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Stemmi di comuni e province d'Italia
Italian Civic Heraldry
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CREMONA
 Origin/meaning:
The ancient symbol of Cremona, dating back at the end of 13th century, was a silver cross on a red field, refers at the banner of the empire, to which Cremona was submitted. It was then turned into a shield barry of red and silver.
In 1478 it took the present shape: "per pale, the first barry of red an silver, the second field azure wit an arm weared of red and silver, keeping in the hand a golden ball".
The arms are surmounted by a marquis crown.
The arms supporting a golden ball, remind the loyalty of Cremona to the Empire, in the times when it paid a tribute (in gold) and remind also the gonfalonier Giovanni Baldesio who win Henry IV in tournament. It appeared in 1300 as a crest for the shield, and it was included in the pale at the beginning of 19th century, but with black background, not azure as it is for the Municipality nowadays.
Even though the arms have been divided since 1478, in 1940 only the barred shield was mentioned for Cremona.
Literature : Anonymous : 500 Stemmi di comuni Italiani. Milano, 1940 and info and modern image from Massimo Ghirardi
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