Last modified: 2022-03-12 by 
klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: memmingen | amendingen | demi-eagle | couped per pale | cross(red) | horseshoe | cross(patriarchal) |
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![[Memmingen city banner w0/ CoA]](../images/d/de-by-mm0_.gif) 5:2  image by M. Schmöger, 17 Nov 1999
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5:2 image by image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2022
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5:2 image by image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2022
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The city of Memmingen does not have a flag, using instead banners [i.e. hanging flags] with cross-beams. It is a black-red-white vertical tricolour. The coat of arms is shifted towards the top in the upper third (see central image above), in a smaller version on the red stripe only (see right image above), and only hoisted on very special occasions. Normally the banner is used without coat of arms (see left image above). The colours are derived from the coat of arms. It is the only Bavarian city to have these colours displayed like this. According to Klemens Stadler the colours of the city had been used already in 1488.
Sources:
1) Dieter Linder 1999
2) Stadler 1968, p.17
3) email from city to Jarig Bakker
4) this photo
5) this photo
Pascal Vagnat, 17 Nov 1999; Jarig Bakker, 25 Nov 1999; Stefan Schwoon, 8 Mar 2001; Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2022
Shield parted per pale; at dexter Or a demi-eagle Sable, armed and tongued Gules and couped per pale; at sinister Argent parted by a cross patty Gules.
Meaning:
The predecessor of the current arms from the 12th century on coins displayed cross around 1180, later since 1191 the royal eagle of the Staufen kin, and sometimes the lion of the Welfen kin. A city seal was first mentioned in 1270. Prints existed since 1286. It was basically the current pattern but with interchanged halves. In the same year Memmingen was elevated to a Free Imperial City by King Rudolf I of Habsburg. The eagle since then is symbolising the status of the elevated city. The cross is either a typical local symbol or referring to the Imperial Assault Flag (Reichssturmfahne). The first secret seal however, in use since 1330, displayed a crowned king's head and a circumscription "+ S' SECRETVM CIVIVM IN MEMMINGEN". Head and the couped eagle later appeared on local court seals since 1360. Gothic shields displayed a little bust of a king as crest, which was omitted later. The position of eagle and cross changed frequently during the 15th and 16th century.
Sources: Stadler 1968, p.17 and Klemens Stadler and Friedrich Zollhoefer: "Wappen der schwäbischen Gemeinden", Kempten 1952, pp.185 ff.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2022
The plain banner is in use since 1488. The arms are in use since the 13th century.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2022
![[Amendingen borough banner]](../images/d/de-by-mm-am_.gif)
5:2
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, Mar 2022
It was a green-yellow vertical bicolour. The coat of arms was shifted towards the top.
Source: this photo
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2022
Shield parted per pale, at dexter Vert a horseshoe Argent, at sinister Or a patriarchal cross Sable.
Meaning:
The horseshoe is alluding to the Lordship of Eisenburg, to which Amendingen historically belonged. The sinister half is a differentiation of the arms of the Order of the Holy Ghost and is alluding to the Memmingen Monastery of the order. The arms of the order displayed a white cross on a black shield.
The tinctures golden and green are a differentiation of the quartered base of the arms of Buxheim. The Carthusian Monastery, also called Charterhouse, of Buxheim had the right of patronage in Amendingen since 1642. The quartered shield originally had been the family arms of the Lords of Ellerbach, who founded the charterhouse.
Source: German WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2022
Banner and arms were approved in 1962 by Minister of Interior of Bayern and abolished on 1 July 1972.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2022
back to Bavarian District, County and Municipal Flags Index page click here
