Verden City (Germany)

Stadt Verden an der Aller, Landkreis Verden, Lower Saxony

Last modified: 2017-11-13 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: verden(aller) | cross(patty;fitchy) | castle | bishop | falcon |
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• Flag reported 1970
• Town Hall Flag in Use
• Bicolour with Coat of Arms
• Plain Flag reported 1891
• Current Greater Arms
• Coat of Arms

• County and Municipal Flags (Lower Saxony / Niedersachsen)
• Verden County
• Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)
• Hannoverian Flags reported 1891
• Germany

Flag reported 1970

Description of  flag:
It is a white flag with a black cross patty fitchy in centre. This is not the flag in use in the town hall (see below).
Sources: §2(2) of Hauptsatzung of Verden City, dated 15 April 2004, last updated 1 January 2017 and Stadler 1970, p.78
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Feb 2017

Town Hall Flag in Use

Description of  flag:
It is a black-white vertical bicolour with the greater arms shifted to the top. Please note, although the flag with greater arms has the ratio like a banner, the flag is hoisted on a pole
Source: I spotted it in Verden town hall on 24 September 2014
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Feb 2017

Bicolour with Coat of Arms

Description of  flag:
It is a black over white horizontal bicolour with centred arms.
Source: this online catalogue
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Feb 2017

Plain Flag reported 1891

Description of  flag:
The ratio is given as 1:2. It was a white over black horizontal bicolour.
Source: H.Ahrens "Hannoversche Landschafts-und Städtewappen", 1891, plate XX
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Nov 2011

Current Greater Arms

Description of  coat of arms:
Shield Argent, issuant from base a castle Gules masoned black with port and windows Azure, crowned by three embattled towers of the Same roofed Azure, the central tower is topped by a crosslet Or, the others by a golden ball, in base of port an inescutcheon Argent, charged with a cross patty fitchy Sable, issuant from inescutcheon a bishop with mitre, robe and crozier Or, two falcons Sable on either side standing upon the port's gables.
Source: I spotted it in Verden town hall on 24 September 2014
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Feb 2017

Coat of Arms

Description of  coat of arms:
Shield Argent with bordure Sable, a cross patty fitchy Sable.
Meaning:
The greater arms, so called in literature in the 19th century displays the seal of Verden Norderstadt (Northern town) from 1220. The bishop is Iso of Verden, a former ruler. The falcons are symbolizing the direct rule of the city by the Holy Roman Empire (German: Reichsfreiheit). The colours in the 19th century have been chosen arbitrarily by Otto Hupp. The cross had been the symbol of the Bishopric of Verden. Verden City consisted of a Northern part (Norderstadt) around St. John's church and the town hall and a Southern part (Süderstadt) around the cathedral and including a fishermen's settlement. Both cities were united by Swedish queen Christine in 1651, some say in 1662. Until the unification the Southern part had at least an own seal, displaying the cross, held by a lion's paw. Since the 19th century the inescutcheon of the greater arms was used by the city as coat of arms. It was confirmed as the only valid coat of arms by Minister of Interior of Lower Saxony in 1948 and the bordure was added. The black bordure, which had been added in 1948, had been removed at least since 2004 (date of the 1st Hauptsatzung). Acc. to Mr. Düsselbach (Verden City Central Services Department) §2 had not been changed until 1 January 2017 (last update).
Sources: §2(1) of Hauptsatzung of Verden City, dated 15 April 2004, acc. to Mr. Düsselbach (Verden City central services department) last updated on 1 January 2017 and Stadler 1970, p.78
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Feb 2017 / 20 Mar 2017

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