Coat of arms of Miskolc facts for kids
The coat of arms of Miskolc, Hungary is like a special badge for the city. It was created in 1909. This badge shows important parts of Miskolc's history. It uses symbols from old city seals.
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What is a Coat of Arms?
A coat of arms is a unique design. It represents a family, a city, or a country. Think of it as a special logo. These designs often tell a story. They show important events or symbols. Miskolc's coat of arms tells its long history.
The First Seals of Miskolc
The very first sign of a Miskolc city seal was in 1376. It was on a document from Arnoldus, the town judge. This paper was about a vineyard on St. George Hill. This hill is now known as Avas. The seal on this old document is hard to see.
The King's Head Seal (1389)
A clearer seal appeared in 1389. It was on a document from July 7. This seal showed a king's head. The king wore a special crown with a fleur-de-lis. A fleur-de-lis is a symbol shaped like a lily flower.
People wondered who this king was. Some thought it was Saint Stephen. He was the patron saint of the Avas church. But the fleur-de-lis symbol pointed to a king from the Angevin family. This might have been Louis the Great. He was the king who gave Miskolc its town rights.
The Sigismund Seal (1433)
Another version of the seal came from 1433. It was found in the Bárczay family's old papers. This seal showed a king with a beard. People think it might have been Sigismund of Luxemburg. The seal also had the words Sigillum Civitas Miskolcz. This means "Seal of the city of Miskolc."
On this seal, there was a crescent moon on the left side of the king's head. A six-pointed star was on the right side.
The 1577 Seal
In 1577, Miskolc was under Ottoman rule. The judge, Gergely Tejfeles, lost the city's seal. So, a new one was made. This new seal also had the number 1577 next to the king's head. This seal was used for many years, until 1610.
Changes to the Seal Over Time
Between 1633 and 1687, the seal changed again. It showed Saint Stephen holding a sceptre and an orb. A sceptre is a royal staff. An orb is a ball with a cross, a symbol of power.
After 1687, the figure on the seal changed once more. It showed a saint holding a wheat stalk and a bunch of grapes. These symbols likely represented farming and prosperity.
The Modern Coat of Arms (1909)
In 1909, Miskolc became an independent city. It was no longer part of Borsod county. This was a big moment for the city. To mark this, a new coat of arms was created. This design combined important symbols from all the old seals. It brought together Miskolc's long history into one badge.
The Communist Era Coat of Arms (1965-1990)
During the time when Hungary was under Communist rule, Miskolc used a different coat of arms. This new design was adopted in 1965. It showed a metalworker. This symbol highlighted Miskolc's importance in heavy industry. It also featured the head of King Louis. Four wavy lines separated these figures. These lines represented the city's rivers and streams. These included the Sajó river and the Szinva, Hejő, and Pece streams.
Return to the Old Design (1990)
After the Communist era ended in 1990, Miskolc went back to its traditional coat of arms. The design from 1909 was re-adopted. It has been the official coat of arms for Miskolc ever since. It continues to represent the city's rich past and identity.
