Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen) German Civic Heraldry

MÜNCHEN

State : Bayern
Urban district (Stadtkreis) : München
Additions : 1899 Nymphenburg; 1900 Laim; 1938 Allach, Obermenzing, Pasing, Untermenzing; 1942 Aubing, Lochhausen

Origin/meaning:
The city of München presently only uses the right arms as the official arms. Until 1957 the left arms were the official great arms, the right arms the arms for daily use.

The monk (Mönch) is a canting symbol. The monk already appears as a canting symbol on the first seals of the city, which date from 1239 and 1268. The seals show a gate with the mink and above the gate an eagle, probably derived from the arms of the Bishops of Freising, to which the city belonged. Since 1313 the lion replaced the eagle, as the city now was a possession of the Wittelsbach family, Dukes of Bayern. The lion is the oldest symbol for the Wittelsbach family, which commonly used a blue shield with silver diamonds (see the arms of Bayern).
The arms with the gate have not changed since and were officially granted as city arms in 1834 by King Ludwig of Bayern. Form 1936-1945 the lion was replaced by the eagle used by the Third Reich.

The use of the great arms was abolished by law from December 17, 1957 and only the small arms have been used since. The monk as a single figure has been used on a small seal dating from 1304, and on the banners of the city since the mid 14^th century. The shape of the monk has changed considerably during the centuries. The figure as shown above is according to the official drawing of 1957.

Use of the arms in the city :

Literature : Stadler, K. : Deutsche Wappen - Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Angelsachsen Verlag, 1964-1971, 8 volumes.

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