WALDECK

 

 

 

 

HISTORY

HERALDRY

Counts of Waldeck

Counts of Waldeck-Eisenberg

Counts of Waldeck-Wildungen

Princes of Waldeck-Pyrmont

Fürstentum Waldeck-Pyrmont

Freistaat Waldeck

Landkreis Waldeck

Landkreis Waldeck-Frankenberg

 

Back to Hessen

History

 

Waldeck County was located in today’s Hessen. Arolsen was the seat of the counts and they traced their line of descend from a branch of the counts of Schwalenberg beginning in the early 11th century. Waldeck underwent several divisions over the centuries, the first such significant occurrence having taken place in 1474 with the establishment of Waldeck-Wildungen and Waldeck-Eisenberg. The latter was further divided into Waldeck-Eisenberg and Waldeck Neu-Landau in 1539, but the former inherited Wildungen when the elder branch of the family became extinct in 1598. The line Neu-Landau failed after two generations and reverted to Eisenberg the previous year (1597). A new line at Wildungen was established from Eisenberg in 1598 as well, but this too, fell extinct in 1692 only ten years after the count having been raised to the rank of prince.

Waldeck-Eisenberg received the Countship of Pyrmont in 1625/’31 of the counts of Gleichen and in 1639 the county of Culemborg and the imperial county of Wittem. The Lordship of Tonna belonged to Waldeck from 1640 until 1677.

According to the Treaty of Osnabruck of 1648, section 38, Waldeck received the Lordship Düdinghausen and the villages of Nordernau, Lichtenscheid, Deifeld and Niederschleidern.

In 1665 the Lordship of Schauen was acquired from the Duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg. In 1668 the ancient county of Pyrmont was parted with the principality of Paderborn and permanently united with Waldeck. The posessions of the counts of Waldeck then became known as Waldeck-Pyrmont.

 

Waldeck concluded a military convention with Prussia on 1 August 1862. In the Prussian-Austrian War it took the side of Prussia and became a member of the North-German League. In 1867 Waldeck became a Prussian protectorate by Accessionsvertrag and the Waldeck army was incorporated into the  the Prussian army on 6 August of the same year.

 

The principality of Waldeck-Pyrmont was abolished in 1918. It was replaced by Waldeck Freestate which, in its turn, became a district of the Prussian province of Hessen-Nassau in 1929. In 1974 Waldeck was united with Frankenberg to make the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg.

 

Heraldry

 

Origin

 

The arms of  the counts of Waldeck were: Or, an  eight-pointed star Sable.

 

The arms with the star are supposed to be derived from the arms of Schwalenberg which were a golden eight-pointed star on a red field. These apparently have been adapted by Adolf I. (†1270) who was the founder of the House of Waldeck, into a black eight-pointed star on a golden field. [1]

A coat of arms blasoned with a star is on the tombstone of count Otto I and from this time the emblem of the counts of Waldeck has been this black star on gold.

The arms of the Counts of Waldeck remained the same for a long time and a crest, consisting of a pair of wings ‘of the arms’, was added in the fourteenth century.

In the fifteenth century the arms of the count were often displayed together with the arms of his spouse.

 

COUNTS OF WALDECK

1137-1474

 


Counts of Waldeck

Volkwin I.

1137–1185

Heinrich I.

1185–1209

Widukind IV.

1185–1189

Hermann III.

1185–1223

Volkwin II.

1224–1249

Adolf I.

1218–1270

Adolf II.

1270–1271

Otto I.

1271–1305

Heinrich II.

1305–1344

Otto II.

1344–1369

Heinrich III.

1344–1349

Heinrich IV.

1369–1397

Heinrich V

1397–1444

Wolrad I.

1442/44–1475

 

Otto I

1271-1305

 

 

Tombstone of Count Otto I.

Convent Marienthal, Chapel of St. Nicolas (Netze, Stadt Waldeck).

 

Arms: [Or]an eight-pointed star [Sable].

At  his feet a lion couchant guardant

 

Otto II

1344-1369

 

 

The arms of Waldeck in the Bellenville Roll n° 21r° 9

 

Arms: Or, an eight-pointed star Sable

 

Heinrich IV

1369-1397

 

In the Gelre Herald Roll (Gelre K.B. Brussel, Ms. 15652 - 56 fol. 36v. No 1.) the arms are crested with a pair of wings of the arms.

 

Heinrich V.

1397–1444

 

The crested arms are repeated in BergshammerRoll of Arms (ca. 1430):

 

Nr. 145 Waldeck - d’or a l'étoile (8r) de sa. C.: un demi-vol aux armes cap. d’or.

Nr. 3129 Gr vã waldeeg: id.

 

Wolrad I

1444-1475

 

Photo NN

The crested arms of  the count of Waldeck in Burg Wildungen 15th c.

 

COUNTS OF WALDECK-EISENBERG 1474-1692

 

Counts and Princes of Waldeck-Eisenberg

Philipp I.

1474–1475

Heinrich VI

1474–1512

Philipp IV.

1512–1574

Daniel

1574–1577

Heinrich VII.

1577

Günther

1577–1585

Wilhelm Ernst

1585–1598

Wolrad IV.

1598–1640

Philipp Dietrich (also: Philipp Theodor)

1638–1640

Heinrich Wolrad

1645–1664

Fürst Georg Friedrich

1664–1692

 

Heinrich VI.

1474–1512

 

Plaque on the façade of the Green Hall, Burg Wildungen.

Arms:

D.: Waldeck crested Waldeck;

S.: Argent, three pals Gules and a canton Azure, crested of a tower (Runkel).

 

The inscription reads: ANNO 1500 HAD DER WOLGEBORN HER HEINRICH GRAWE SU WALDECK SELIGER GEDECHNIS DIESEN BAW ANGEFANGEN.

 

Daniel

1574-1577

 

 

Plaque on the tower of the Green Hall of  Burg Wildungen.

Arms:

D.: Waldeck crested Waldeck.

S.: Hessen (1/4 and Esc.) triple crested.

 

The inscription reads: 1587 C•I•M•Z DANIEL GRAVE UND HERR ZU WALDECK ETC. 1577 •I•V•G•M•H BARBARA GEBORNE GRAFIN ZU HESSEN GRAFIN UND FRAU ZU WALDECK.



Wolrad IV

Waldeck-Eisenberg 1598-1640

 

In 1625 Wolrad IV inherited the County of Pyrmont and since then the counts called temselves Counts of Waldeck and Pyrmont.

 

 

Waldeck, Taler 1625

Showing the crested arms of Waldeck

 

In 1668 the two counties were united.

 

For the arms of Pyrmont see:

Gritzner, Maximilian: Landes- und Wappenkunde der Brandenburgisch-Preußischen Monarchie. Geschichte ihrer einzelnen Landestheile, deren Herrscher und Wappen. Berlin, 1894. Pp. 184-186.

 

[Bergshammer Role 3145: gr vã Pirmont  - une croix recerclée, le champ treflé C. un vol et cap d'argent];

 

Heinrich Wolrad

1645-1664

 

After the enlargment of the territories of the Houses of Waldeck the coat of arms was augmented with the blazons of the acquired territories.

At first this resulted in a coat of arms of six fields and the arms of the House of Waldeck on an escutcheon.

 

 

Waldeck Reichstaler, 1653

L.: GEORG {FRIDE[rich]{ IOHAN{ [Heinrich] WOLRADT{ G {Z{ WALDECK{

 

Arms: 2Í3: 1. Pyrmont (Argent, a cross moline Gules); 2. Culemborg (Or, three pillars Gules); 3. Tonna (Azure, a crowned lion Argent); 4. Werth (Argent, a crowned lion Sable); 5. Wittem (Azure, a cross wavy Argent) ; 6. Pallandt (barry Or and Sable). Escutcheon: Waldeck.

Crests: 1. Waldeck-Pyrmont, D.: Culemborg; S.: Tonna; DB.: Werth; SB.: Pallandt.

 

On the reverse is a palmtree and the motto: PALMA SUB PONDERE CRESCIT (The Palm Grows under its Burden)

 

Georg Friedrich

Waldeck-Eisenberg 1664-1692

Master of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Order of St. John 1689

 

Georg Friedrich from the Line of New Eisenberg who inherited Waldeck-Eisenberg in 1664 called himself „Georg Friedrich Graf und Herr zu Waldeck, Pyrmont und Cuylenburg, Freiherr zu Tonna, Paland, Wittem, Werth.“ Georg Friedrich was raised by Emperor Leopold I into the order of imperial princes on 17 June 1682.  On 12 June 1685 he introduced primogeniture by treaty with Count Christian Ludwig from the Line of New Wildingen. Accordingly, after his death his part of the county was inherited  by Christian Ludwig von Waldeck-Wildungen who united both parts of the county. This was confirmed by Emperor Leopold I. in 1697.

 

Fireplate in Arolson Castle. (after 1689)

Showing the arms of Georg Friedrich as a master of the Order of St. John

 

Arms: Per fess: I. Tierced: 1. Pyrmont  2. Culemborg; 3. Tonna; II. Party and enté en point party: 4. Azure, and eagle Argent; 5. Werth. 6. Wittem; 7. Pallandt. Escutcheon: Waldeck. 

Crown: 5 leaves and 4 pearls.

Supporter: An eight-pointed cross.

 

 

Waldeck-Eisenberg

 

On his seal: 

Arms: 1. Pyrmont; 2. Culemborg; 3. Tonna; 4. Werth; 5 Wittem; 6. eagle; 7 Pallandt.

Crown: A princely crown.

Supporters: An eight-pointed cross and two lions

L.: V G G GEORG FRIDR FVRST ZV WALDEK . S . IOH . ORD . MEISTER zv sw [2]

 

COUNTS OF WALDECK -WILDUNGEN 1474-1692

 

Counts of Waldeck-Wildungen

Philipp II.

1474–1524

Philipp III.

1524–1539

Wolrad II.

1539–1578

Josias I.

1578–1588

Wolrad III.

1578–1587

Christian

1588–1638

Wolrad IV.

1588–1607

Johann II.

1638–1668

Philipp VI.

1638–1645

Christian Ludwig

1645–1706

 

Philipp II.

1474–1524

           

 

Tombstone of Philip II, MCCCCCXX4.(= 1524)

Arolsen Castle

 

About 1497 he married Katharina von Querfurt († 1521 in Kelbra), the widow of Günther XXXVIII. von Schwarzburg-Blankenburg whose arms are in alliance with his own.


 

Arms: Alliance: D. Waldeck. S.: ¼ : 1&4: Or, an eagle Sable (Arnstadt); 2&3: Barry of six Argent and Gules (Querfurth). Crest: Waldeck.

 

Philipp VI

Waldeck-Wildungen 1638-1645

 

:

Arms of Waldeck in the Atlas of Blaeu, 1645

 

Johann II

1638-1668

                                                                                                                                             

In 1639 Johann inherited the county of Culemborg in Gelre and the Lordships of Werth in Münsterland, Pallandt and Wittem. In 1640 he inherited the Lordship of Tonna in Thuringia, a fief of the Dukes of Sachsen-Altenburg.

 

Arms of Johann II

 

Arms: Quarterly of Pyrmont and [Azure] crowned lion [Argent] (Tonna) with an escutcheon Waldeck

Crests: Waldeck; D. Pyrmont; S. Tonna.[3]

 

The arms of Johann II as on his tomb in the City Church of Bad Wildungen are:

 

Arms: Quarterly of Pyrmont and Tonna with an escutcheon Waldeck.

Crown: A crown of five leaves and four pearls

Supporters: Two lions.

 

Christian Ludwig

1645-1692

 

Christian Ludwig married Anna Elisabeth von Rappoltstein (*1644-†1676)  in 1658.

 

Fire plate in Arolsen Castle

 

Arms: Alliance:

D. 1/4: 1&4. Pyrmont; 2&3 Tonna; Esc.: Waldeck.

Crests:  Waldeck-Pyrmont-Tonna.

 

S. 1/4: 1&4. Geroldseck (Argent, strewn wit delves Azure, a lion Gules; 2&3: Hohenack (Argent, three rave’s heads Sable, crowned Or, 2 and 1); Esc.: Rappoldstein (Argent, three escutcheons Gules 2 and 1).

Crests: Rappoldstein-Hohenack-Geroldseck

 

L.1: christian ludwig grafe zu waldeck und piermont herr zu tonna

L.2: anna elisabetha grefin zu waldeck geborne grefin zu rappoltstein hoenack undt geroltseck an wassichin.

 

In 1677 the Lordship of Tonna was sold to the Duke of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg.

 

COUNTS AND PRINCES OF WALDECK-PYRMONT 1692-1918

 

Counts of  Waldeck-Pyrmont

of the House of Waldeck-Wildungen

Christian Ludwig

1692–1706

Friedrich Anton Ulrich

1706–1712

Princes of Waldeck-Pyrmont

Friedrich Anton Ulrich

1712–1728

Karl August Friedrich

1728–1763

Friedrich Karl August

1763–1805

Georg I.

1805–1813

Georg II. Heinrich

1813–1845

Georg Victor;

1845–1893

Friedrich

1893–1918

 

Christian Ludwig

Waldeck 1692-1706

 

After the death of Georg Friedrich of Waldeck-Eisenberg his part of the county was inherited  by Christian Ludwig von Waldeck-Wildungen who united both parts of the county. This was confirmed by Emperor Leopold I. in 1697.

 


Friedrich Anton Ulrich

1712–1728

 

Friedrich Anton Ulrich was promoted to the rank of Hereditary Prince by Emperor Charles VI in 1712. However, the next year the county of Wittem was confiscated to pay off his debts and in 1722 the county of Wittem, the dowry of his daughter Sophia Henriette when she married Duke Ernst von Sachsen Hildburghausen in 1680, came to Sachsen Hildburghausen. 

 

The arms of Friedrich Anton Ulrich are composed of the arms of his father and of his mother and they are:

Arms: 3Í3: 1 & 9: Pyrmont; 2 & 8: Rappoltstein; 3 & 7 Hohenack; 4 & 6: Tonna. Esc.: Waldeck

 

This coat of arms is on the tympanon of Arolsen Castle which was constructed between 1713 and 1722 and it is allied there with the arms of his wife Louise von Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld. In 1720 Friedrich Anton Ulrich and his wife moved into the new castle.

 

Tympanon of Arolsen Castle.

Alliance:

D.: 3Í3: 1&9.: Pyrmont; 2&8.: Rappoldstein; 3&7.: Hohenack; 4.& 6.: Tonna; 5.: Waldeck

S.: Per pale: I. 1/4 of Palatinate and Wittelsbach. II. 1/4: 1. Argent a  crowned lion Azure (Veldenz); 2. Chequy 3Í5 Gules and Argent (Sponheim). 3. Rappoldstein; 4.Hohenack.

The alliance is crowned with a princely crown.

 

Cast iron fire plate in Arolsen Castle

 

Alliance:

D.: 3Í3: 1&9.: Pyrmont; 2&8.: Rappoldstein; 3&7.: Hohenack; 4.& 6.: Tonna; 5.: Waldeck

S.: Per pale: I. 1/4 of Palatinate and Wittelsbach. II. 1/4: 1. Argent a  crowned lion Azure (Veldenz); 2. Chequy 3Í5 Gules and Argent (Sponheim). 3. Rappoldstein; 4.Hohenack.

Mantle lined ermine and princely crowned.

 

Karl August Friedrich

1728–1763

 

 

Taler of Karl August Friedrich, 1752

 

Arms: 3Í3: 1&9: Pyrmont; 2&8: Rappoltstein; 3&7: Hohenack; 4& 6: Tonna. Esc.: Waldeck.

Ducally crowned

 

Georg II. Heinrich

1813-1845

 

In the beginning of the 19th century  the arms were surrounded by a crowned mantle of napoleonic empire fashion:

 

1 Kronenthaler, 1813

 

Arms: 3Í3: 1&9: Pyrmont; 2&8: Rappoltstein; 3&7: Hohenack; 4 Gleichen; 5.: Waldeck. 6: Argent strewn with delves Azure a crowned lion Gules (Geroldseck).

Mantling: Purpure, lined ermine, fringed Or and princely crowned.

 

Georg Victor

1845-1893

 

Seal of Georg Victor

showing the arms surrounded by the collar and cross of the Bavarian Order of  St. Hubertus

 

Friedrich

1893-1918

 

By Prince Friedrich the arms were embellished by adding the traditional crests and two lions as supporters. Also the motto PALMA SUB PONDERE CRESCIT, known from 17th century coins, was added.

 

Arms: 3Í3: 1&9: Pyrmont; 2&8: Rappoltstein; 3&7: Hohenack; 4 Gleichen;. 6: Geroldseck. Esc.: Waldeck

Crests: 1. Waldeck-Pyrmont, D.: Rappoldstein; S.: Gleichen;  D.D.: Hohenack; S.S.: Geroldseck.

Supporters: Two lions reguardant Or

Motto:  PALMA SUB PONDERE CRESCIT in golden lettering on a black  ribbon

Mantling: Purpure, lined ermine, fringed Or and princely crowned. [4]

 

FÜRSTENTUM WALDECK-PYRMONT

1668-1918

 

From about the middle of the 17th century, when some other territories were added to the posessions of the Counts of Waldeck, the arms of the rulers were composed of the emblems or blazons of the different territories. From this time  the arms with the black star can be considered to be the emblem of the territory of Waldeck. Dimidiated with the arms of Pyrmont they are the arms of the territory of Waldeck-Pyrmont which had the status of a principality.

 

Eine Feine Mark, 1810

 

Showing the arms Waldeck-Pyrmont, ducally crowned and surrounded by a garland of olive

 

 

 

 

Drei Pfennige, 1867. 

 

Arms.: Per pale of Waldeck and Pyrmont

Crown: Ducal crown.

 

1/24 Thaler, 1818-‘19

 

Arms.: Per pale of Waldeck and Pyrmont

Mantle: Purpure fringed Or cowned with a ducal crown.

  

Seal of Waldeck Pyrmont, about 1900


FREISTAAT WALDECK

1918-1929

 

After the end of WW I the last ruling prince Friedrich (*1865–†1946), was deposed on 13 November 1918 by a Council of Workers and Soldiers which had come for the occasion from Kassel. He was the last German ruler being deposed. Waldeck-Pyrmont became a Freestate of the Republic of Weimar.  No republican constitution was drafted however and the consitution of 1849/52 remained valid until 1929.

The treaty of accession with Prussia from 1861 also remained valid, even when Pyrmont had become a part of the Province of Hanover on 30 November 1921.

 

Waldeck Freestate had the black eight-pointed star on a golden field as its coat of arms.

The larger arms shows these arms with a crown of five leaves (Volkskrone) and supported by two red lions. [5]

 

LANDKREIS WALDECK

1929-1974

 

It was only 1926 when Prussia terminated the accession treaty. As Waldeck was bankrupt at the time it was annexed by Prussia on 1 April 1929 and became a part of the Prussian province of Hessen Nassau and from 1933 a part of the NSDAP district Hessen Nassau. Since 1946 Waldeck is a part of the federal state of Hessen.

 

For the occasion a three-mark piece was issued showing the the arms of Waldeck supported by the Prussian Eagle.

 

For the Landkreis (district) of Waldeck the arms with the star were continued. 

 

Arms of the Waldeck District 1946-1974:

Arms: Or, an eight-pointed star Sable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landkreis Waldeck      

LANDKREIS WALDECK-FRANKENBERG       

1974 - present

 

When Waldeck was united with Frankenberg into the District of Waldeck-Frankenberg on 1 April 1974 the arms of the new district became a party per bend sinister of Hessen, the lion issuant, and Waldeck

 

Arms of the Waldeck-Frankenhausen district 1974-present:

 

Arms: Per bend sinister the chief Azure, a lion issuant barry of fiveArgent and Gules, unguled Or; the base Or, an eight-pointed star Sable [6]

 

Adopted: 21 June 1974

 

ð See illustration in the head of this essay.

 

Back to Main Page

 

© Hubert de Vries 2011-01-18



[1] ) Seyler, Gustav A.: Geschichte der Heraldik. [Wappenwesen, Wappenkunst, Wappenwissen­schaft]. J. Siebmacher's grosses Wappenbuch Band A. Nürnberg 1885-1889. P. 234 

[2] ) Seyler op. cit. fig. 498

[3] ) Hefner, O.T. von: Die Wappen der Souveräne der deutschen Bundesstaaten. Baner & Raspe. Nürnberg, 1856. Taf. 108; p. 47.

[4] ) Ströhl, Hugo Gerard: Deutsche Wappenrolle. Stuttgart, 1897.

[5] ) Rheude, L.:  Die Wappen der Deutschen Freistaaten. In: Der Deutsche Herold. 1924. pp. 31-34.

[6] ) Stadler, Klemens: Deutsche Wappen. Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Band 1. Die Landkreis­wappen. Angelsachsen Verlag. Bremen, 1964.P. 147