rhön area. Red and white are the colours of Franconia, whereas the green symbolises the many forests in the county.
Literature: Linder and Olzog 1996.
Santiago Dotor, 27 Jan 2004
![[Königshofen County banner 1972 (Germany)]](../images/d/de-ns_c1.gif)
5:2 
image by Stefan Schwoon,
Yellow-black. Became part of Rhön-Grabfeld county under the 1972 municipal reform.
Sources: Linder and Schmidt 2000, arms image from Stadler 1966, p.100
Stefan Schwoon, 16 August 2001
The coat of arms was approved on 29 April 1966. The crown symbolises the old Royal Estate in Grabfeldgau, the colours are taken from the arms of the Lords of Henneberg, who played a major role in the early existence of the city. The county became later a possession of the Bishops of Würzburg, and the arms of the bishopric are placed in the first quarter. The tower alludes to the fact that the city of Königshofen was a major stronghold of the bishops.
Sources: Stadler 1966, p.100
Santiago Dotor, 17 July 2003
![[Bad Neustadt County banner 1972 (Germany)]](../images/d/de-ns_c2.gif)
5:2 image by Stefan Schwoon, 14 Aug 2001
Yellow-red-white. Merged with Mellrichstadt and Königshofen counties into the new county Rhön-Grabfeld in the 1972 municipal reform.
Sources: Linder and Schmidt 2000, arms image from Stadler 1966, p.99
Stefan Schwoon, 14 Aug 2001
The coat of arms was approved on 13 June 1966. The upper part shows an Imperial crown, which indicates that already in the 11th century the Holy Roman Empire had large possessions in the county, such as the Salz estate, the Salzgau and the Royal church in Brend. In later times the largest part of the district belonged to the Bishops of Würzburg. Red and white are the colours of the bishopric. The crosses in the lower part are alluding to the Kreuzberg ('Calvary'), with a large monastery, which used to be an important place of pilgimage.
Source: Stadler 1966, p.99
Santiago Dotor, 15 July 2003
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