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Belgische Gemeentewapens - Armories communales de Belgique Belgian Civic Heraldry

NEUFCHÂTEAU

Province : Luxembourg
Additions : 1976 Grandvoir, Grapfontaine, Hamipré, Longlier, Tournay

Origin/meaning :
The old (left) arms were granted on September 10, 1818; the new arms on November 26, 1981.
From before XVI-^th century the coats of arms of the city showed a saint Michel bringing down a dragon. There were variants. Here, the holy archangel brandished a lightning, there, a lance. Here, he held his shield, there, a balance, an attribute which is usual for him. One knows that saint Michel who is the patron saint of the parish has the responsibility to weigh souls at the entry of the next world and to steer them towards the Paradise or towards the Hell.

It is maybe in order to regulate the things that a confirmation of the coats of arms of the city was granted, in 1696 , " to the provosts, the feudal lords and the aldermen of the city and the franchising of Neufchâteau. " One clarified there that the coats of arms were: " Argent, a saint Michel of Carnation dressed in Azure, Gules and Or, winged as well Or, holding a sword Argent of which he brings down a dragon Azure, langued Gules, which is in its feet ".

The arms from 1678

The seal from 1681

This did not prevent the variants from proliferating so that one ends in a generally spread model: " Argent, a saint Michel of Carnation, sometimes without wings, wearing a short cape Azure and shell Argent, brings down a dragon Vert ". It happens that the sword is replaced by a lightning.

The 18^th century seal

The arms in 1808

An official diploma of September 10, 1818, which has the merit to leave place with some whim and which was confirmed by a royal order of 1838, gives the quite simple description:
" a saint Michel Argent proper, the shield surmounted by a golden crown ".

A royal order of November 26, 1981 had modified colours. One does not know the justification but we presume that it is in connection with the merger of the municipalities.

Literature : All information provided by Patrick Pierloz, Belgium. From : A. GEUBEL, " Cercle Terre de Neufchâteau " , in " Contact, magazine de Neufchâteau ", 11ième année, n° 75, août 1989

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