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Salzburg (Austria)


image by Jan Oskar Engene	image by Peter Diem
(civil flag) adopted 16 February 1921	(state service flag)

Description of the flag
Coat of arms

See also:

Description of the flag

According to Peter Diem's book Die Symbole Oesterreichs [die95], the coat-of-arms in the state flag of Salzburg is crowned with a prince's hat similar to the crown on the Upper Austria flag, but simpler (without all the gems).
Jan Oskar Engene, 11 April 1996

Actually, the crowns *are* different: The Upper Austrian arms bear the crown of an archdukedom, while the Salzburg Arms are crowned with the crown of a principality – hence the difference in gems. This has historical reasons: within the former monarchy, Upper Austria was an archdukedom and (formally) ruled by an archduke of the Habsburg family, while Salzburg had been an independent state under a prince archbishop until 1803, then it became part of the Electorate Principality of Salzburg-Toscana (united with Tuscany). In 1806 it fell back to Austria, in 1810 to Bavaria, and in 1816 again to Austria. 1816–1849 Salzburg war united with Upper Austria, before becoming an independent principality within the Empire for the rest of the latter's existence. It was then that the crown was added to the traditional Salzburg arms that date back to the late 13th/early 14th century. The Arms were adopted by (Salzburg) State Law in 1921.
Helmut P. Einfalt, 6 July 2002

The government of the Land Salzburg flies this flag on its main office building.
Peter Diem, 16 August 2002

Coat of Arms

image by Peter Diem

Das Wappen des Landes Salzburg zeigt in einem von Gold und Rot gespaltenen Schild vorne einen aufgerichteten schwarzen, rotbezungten und -bewehrten Löwen, hinten einen silberner Balken. Auf dem Schild ruht der Fürstenhut mit fünflappigem – die beiden äusseren nur je zur Hälfte – Hermelinstulp samt voller purpurner Haube, darauf sichtbar drei perlenbesetzte goldene Spangen, inmitten oben der goldene Reichsapfel.
Peter Diem, 16 August 2002

Translation:
The coat of arms of Salzburg is divided in gold and red. On the left is a standing black lion with red tongue and claws. On the right is a silver stripe. A prince's hat sits on the shield. It has five ermine tips, the two on the side are only half seen. The hood is totally purple and displays three golden buckles adorned with pearls. On the middle of the buckles is the orb.
J. Patrick Fischer, 19 August 2002

The prince's hat concerns the elector Ferdinand of the Toscana (1803–1805) respectively of the duchy of Salzburg (1806–1808, 1850–1918). Furthermore, some of the archbishops of Salzburg used the prince's hat, for example Siegismund of Schrattenbach (1753–1771), shown at the Mary column in the "Domplatz" (=cathedral square)
Peter Diem, 16 August 2002 (translation by J. Patrick Fischer)

Per pale Or a Lion rampant Sable langued and armed Gules and of the last a Fess Argent. Crowned with prince's coronet proper.
Željko Heimer, 20 August 2002