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Belgische Gemeentewapens - Armories communales de Belgique
Belgian Civic Heraldry

BERCHEM

Province : Antwerpen
Incorporated into : 1982 Antwerpen

Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted on February 20, 1816 and confirmed on May 6, 1839.
The three red pales are derived from the arms of the Berthout family, who adopted the name Van Berchem in the 13th century, as they ruled the village at the time. Ever since the three pales have been used by the Berchem council.

On origin of the arms there has been some debate. A local legend tells the following story :
When in the 12th century the Kingdom of Aragon (now Spain) was threatened by the Moors, the King asked for help all over Europe. The Lord of Berthout was one of the volunteers to fight the Moors. He fought very bravely and the King awarded him with a large estate and title of provincial governor. The Lord of Berthout refused and returned to Flanders.

During a second attack several years later, the Lord of Berthout again brought victory for the King, who rewarded hem with his daughter. And again he refused and returned to Flanders.

When the Moors attacked again, Berthout brought again the victory. Instead of offering a reward, the king asked Berthout what he would like to have as a reward. He answered that he would like to have the right to use the arms of Aragon (see Catalonia for the origin) as his own arms. The king accepted this, but with only three pales instead of four, as Berthout has brought three victories.

The crest shows a Moor's torso, which is also a reference to the legend.

Literature : Servais, 1955; Information provided by the Berchem District Council, 2000.


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