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Våler, Østfold (Norway)

image by Tomislav Šipek, 20 February 2017

The Flag
Coat of Arms

See also:

The Flag

Here is flag and coat of arms of Våler. Administrative center is Kirkebygden.
Source: https://lovdata.no/dokument/OV/forskrift/1986-06-20-1369?q=flagg
Tomislav Šipek, 29 December 2015

Coat of Arms

image by Tomislav Šipek, 29 December 2015

Blazon: Kløvd. Første felt i blått en halv sølv lilje fast på delingen, andre felt i blått to gull sparrer. In English: Per pale azure dimidiated fluer-de-lis or and azure two chevrons or.
It seems that the legislation page referred above is incorrect for calling it Våler Hedmark - it is for Våler Ostfold!
Approved by the royal resolution of 20 June 1986 after a drawing by Truls Nygaard after an idea by Leif Merlie. [c2j87]
This is a rare example of complex arms approved in the modern Norwegian municipal heraldry, as an exception to the general rule requiring most simple design - the exception allowing for somewhat more complex designs if they are historically relevant.
The design is based on a medieval seal shown on the http://www.valer-of.kommune.no/kommunevapenet belonging to Agmund Berdorsson Bolt, preserved on impressions from ca. 1400. It was used
by the Bolts at least since 12th century.
The web site recounts the entire story on how the design was elected, starting in 1979 with a circular letter received from the Municipal Union (Kommunenes sentralforbund, national organization of municipalities) initiating the idea. However, it was not taken upon then, and only in 1984 councillor August Andreassen asked the municipal department for culture to take the issue, gaining more followers. In May 1984 an invitation was issued for proposals gaining 34 designs from entire Østfold county. Five puls five "reserve" were chosen among them and sent to the State Archives for consultation. None got their green light, some requiering more work others being already taken up by other municipalities. Leif Merlie proposed the Bolts coat of arms, but since that was a complex, marshalled design, nobody believed it had any chance of approval.
The consultant for State Archive Fjordholms supported proposals with three forts and with a saw that might got approved with some adaptation, but also took stand that one should go for the ancient Bolt arms, that was eventually soon adopted.
The noble family of Bolt florished in the 14th and 15th century. The ancestor was one Kolbein Haraldsøn Fledsberg, who lived in Fledsberg in Våler. Althouigh the family spread throughout Norway it considered Våler is its home.
Among the notable family members, the site mentions state councillor Alv Haraldson Bolt at the end of the 14th century. Berdor Kolbeinsøn owned much land. State concillor Agmund Berdorson Bolt in the early 15th century was governor at Borgarsyssel, bought lands in Mosseros in Våler and settled there. Aslak Bolt was archbishop in Nidaros (Trondheim). Later there was Agmund Sigurdson Bolt, grand-grandson of Kolbein Haraldsøns. He led a most successful peasant rebellion against the Danes in 1436, attacking the Akershus fortress. He was exiled to the Faroes, but returned later to Våler.
Željko Heimer, 01 January 2016