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Latvijas Pilsetu Gerboni
Latvian Civic Heraldry

KULDIGA

Origin/meaning :
Kuldiga is first time mentioned in 1242, when the Teutonic Order built the extremely strong castle Goldingen in the Kurši (Curonians, ancient Baltic tribe) land. It became a headstone of the German aggression against Baltic people, and later - a capital of the Kurzeme (Curonia) dukedom.
A little later the town at castle started to grow. City rights and arms were granted in 1278. The arms show Saint Catherine, a patron of Kuldiga, with her symbols: wheel and sword. The saint is chosen as a patron of trade.
Once (in 1925?) the President of Latvia changed the arms to river (Venta) line and two fishes, but the city rejected new arms. Now it is the arms of Kuldiga rural district.
The arms were confirmed in 1938.


The seal of 1686

Literature : scan from a poster (Latvijas Pilsetu Gerboni); Purens : Latvijas gerbonu gramata (translated by Virginijus Misiunas, Vilnius)


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