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Belgische Gemeentewapens - Armories communales de Belgique Belgian Civic Heraldry

ZOTTEGEM

Province : Oost Vlaanderen
Additions : 1970 Elene, Erwetegem, Godveerdegem, Grotenberge, Leeuwergem, Sint-Goriks-Oudenhove, Strijpen, Velzeke-Ruddershove; 1976 Oombergen, Sint-Maria-Oudenhove

Origin/meaning :

The old (above left) arms were granted on September 2, 1818 and confirmed on April 13, 1838.
The old arms are derived from the arms of the Lords of d'Enghien (Edingen). Lord Walter van Zottegem dies in 1216 and his daughter Alice marries Zeger van Edingen. Their two sons divide the possessions and Geraad van Edingen inherits Zottegem. He continues the use of the old arms, but to distinguigh the arms from his brother he changed the colours into gold and red. The estate and city of Zottegem continue to use these arms until 1793.
In 1818 the arms were restored, but now in the Dutch national colours. These were confirmed in 1838, but the old colours were not restored.
See also Enghien for similar arms.

On November 3, 1977 the council applied to be allowed to continue the old arms after the merger with the other municipalities. This was not allowed and much later, in 1984 the Flemish Heraldic Council proposed the use of the old arms, but in historical colours (gold and red) and crowned with the crown as was used by the city in the 17^th century. The local council did not like the change of colours and no arms were granted.

Historical evidence for the use of gold and blue was found on several historical maps and rolls of arms. It was speculated that the Lords of Zottegem used gold and red, but that the city itself used gold and blue.

Finally it was decided that the old colours of Zottegem were gold and blue and that these were derived from the 13^th century arms of the Lords of Zottegem. These used a lion as a single symbol on their arms. Hence the new arms of Zottegem, granted in 1989 (above right) are derived from the oldest Lords of Zottegem in the colours most likely used by this family.

Literature : Servais, 1955; Van den Bossche, Het wapen van de stad Zottegem, 1989.

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