Genealogy Forum NEWS
December, 1998
GERMAN LANGUAGE SIG
AOL Germany
submitted by JEJanke@AOL.com
Hallo from Germany,
Webmaster's Note: Chat schedules are presented for historical information only. The Genealogy Forum no longer hosts chats.
First we would like to show you some links of the genealogy-area you can find at AOL Germany. Most of the contents are in German language but a few links are in English, either homepages, text or newsgroup links:
Webmaster's Note: These AOL links have been left in since these links were NOT to the Genealogy Forum on America Online and since I do NOT read German, I cannot tell if they are still helpful links, but they are active links for AOL members. Non-AOL users please scroll down for other helpful informationAhnenforschung <---the forum starting site, that can also be entered by the AOL Keyword "Ahnenforschung"
the download-centre that contains chatlogs and a genealogy-archive, also with English written contents
the messageboard & surnamelist where you can enter your names also in English
***NEW*** our link-collection of newsgroups
Our chatroom "Konferenzraum IV" where our genealogy-chat takes place every Thursday 3:30pm, eastcoast time
WEBMASTER NOTE: That chatroom no longer exists
This month we would like to tell you something about the German topic HERALDIK, heraldry, that deals about crests, their origin and the rules that go along with having a family crest. The German written articles can be found with a link at our starting site or with this link. In the newsletter we would like to give you a summary of the content. The original article was written by FSCTGringo@aol.com & Klammi1@aol.com in German.
In the 12th century during the time of the crusades the form of the knights´ helmets changed to a full head covering helmet to give a better protection. On the other hand identification became impossible.
Around the year 1180 the shield developed as the place for signs we know as crests today. Also ornaments of the helmet made identification possible again. That was needed in case the shield was destroyed during a battle. By using these items and knowing "Who belongs to Who" strength of community grew.
Later even clothes and other parts of arming equipment were covered with these signs. Also it made easier to identify the killed enemy, what was very necessary. On the one hand the knight could give the honor to the killed enemy who deserved this honor. On the other hand respect of the surviving knight grew, when everybody knew who he defeated.
During the 13th century these signs became a part of heritage and turned from special individual signs to family crests who were handed from generation to generation and lasted for centuries.
As function of the crests were based on military in the Middle Ages their meaning turned during the 14th century as there were less knights but more foot-soldiers and mercenary.
Even in the Middle Ages you can find "non-noble" family crests like crests of "free farmers" or land owners or mighty patrician families in some cites. Theses "citizen crests" could be confirmed by the "hofpfälzische Kanzlei des Kaisers". The Kaiser´s chancellery also had lower chancelleries belonging to regional Lords. For very high fees non-noble citizens were allowed to have crests in Germany since the 15th century.
Today having a crest or founding one is free. You don´t need a confirmation. It is just limited by the rule not to affect the personal right of other crest owners. Another basic element is: a crest must be able to be worn on knight-armament
In the meantime there was established a system that regulates all affairs that deal with crests. The "Herald" was responsible for all these questions that deal with crests. The rules that were basis of their system still exist today. One of these rules is the formation of a crest:
There is no crest without colors.
Metal mustn´t be on metal.
Colors mustn´t be on colors.
So gold and silver should be in a good quota.
Also symbolism that goes along with the crests is an important content of crest formation.
For example the color red can have different meanings:
-it represents the planet Mars who is a symbol of the roman god of war
-it represents the ruby, a sign of wealth
- it represents the longing to serve the native country
Next to colour-symbolism, object-and animal-symbolism is well known.
The most known animal-crest is the lion. The lion was so well known that a French phrase was developed "Qui ná pas dármes porte un lion" (the one who has no crest wears a lion).
"Heinrich der Löwe" (1129 - 1195) / Henry the lion
This duke from the German house of Welfen (family of the Welfen) did not have a crest as we consider crests to be today but he always sealed with the sign of a natural picture of a lion and also put a bronze stature of nearly real looking lion in front of his "castle Dankwardrode" in Braunschweig, Germany, his descendants took a real crest, they derived from the English. When Heinrich called himself in Latin "Henricus Leo", he allowed 2 translations into German: Heinrich der Löwe (Löwe = lion) and Heinrich Welf. Welf or Welp is the old German word for young beast of prey. Today the word Welp is still used for young dogs.
About laws and crests -- as this is a very difficult topic, here we mention just some facts:
One of the most well known Heralds in the Middle Ages was Hans von Francolin whose job also was to decide which crest could be bequeathed or maybe mixed with a second family crest. So claim to an inheritance after death of the testator or legator could be manifested with the continued family crest.
- Normal farmers in the Middle Ages were not allowed to have swords or crests.
- Craftsmen were only allowed to have a crest when they had the rank of a "Meister" and were member of the guild.
Today the law of having crests has changed but as mentioned before it very difficult and limit the article here on just a few facts, also not to cause misunderstanding.
Everybody can create a sign or symbol and print it on his letterheads. But it is important not to use a crest of any other person no matter if they are dead or still living, except you have the approval! Companies who have special signs make sure they get it registered and protected so nobody else can use them. Here special laws like the "Gebrauchsmusterschutz" in Germany make sure their rights cannot be touched by anybody else.
Here in Germany people can have their own crests created and let them be registered in the "Wappenrolle". The creation will be made by special Heraldry-societies. They create them according to the rules of heraldry and make the registration. It is real expensive and costs about 500,-DM to 1000,-DM !!!
Beware of crest swindlers!
Sometimes certain companies contact people or make advertise for finding or creating YOUR OWN family crest. What they create or find often cannot be told if this is true or fantasy, neither if it was made according to the rules of heraldry. Only real experts can tell you!
...one little example:
Some companies create a so called crest-letter with a knight´s helmet. If the customer´s family is bourgeois, what is the normal fact today, you can tell it is a falsification. The helmet only was a sign for noble families! You should ask, where from they know this is your family crest without knowing your family history. Often these companies create crests just global for one special name.
In the late Middle Ages more bourgeois families became wealthy and noble families had to face poverty. That was why some noble crests could transfer to bourgeois families but the real descent in order of questions concerning heraldry or genealogy often is hidden or deceived.
Concerning these companies again the story of "the poor noble man who lost his crest, gambling" is very popular but not true in most cases. The transfer of the family crest would have to be documented by a chancellery, also to make sure questions of inheritance could be regulated later. The documents that proof this won´t be shown you by these story tellers....
Here we finish the article and hope to have shown you some interesting aspects.
Bye, Jens :-)
For Further Reading
Zahn, Carol. Germans from Russia. Resource Center, Genealogy Forum. undated.
Saether, Susanne M. German Research in the U.S. Resource Center, Genealogy Forum. undated.
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