Markt Schwaben (Germany)

Gemeinde Markt Schwaben, Landkreis Ebersberg, Oberbayern District, Bavaria

Last modified: 2006-11-19 by jarig bakker
Keywords: markt schwaben |
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• Markt Schwaben
• Markt Schwaben other flag
• Markt Schwaben CoA

• Ebersberg County (Landkreis Ebersberg, Oberbayern District, Bavaria)
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Markt Schwaben

"Markt Schwaben - 50 years community flag.
The market community got its official heraldic colours white-red and a banner (German word "Banner" is used) in this colours, exactly 50 years ago. The community council applied the hand over (?) of the community colours with flag ("Fahne") already at the beginning of 1954 at the Bavarian ministery of the interior. State minister Wilhelm Hoegner granted it in May. Mayor Albert Jell organized a celebration for the hand over.
The colours were taken out of the main colours of the CoA of the market community: A white falcon on a black mountain at a red field. By the way, Markt Schwaben has the oldest CoA-privilege, which was granted by a Bavarian duke for a community. Duke Stephan gave on 22 Feb 1409 "our dear loyal ones the market and the common citizens everyone the right, mercy and liberty" ("unserer lieben getreuen dem Markht und dem gemainlichen Burgern alle die Recht, Gnadt und Freyhait") the CoA of the former county/earl of Falkenstein for use. In the document is written, that the CoA should be used by the citizens as seal and banner ("Insiegel und Bannier")."
J. Patrick Fischer, 21 Aug 2004

The municipal colours were granted 4 May 1954. The text describes the flag as follows (my translation): "The flag shows two stripes of the colours White (Silver) Red. In the upper part (head) of the flag the arms of the market town may be placed, if so chosen." This of course describes a typical vertical flag as usual in Bavaria; at this time it was more common to put the arms on a white square field at the top of the flag, instead of putting it directly unto the stripes, as usually done nowadays.

"Falkenstein" is probably a misreading. The original document reads "Valkenberg", but the mistake was copied over and over, for instance in the authoritative book by Stadler [sta68]. In my files I have a copy of an undated article from a local newspaper, questioning if the bird shown is actually a falcon. The article cites a citizen, calling the drawn bird a "Suppenhendl" (soup hen), and invites better drawings. It would be interesting to have a look at the oldest seal existing (from 1444), how the bird looked like there.

It would be very interesting to get some knowledge about early uses of Markt Schwaben banners (from the description obviously an armorial banner). The expert opinion from the Hauptstaatsarchiv (Main State Archives) (23 Dec 1953) refers to the document of 1409, and concludes that the granting of the right for a
municipal flag (in 1953) would be just an affirmation of the right already granted in 1409. Of course it mentions that Markt Schwaben wanted "municipal colours", i.e. a flag striped in the main colours of the arms, which is different from the original banner-of-arms. It also mentions that striped flags (in this context, of course) are of relatively recent origin (around 1800).
Marcus E.V. Schmöger, 28 Aug 2004

I made some images. There are flags with two different coats of arms. File de-eb-ms is used at the town hall by the community. File de-eb-m2 is used by the sport center and at an hotel. Second CoA is used as seal by the community. You can see the falcon with white or golden tongue and pecker. There is no rule, which is correct.
By the way: Markt Schwaben is not in the district of Schwaben, it is in Upper Bavaria. The name is supposed to have its origin in some Swabians, who came to settle here.
J. Patrick Fischer, 3 Dec 2005

Markt Schwaben other flag

Markt Schwaben CoA