Heilbronn
HEILBRONN
State : Baden-Württemberg
Urban District (Stadtkreis) : Heilbronn
Additions : 1933 Böckingen, 1938 Neckargartach, Sontheim; 1974 Biberach, Frankenbach, Horkheim, Kirchhausen, Klingenberg
| German | In Gold der rotbewehrte und rotbezungte schwarze Reichsadler mit einem von Rot, Silber und Blau geteilten Brustschild. |
| English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
Heilbronn was founded in 1220 as a Royal city by Emperor Friedrich II. In 1281 it became a free Imperial city. As all free Imperial cities Heilbronn used the Imperial Eagle in its seals. At first the eagle faced left, but since the 14th century until today the eagle faces right (which is more common).
Most Imperial cities use a breast-shield to distinguish the arms. For Heilbronn a small shield with the letters H and B was used until 1556. In that year the three-coloured shield appears in images and architecture in the city. At first the colours were blue-silver-red, which in the 19th century were replaced by the present red-silver-blue. The meaning or origin of the colours is not known.
The arms around 1500 (Haylprunn)
The arms in a manuscript +/- 1530
The arms in a 16th century manuscript
The arms in a 17th century manuscript
The municipal stamp shown in 1892
Seal from around 1900
Seal from around 1900
The arms in the Wappen-Sammlung (1900)
The arms in an album from around 1910
The arms in a 1936 album
The arms by Hupp in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925
The arms in the Abadie albums
The arms in an album from 1968
The arms of Heilbronn and former municipalities in the city (image by Igor Sosman)
Literature: Stadler, 1964-1971, 8 volumes.