Last modified: 2013-03-12 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: lauenburg | stripes(10) | castle(red) | inescutcheon | askanian barry | demi-eagle | crancelin |
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![[Lauenburg city flag]](../images/d/de-rz-le0.gif)
3:5
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Sep 2007
See also:
Description of flag:
The ratio is 3:5. It is a horizontal 10-stripes flag, divided by alternating black and yellow stripes.
Source: I spotted this flag on 17 July 2007 at Lauenburg in the Elbstraße.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 Sep 2007
![[Lauenburg flag with CoA]](../images/d/de-rz-le1.gif)
3:5 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 Mar 2013
Description of flag with coat of arms:
The ratio is 3:5. It is a horizontal 10-stipes flag with alternating black and yellow stripes. The coat of arms is in the centre of the flag. Please note, that this flag is not a city flag of Lauenburg. It is the masthead flag of the paddle steamer KAISER WILHELM, maintained by supporters of the local shipping museum.
For further information click: Verein zur Förderung des Lauenburger Elbschifffahrtsmuseums e.V.
Description of coat of arms:
In a silver (= white) shield is a red castle masoned black with black windows. The castle has a closed golden (= yellow) door. Both towers are topped by blue cone (i.e. triangular) roofs, topped by golden balls. Between the towers is an impending inescutcheon. The inescutcheon is divided per pale. The dexter side displays in a silver (= white) field a red demi-eagle couped per pale and armed and tongued black. The sinister side is nine times divided per fess into black and gold (= yellow), superimposed by a green crancelin.
Meaning:
Gold (= yellow) and black had been the traditional colours of the Dukes of Saxony, especially also of the Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg from the Askanian kin. Duke Bernhard I completed the castle of Lauenburg in 1181. The name might allude to Heinrich the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, meaning "lion's castle". On the other hand it might be derived from "castle upon Labe", which was the Slavic name of Elbe river. Near the castle a prospering village of fishermen was established, which developed very well and gained city rights already in the 13th century. Lauenburg had been the capital of the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg. When the castle was burnt down in 1616 the dukes transferred their residence to Neuhaus, in 1619 to Ratzeburg.
Sources: Reißmann 1997, p.223 and Stadler 1970, p.103
The inescutcheon shows the shield of the Askanian Dukes of Saxony. The dexter half is taken from the arms of the Margraves of Brandenburg. The sinister side shows the so called Askanian barry, ten alternating black and golden bars superimposed by a crancelin. The Askanian barry actually is a "Ballenstedt barry", because this pattern was first used by Count Eisiko of Ballenstedt in 1030. The crancelin was added to the shield since 1261. The crancelin originally had been a wreath of intertwined plants of rue (German: Raute; Latin: Ruta). Later it changed into a green bendy, embowed coronet. The Brandenburgian eagle had been added in order to show Askanian claims on Brandenburg, which, as far as I know, never could be realized.
Source: Stroehl 1999, pp.33/56
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 Mar 2013
The flag seems to be a traditional flag. I think that the flag simply displays the stripes of the flags of Saxony - more precise: Saxe-Lauenburg - to which the town belonged earlier, but without the green crancelin.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 Feb 2013
back to Herzogtum Lauenburg cities and municipalities click here.