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Latvijas Pilsetu Gerboni
Latvian Civic Heraldry

VALKA

Origin/meaning :
Valka is the only ancient city of Latvia, where Knights of the Teutonic Order did not build a castle. Maybe the reason is that Valka is situated in the center of former Livonia (present Latvia and Estonia). Valka is first time mentioned in 1286 as Pedele town at Pedele river. In 14th century the town is yet called Valka (Walk in German).
In 1419 Valka was chosen as a site of the Landtag (Assembly) of Livonia.
The Livonian war (1558-1583) destroyed the city, and it lasted only as town.
The Polish King Stephen Batory granted city rights and arms to Valka in 1584. Although "valka" means "stream" in Latvian, but it was treated as German "Wolke" ("cloud"). So the arms show a cloud with armed hand, holding a saber. A hand means strength; also it could symbolize the past dependence to Knights of the Teutonic Order.


The seal of 1580

When Latvia and Estonia became independent states, the ethnically mixed Valka was divided between them in 1920. Estonian city Valga (the same name, but in Estonian) kept the old arms unchanged, and Latvian city Valka got new arms in 1925: the same cloud with armed hand and saber, but oppose directed. Three stars of National Arms were also added to show dependence to Latvia.

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


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