Grünberg
GRÜNBERG
State : Hessen
District (Kreis) : Giessen
Additions : 1970 Beltershain, Göbelnrod, Klein-Eichen, Lumda, Queckborn, Stangenrod, Stockhausen, Weickhartshain, Weitershain; 1971: Harbach, Lardenbach, Lehnheim; 1972 Reinhardshain
| German |
Im grünen Schild auf silbernem Roß der rotgekrönte Landgraf im roten Waffenrock, in der Rechten eine goldverzierte silberne Fahne an rotem Schaft, mit der Linken den hessischen Löwenschild haltend. |
| English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
The arms of Grünberg have, as far as I know, never officially been granted. The arms show a Count of Thüringen as a knight holding a shield with his arms and a banner.
The oldest seal of the city dates from 1222 and shows a simple lion, probably the lion of Thüringen. In 1244 the above composition appeared, as the area including the city belonged to Thüringen. Since 1605 the image is also used as the city arms, not only on the seals. The seals of the city in the meantime showed most often only the lion of Hessen, or the complete arms (incl. crest and supporters) of the Counts of Hessen.
In the late 19th century and 20th century the matter becomes more complex. Hupp showed at the early 20th century only the lion of Hessen as the city arms (see image below).
 The arms in a manuscript from +/- 1730 |
 The arms by Hupp in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925 |
 Municipal stationery, 1960s |
In 1904 it was mentioned that the knight, but without the small shield, was the official arms of the city. However, the city also used the lion of Hessen, or the arms as shown above with the knight holding the shield.
In the 1950s new arms for the city were proposed, which combined the lion of Hessen in the upper half, and in the lower half a new symbol, a canting green hill (Grünberg means green-mountain). These arms never had any official status though. Since the 1960s the city uses the arms as shown above.
 The arms of Grünberg as proposed in the 1950s |
Literature: Stadler, 1964-1971, 8 volumes; Kaffee Hag albums; Hessisches Wappenbuch, 1956