WALDECK
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. |
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Origin |
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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. |
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1137-1474 |
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Otto I |
1271-1305 |
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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 |
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Otto II |
1344-1369 |
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The
arms of Waldeck in the Bellenville Roll n° 21r° 9 Arms: Or, an eight-pointed star Sable |
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Heinrich IV |
1369-1397 |
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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. |
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Heinrich V. |
1397–1444 |
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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. |
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Wolrad I |
1444-1475 |
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Photo NN The crested arms of the count of Waldeck in Burg Wildungen
15th c. |
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Heinrich
VI. |
1474–1512 |
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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. |
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Daniel |
1574-1577 |
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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. |
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Wolrad IV |
Waldeck-Eisenberg 1598-1640 |
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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]; |
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Heinrich
Wolrad |
1645-1664 |
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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) |
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Waldeck-Eisenberg 1664-1692 Master of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the
Order of St. John 1689 |
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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] |
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1474–1524 |
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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. |
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Philipp VI |
Waldeck-Wildungen 1638-1645 |
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Arms of
Waldeck in the Atlas of Blaeu, 1645 |
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Johann II |
1638-1668 |
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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. |
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1645-1692 |
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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. |
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Waldeck 1692-1706 |
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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. |
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1712–1728 |
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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. |
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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. |
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Karl August Friedrich |
1728–1763 |
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Taler of Karl
August Friedrich, 1752 Arms: 3Í3: 1&9: Pyrmont; 2&8: Rappoltstein; 3&7:
Hohenack; 4& 6: Tonna. Esc.: Waldeck. Ducally
crowned |
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Georg II. Heinrich |
1813-1845 |
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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. |
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Georg Victor |
1845-1893 |
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Seal of Georg
Victor showing the
arms surrounded by the collar and cross of the Bavarian Order of St. Hubertus |
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Friedrich |
1893-1918 |
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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] |
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1668-1918 |
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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. |
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Eine Feine Mark, 1810 Showing
the arms Waldeck-Pyrmont, ducally crowned and surrounded by a garland of
olive |
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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. |
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Seal of Waldeck
Pyrmont, about 1900 |
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1918-1929 |
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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]
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1929-1974 |
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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 |
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Landkreis
Waldeck |
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1974 - present |
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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. |
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© 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