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Main-Spessart County (Germany)

Landkreis Main-Spessart, Bayern

Last modified: 2022-03-05 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: main-spessart | karlstadt(county) | lohr(county) | marktheidenfeld(county) | oak(leaf) | grapes | wheel | pale(wavy) | franconian rake |
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[Main-Spessart County banner (Germany)] 5:2 image by Stefan Schwoon, 10 Oct 2001
See also:

Main-Spessart County

The seat of the county is Karlstadt. The counties of Karlstadt, Gemünden, Lohr and Marktheidenfeld were amalgamated into the new county Main-Spessart (until 1973 Mittelmain County) due to the 1972 municipal reform.
Stefan Schwoon, 10 Oct 2001

Main-Spessart County Banner

It is a white-red-yellow vertical tricolour with arms shifted to top.
Source: Linder and Schmidt 2000
Stefan Schwoon, 10 Oct 2001

Main-Spessart County Coat of Arms

Shield Gules parted by a pale wavy Argent, at dexter an oak leaf Or with two acorns in chief and a 6-spokes wheel Argent in base, at sinister a bunch of grapes Or in chief and a Franconian rake in base.
Meaning:
The arms combine the two symbols of the Archbishopric of Mainz (wheel) and the Bishopric of Würzburg (Franconian rake) with the Main river, symbolised by a silver (= white) pale wavy and symbols of the woods (leaf), representing the Spessart forest, and the viticulture (bunch of grapes). The area historically was on the border of Mainz and Würzburg and both tried to increase their influence in the area. Since 1814 the whole area belongs to Bayern.
Source: Linder and Olzog 1996
Santiago Dotor, 29 Jan 2004

Banner and arms were approved on 16 December 1974 by Minister of Interior of Bayern.
Santiago Dotor, 29 Jan 2004


Karlstadt County until 1972

Karlstadt Count Banner

[Karlstadt County banner 1972 (Germany)] 5:2image by Stefan Schwoon, 16 Aug 2001

It was a white-red-yellow vertical tricolour with arms shifted to top.
Source: Linder and Schmidt 2000
Stefan Schwoon, 16 Aug 2001

Karlstadt Count Coat of Arms

Shield parted per fess; above parted per fess dancetty of Gules and Argent; beneath parted per pale, at dexter Argent a fess Gules superimposed by three pallets wavy Or, at sinister Argent two pales Gules.
Meaning:
The largest part of the county was ruled until 1803 by the Bishops of Würzburg, hence the chief displays the Franconian rake of the bishopric. The lower part is divided per fess and displays in the sinister half the two red pallets from the arms of the Lords of Trimberg, who owned the Arnstein estate until 1292, when it was acquired by the bishops of Würzburg. The dexter half displays the arms of the Lords of Thüngen, whose ancestral seat had been in the county.
Source: Stadler 1964, p.49
Santiago Dotor, 17 July 2003

The banner was approved on 10 December 1963, the coat of arms was approved on 9 February 1962, both by Minister of Interior of Bayern.
Santiago Dotor, 17 July 2003

Lohr County until 1972

Lohr County Banner

[Lohr County banner 1972 (Germany)] 5:2image by Stefan Schwoon, 16 Aug 2001

It was a yellow-red-yellow vertical triband with arms shifted to top.
Source: Linder and Schmidt 2000
Stefan Schwoon, 16 Aug 2001

Lohr County Coat of Arms

Shield parted by a pale wavy Argent, at dexter Gules a 6-spokes wheel Argent in chief and two bars Or in base, at sinister Vert an oak leaf Or with two acorns of the same.
Meaning:
The pale wavy is a symbol for the Main River and athe oak leaf for the Spessart forest in the district. The dexter half displays above the wheel of the Archbishopric of Mainz and below the bars from the arms of the Counts of Reineck. The counts owned several estates in the western parts of the county and around Lohr before 1559.
Source: Stadler 1972, p.115
Santiago Dotor, 18 July 2003

Banner and arms were approved on 18 April 1969 by Minister of Interior of Bayern.
Santiago Dotor, 18 July 2003

Marktheidenfeld County until 1972

Marktheidenfeld County Banner

[Marktheidenfeld  County banner 1972 (Germany)] 5:2image by Stefan Schwoon, 17 Aug 2001

It was a black-white-blue vertical tricolour with arms shifted to top.
Source: Linder and Schmidt 2000
Stefan Schwoon, 17 Aug 2001

Marktheidenfeld County Coat of Arms

Shield parted per pale; at dexter Argent parted by a cross patty Sable, at sinsiter parted per fess, above parted per fess dancetty of Gules and Argent, beneath Azure three roses Argent seeded Or ordered 2:1.
Meaning:
The shield displays the arms of the three main rulers of the area from the Middle Ages until 1803. The cross is the cross of the Teutonic Order, which ruled the area around Stadtprozelten. The Franconian rake is representing the Bishopric of Würzburg. The roses are taken from the arms of the Counts of Wertheim.
Source: Stadler 1966, p.101
Santiago Dotor, 18 July 2003

Banner and arms were approved on 18 November 1965 by Minister of Interior of Bayern.
Santiago Dotor, 18 July 2003


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