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Latvijas Pilsetu Gerboni
Latvian Civic Heraldry

JAUNJELGAVA

Origin/meaning :
Jaunjelgava, called then Serene, was founded in 1590 by the duke of Kurzeme (Curonia) Friedrich.
But the young city was fired during the Sweden-Poland war (1617-1629). Citizens asked for financial support to rebuild the city. The duchess of Jelgava Elisabeth Magdalene agreed to help them, but citizens should do homage to the memory of her husband Friedrich, duke of Jelgava. Citizens decided to rename the city to Friedrichstadt, and the support was given.
In 1648 the duchess Elisabeth Magdalene officially granted to the city more land and her own arms: a griffin. It was the arms of her native Stettin in Pomerania (now Szczecin in Poland), so this granting was a gesture of real favour. The favour of the ducal home was great, and city started to grow large and rich so rapidly, that people called it Jauna Jelgava (New Jelgava) in Latvian and Neu-Mitau (the same meaning) in German. The name Jelgavina (diminutive of Jelgava) was also in use.
The city name was officially changed to Jaunjelgava after the independence of Latvia.
The new design of the arms was confirmed in 1925.


The seal from 1646.

In old Russian times the arms were slightly different :


Mentioned by the old name Friedrichstadt.

Literature : scan from a poster; old scan from Speransov


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