Aken (Elbe)

AKEN (ELBE)

State : Sachsen-Anhalt
District (Kreis) : Anhalt-Bitterfeld (until 2007 Köthen)

Official blazon
German	blazon wanted
English	blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

Aken was founded in the 13^th century and was mentioned as a city in 1270. The city was part of the Duchy of Sachsen until 1389 when it became part of the State of Magedeburg.

The arms show a Gothic gate, with two towers and in the middle a bishop. The gate is flanked by two small escutcheons, showing a divided shield with a Moor's head.

The arms are based on a late 14^th century seal of the city. The small shields show the arms of the Archdiocese of Magdeburg with the Moor's head. The head is the symbol of St. Mauritius, the patron saint of the city. The bishop most likely is the Bishop of Magdeburg.

The city has always used the complete arms, but Hupp showed only a beheaded Moor's head as arms for the city in the Kaffee Hag albums, see image below.

The arms on a municipal stamp (1892)	Seal of Aken from around 1900
The arms by Hupp in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925	The arms in the Abadie albums
The arms in the Wappen-Sammlung (1900)	Local emergency money showing the seal of the city, 1921

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