The Wheel of Mainz or ''Mainzer Rad'', in

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

, was the coat of arms of the

Archbishopric of Mainz The Electorate of Mainz (german: Kurfürstentum Mainz or ', la, Electoratus Moguntinus), previously known in English as Mentz and by its French name Mayence, was one of the most prestigious and influential states of the Holy Roman Empire. In the ...

and thus also of the Electorate of

Mainz Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main (river), Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-we ...

(Kurmainz), in

Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. It consists of a silver wheel with six spokes on a red background. The wheel can also be found in

stonemason Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...

s' carvings (e.g.

landmark A landmark is a recognizable natural or artificial feature used for navigation, a feature that stands out from its near environment and is often visible from long distances. In modern use, the term can also be applied to smaller structures or f ...

s) and similar objects. Currently, the City of

uses a double wheel connected by a silver cross.

Origin

The origins of the wheel are not known. One theory traces it back to Bishop

Willigis Willigis ( la, Willigisus; german: Willigis, Willegis; 940 – 23 February 1011 AD) was Archbishop of Mainz from 975 until his death as well as archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire. Life Willigus was born in the Duchy of Saxony, possibly at ...

, who was elected

Archbishop of Mainz The Elector of Mainz was one of the seven Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire. As both the Archbishop of Mainz and the ruling prince of the Electorate of Mainz, the Elector of Mainz held a powerful position during the Middle Ages. The Archb ...

in 975. According to a tale delivered by the

Brothers Grimm The Brothers Grimm ( or ), Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm (1786–1859), were a brother duo of German academics, philologists, cultural researchers, lexicographers, and authors who together collected and published folklore. They are among the ...

, his ancestors had been

wheelwright A wheelwright is a craftsman who builds or repairs wooden wheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the word "wright", (which comes from the Old English word "''wryhta''", meaning a worker or shaper of wood) as in shipwright and arkw ...

s and his adversaries sneered at him for his mean birth. They drew wheels on the walls and doors of his residence, Willigis though made it his personal ensign with the motto "Willigis, remember where you came from". However, this is not proven, and in any case

coats of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its wh ...

only appeared in the 12th century. Most of the archbishops of Mainz used the wheel for the first and third field of their personal coat of arms, using their family's coat of arms for the second and fourth fields. It is more likely that the wheel refers to Saint Martin, the patron of both the city itself and of

Mainz Cathedral , native_name_lang = , image = Mainzer Dom nw.jpg , imagesize = , imagelink = , imagealt = , caption = , pushpin map = , pushpin label position = , pushpin map alt = , pushpin mapsize = , relief = , map caption = , iso regi ...

. Insignia dating from 1300 depict the saint with both wheels. Moreover, the Archbishops of Mainz were sometimes referred to as the ''currum dei aurigantes'' ("Drivers of God's Chariot") and the ''currum ecclesiae Moguntinae aurigantes'' ("Charioteers of the Church of Mainz"), to which the wheels may well also be a reference. Other theories see the wheel as either: * a symbol of Christ, i.e., XP (Chi, Ro), enclosed in a

nimbus Nimbus, from the Latin for "dark cloud", is an outdated term for the type of cloud now classified as the nimbostratus cloud. Nimbus also may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Halo (religious iconography), also known as ''Nimbus'', a ring of ligh ...

; * the insignia of

Emperor Constantine Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to convert to Christianity. Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterranea ...

; * the sign of

Mogons Mogons or Moguns was a Celtic god worshiped in Roman Britain and Gaul. The main evidence is from altars dedicated to the god by Roman soldiers. Etymology According to J.T. Koch at the University of Wales, the various alternations of the name ' ...

, a Celtic sun-god; or * the sign of

Mithras Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion centered on the god Mithras. Although inspired by Iranian worship of the Zoroastrian divinity (''yazata'') Mithra, the Roman Mithras is linke ...

, a Roman god.

Dissemination

Due to the power wielded by the Elector until 1803, the Wheel of Mainz was recognized across a vast territory, and it can be seen in many coats of arms of towns belonging to the collegiate church, such as

Erfurt Erfurt () is the capital and largest city in the Central German state of Thuringia. It is located in the wide valley of the Gera river (progression: ), in the southern part of the Thuringian Basin, north of the Thuringian Forest. It sits i ...

, which belonged to the archbishopric for centuries. In addition, it is seen in the following coats of arms: Mainz-Hechtsheim,

Mainz-Laubenheim Mainz-Laubenheim is a southern quarter of Mainz and is located south of the A60 autobahn and west of the B9 highway on the banks of the Rhine. History The first documented mention of Mainz-Laubenheim was in 773 AD, under the name ''Nubenheim' ...

Mainz-Lerchenberg Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-west, with Main ...

Mainz-Weisenau Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-west, with Main ...

, as well as

Alzenau Alzenau (; until 31 December 2006 officially ''Alzenau i.UFr.'') is a town in the north of the Aschaffenburg district in the '' Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Until 1 July 1972, Alzenau was the dist ...

, Arenshausen,

Bad Hersfeld The festival and spa town of Bad Hersfeld (''Bad'' is "spa" in German; the Old High German name of the city was ''Herolfisfeld'') is the district seat of the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district in northeastern Hesse, Germany, roughly 50 km southeast ...

Bad Sobernheim Bad Sobernheim is a town in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the like-named ''Verbandsgemeinde'', and is also its seat. It is a state-recognized spa town, and is well known for two fossil discovery sites ...

Berlingerode Berlingerode is a municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, ...

Biebergemünd Biebergemünd is a municipality in the Main-Kinzig district, in Hesse, Germany. It has a population of over 8,000 and lies in the wooded hills of the Spessart. Etymology The name derives from the River Bieber, which flows (''mündet'') into the K ...

, Birkungen in

Leinefelde-Worbis Leinefelde-Worbis is a town in the district of Eichsfeld, in northwestern Thuringia, Germany. The town was formed on March 16, 2004, from the former independent towns Leinefelde and Worbis along with the municipalities of Breitenbach and Wintz ...

, Blankenbach,

Bönnigheim Bönnigheim () is a town in the German administrative district ( Kreis) of Ludwigsburg which lies at the edge of the areas known as ''Stromberg'' and ''Zabergäu''. The nearest large towns are Ludwigsburg and Heilbronn. Geography District ...

, Brehme,

Breitenworbis Breitenworbis is a municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German stat ...

Bürgstadt Bürgstadt is a market community in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany and the seat of the ''Verwaltungsgemeinschaft'' (Administrative Community) of Erftal. Bürgstadt i ...

, Büttstedt,

Cleebronn Cleebronn () is a municipality in the district of Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. Geography Cleebronn is in the Zabergäu in the south of the district of Heilbronn, directly in the north of the Stromberg mountain with an e ...

Collenberg Collenberg is a community in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It has a population of about 2,400. Geography Location Collenberg lies on right bank of the Main, 13 ...

Deuna Deuna is a village and a former municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia, Germany. Since 1 January 2019, it is part of the municipality Niederorschel Niederorschel is a municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia, Germa ...

, Dorfprozelten,

Dünwald Dünwald is a former municipality in the Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis district of Thuringia, Germany. It was created in January 1994 by the merger of the former municipalities Zaunröden, Beberstedt and Hüpstedt. On 1 January 2023 it was disbanded, and i ...

, Effelder, Eichenbühl, Eichsfeld,

Elsenfeld Elsenfeld is a market community in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the river Main between the hills of the Spessart, east of the river, and Odenwal ...

Eltville Eltville am Rhein (from ''Alta Villa'', Latin for "high estate, high town", corrupted to ''Eldeville'', ''Elfeld'' and later Eltville, ) is a town in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. It lies on ...

(ehemalige Residenz), Ortsteil Ershausen der Gemeinde Schimberg,

Faulbach Faulbach is a municipality in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It has a population of around 2,600. Geography Location Faulbach lies on the right bank of the ri ...

Frammersbach Frammersbach is a market community in the Main-Spessart district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. In the early modern period, people from Frammersbach achieved international renown as drivers ...

Frankfurt-Griesheim Griesheim () is a quarter of Frankfurt am Main, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous me ...

, Frankfurt-Höchst, Frankfurt-Nied, Freienhagen,

Fritzlar Fritzlar () is a small town (pop. 15,000) in the Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, Germany, north of Frankfurt, with a storied history. The town has a medieval center ringed by a wall with numerous watch towers. Thirty-eight meters (125& ...

, site of an important cathedral chapter,

Gau-Algesheim Gau-Algesheim is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' of Gau-Algesheim, a kind of collective municipality. Geography Location Gau-Algesheim lies roughly 20 km ...

, Geisenheim, Samtgemeinde Gieboldehausen,

Gieboldehausen Gieboldehausen is a municipality in the district of Göttingen, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Rhume, approx. 25 km northeast of Göttingen, and 15 km south of Osterode am Harz. It is part of the Eichsfeld. Giebol ...

, Goldbach, Großbartloff,

Großheubach Großheubach (or ''Grossheubach'') is a market community in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Geography Location Großheubach lies on the right bank of the Main. T ...

Großvargula Großvargula is a municipality in the Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis district of Thuringia, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after ...

, Gumbsheim, Haibach (Unterfranken), Hanau-Steinheim, Hausen (bei Aschaffenburg),

Heilbad Heiligenstadt Heilbad Heiligenstadt is a spa town in Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the Eichsfeld district. Geography Heiligenstadt is approximately 14 km east of the tripoint where the states of Thuringia, Hesse and Lower Saxony meet. It lies ...

Heppenheim (Bergstraße) Heppenheim (Bergstraße) is the seat of Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany, lying on the Bergstraße on the edge of the Odenwald. It is best known for being the birthplace of 4-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Geography ...

, Hergenfeld, Heyerode,

Hofgeismar Hofgeismar () is a town in the Kassel (district), district of Kassel, in northern Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km north of Kassel on the German Timber-Frame Road. In 1978 and in 2015, the town hosted the 18th ''Hessentag'' state festival. ...

Hofheim am Taunus Hofheim (; officially known as Hofheim am Taunus) is the administrative centre of Main-Taunus-Kreis district, in the south of the German state of Hesse. Its population in September 2020 was 39,946. Geography Location The town is located on the so ...

, Holungen (Landkreis Eichsfeld),

Hundeshagen Hundeshagen is a village and a former municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the ...

, Johannesberg, Jützenbach,

Kahl am Main Kahl am Main (officially ''Kahl a. Main'') is a community in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It has around 7,500 inhabitants. Geography Location Kahl am Mai ...

Kelkheim (Taunus) Kelkheim (), officially "Kelkheim (Taunus)", is a town in the Main-Taunus district in Hesse, Germany, close to Germany's financial center Frankfurt/Main. Geography Location Located on the southwestern slopes of the Taunus mountains, Kelkheim is ...

, Kelkheim-Münster, Kella,

Kirchgandern Kirchgandern is a municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia, Germany. It is part of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Hanstein-Rusteberg Hanstein-Rusteberg is a ''Verwaltungsgemeinschaft'' ("collective municipality") in the district Eichsf ...

, Kirchheim, Thuringia, Kirchzell (Landkreis Miltenberg),

Kleinostheim Kleinostheim is a community in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Geography Location The community of Kleinostheim is about 40 kilometers east southeast of Frankfur ...

Kleinwallstadt Kleinwallstadt is a market community in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany and the seat of the like-named ''Verwaltungsgemeinschaft'' (Administrative Community). Geograp ...

Klingenberg am Main Klingenberg am Main is a town in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It has a population of around 6,200 and is located on both banks of the river Main. Geography Loca ...

Krautheim Krautheim (East Franconian German, East Franconian: ''Graude'') is a town in the Hohenlohe (district), Hohenlohe district of Baden-Württemberg, in south central Germany. It is situated on the river Jagst, 12 km (8 mi) northwest of K� ...

(Landkreis Hohenlohe),

Kreuzebra Kreuzebra is a village and a former municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia, Germany. Since 1 January 2019, it is part of the town Dingelstädt Dingelstädt is a town in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia, Germany. It is situ ...

, Langenthal (Hunsrück), Leidersbach, Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Lindenberg/Eichsfeld, Lorch (Rheingau),

Mainaschaff Mainaschaff is a community in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It has a population of around 9,000 (2020). Geography Location The community lies near the boundar ...

Marth Marth may refer to: * Marth, Thuringia, Germany People with the surname * Albert Marth (1828–1897), German astronomer * Christophe Marth (born 1980), French rugby player * Frank Marth (born 1922), American actor * Tommy Marth Thomas Christian ...

Miltenberg Miltenberg () is a town in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named district and has a population of over 9,000. Geography Location The old town lies on the Main ...

Mömbris Mömbris is a community – since 31 January 1964 a market community – in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. With over 11,000 inhabitants, Mömbris is the district ...

, Mönchberg,

Monzingen Monzingen is an '' Ortsgemeinde'' – a municipality belonging to a ''Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Nahe-Glan, whose s ...

Mühlberg, Thuringia Mühlberg is a village and a former municipality in the district of Gotha, in Thuringia, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe ...

, Naumburg/Hessen,

Neudenau Neudenau () is a town in the district of Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, ...

(with eight spokes), the former Gemeinde Herbolzheim, since 1973

Herbolzheim Herbolzheim () is a town in the district of Emmendingen, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated near the river Elz, 26 km north of Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau (; abbreviated as Freiburg i. Br. or Freiburg i. B.; Low Aleman ...

, part of the city of

, Neunkirchen (Unterfranken), Neustadt (Eichsfeld),

Niedernberg Niedernberg is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the Miltenberg (district), Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Geography Location Niedernberg is just under 1 ...

(Landkreis Miltenberg), Niederwalluf, Nöda, Obergriesheim,

Oberlahnstein Oberlahnstein () is a part of the city of Lahnstein in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. It lies on the right bank of the Rhine, at the confluence of the Lahn 4 m. above Koblenz, on the Right Rhine railway from Cologne to Frankfurt-on-Main. Oberla ...

Ober-Mörlen Ober-Mörlen is a municipality in the Wetteraukreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located approximately 29 kilometers north of Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most popul ...

Oberursel (Taunus) Oberursel (Taunus) () is a town in Germany and part of the Frankfurt Rhein-Main urban area. It is located to the north west of Frankfurt, in the Hochtaunuskreis county. It is the 13th largest town in Hesse. In 2011, the town hosted the 51st Hes ...

, Pleitersheim, Rauenthal,

Ravenstein Ravenstein may refer to: Places *Ravenstein, Germany in the district Neckar-Odenwald, Baden-Württemberg *Ravenstein, Netherlands in Oss, North Brabant *Ravenstein railway station Films Ravenstein a 2020 British Horror film People with the su ...

, Reinholterode,

Rieneck Rieneck () is a town in the Main-Spessart district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Geography Location Rieneck lies in the Würzburg region between the southern foothills of the Rhön ...

Rodgau Rodgau is a town in the Offenbach district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. It lies southeast of Frankfurt am Main in the Frankfurt Rhine Main Region and has the greatest population of any municipality in the Offenbach ...

, Rohrberg,

Röllbach Röllbach is a municipality in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany and a member of the ''Verwaltungsgemeinschaft'' (Administrative Community) of Mönchberg. Geography ...

Rothenbuch Rothenbuch is a community in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It has a population of around 1,700. Geography Location Rothenbuch lies in the region ''Bayerischer U ...

Sailauf Sailauf is a municipality in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. It has a population of around 3,600. Geography Location The community lies in the area of the Spessa ...

Schloßböckelheim Schloßböckelheim (or Schlossböckelheim) is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a municipality belonging to a ''Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the ''V ...

Schöllkrippen Schöllkrippen is a market community in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany and seat of the ''Verwaltungsgemeinschaft'' (municipal association) of Schöllkrippen. It ha ...

, Schöneberg (Hunsrück),

Seesbach Seesbach is a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in ...

Seligenstadt Seligenstadt is a town in the Offenbach (district), Offenbach district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt (region), Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. Seligenstadt is one of Germany's oldest towns and was already of great importance in Carolingian ...

, Sömmerda,

Sulzbach am Main Sulzbach am Main (officially ''Sulzbach a.Main'') is a market municipality in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Geography Location Sulzbach lies on the rivers Mai ...

(Landkreis Miltenberg),

Treffurt Treffurt () is a small town in the western region of the Wartburgkreis district which belongs to the federal state of Thuringia. The former municipality Ifta was merged into Treffurt in January 2019. The town lies near the Werra and is surrounded ...

, Uder,

Viernheim Viernheim is a midsize industrial town on Mannheim's outskirts and is found in the Rhine Neckar agglomeration and economic area. It is the second biggest town in Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany. Since 1994 it has also borne the title '' Br ...

Waldaschaff Waldaschaff is a community in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Geography Location The community lies at the threshold of the High Spessart (range), roughly 15 ...

Walldürn Walldürn is a town in the Neckar-Odenwald district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 23 km southwest of Wertheim. The town of Walldürn consists of the ten districts Walldürn-Stadt, Altheim, Gerolzahn, Glashofen, Gottersdor ...

Weibersbrunn Weibersbrunn is a community with a population of close to 2,000 in the Aschaffenburg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Etymology The name "Weiberbrunn" is derived from the Weibersbac ...

, Weilbach (Bayern), Weißenborn-Lüderode, Wiesen, Wittighausen, Worbis in

, and Wüstheuterode. It also occurs in the coats of arms of the following ''Kreise'' (districts) *

Hohenlohekreis The Hohenlohe (german: Hohenlohekreis ) is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in the north of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Neckar-Odenwald, Main-Tauber, Schwäbisch Hall and Heilbronn. Künzelsau is the ...

Landkreis Aschaffenburg Aschaffenburg (Low Franconian: ''Ascheberg'') is a Districts of Germany, ''Landkreis'' (district) in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the districts of Darmstadt-Dieburg, Offenbach (district), Offenbach, Main-Kinzig ...

*the former

Landkreis Buchen In all German states, except for the three city states, the primary administrative subdivision higher than a '' Gemeinde'' (municipality) is the (official term in all but two states) or (official term in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia ...

(merged with Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis in 1973) * Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg * Landkreis Eichsfeld *

Landkreis Göttingen In all German states, except for the three city states, the primary administrative subdivision higher than a '' Gemeinde'' (municipality) is the (official term in all but two states) or (official term in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia ...

*the former Landkreis Künzelsau (merged with Hohenlohekreis in 1973) * Landkreis Lohr * Landkreis Main-Spessart * Landkreis Mainz-Bingen *

Landkreis Miltenberg Miltenberg () is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state ...

*the former Landkreis Mosbach (merged with Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis in 1973) *

Landkreis Offenbach Offenbach is a Kreis (district) in the south of Hesse, Germany and is part of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region. Neighbouring districts are Main-Kinzig, Aschaffenburg, Darmstadt-Dieburg, Groß-Gerau and the cities of Darmstadt, Frankfu ...

* Landkreis Sömmerda *the former Landkreis Tauberbischofsheim (merged with Main-Tauber-Kreis in 1973) *

Landkreis Weimarer Land Weimarer Land is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in the east of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the northeast clockwise) the district Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt, the district Saale-Holzland and the district-free city Jena, the ...

Main-Tauber-Kreis Main-Tauber-Kreis is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in the northeast of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from northwest clockwise) Miltenberg, Main-Spessart, Würzburg, Neustadt (Aisch)-Bad Windsheim and Ansbach (all in Bavaria ...

Main-Taunus-Kreis Main-Taunus is a Kreis (district) in the middle of Hessen, Germany and is part of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region as well as the Frankfurt urban area. Neighboring districts are Hochtaunuskreis, district-free Frankfurt, Groß-Gerau, d ...

Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in the north of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from east clockwise) Main-Tauber-Kreis, Hohenlohe-Kreis, Heilbronn, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Odenwaldkreis (Hesse) and Landkre ...

Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis Rheingau-Taunus is a Kreis (district) in the west of Hesse, Germany. Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis is part of the Darmstadt region; its main administrative seat is Bad Schwalbach. Outposted sections of the local administration are located in Idstein and R ...

Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis is a ''Kreis'' (district) in the north of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) the districts Eichsfeld, Kyffhäuserkreis, Sömmerda, Gotha, Wartburgkreis and the district Werra-Meißner in ...

It also features in the arms of

itself.

Coats of Arms featuring the Wheel of Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate

Coat of arms of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg,

Wappen_Bistum_Mainz.png,

DEU Mainz-Hechtsheim COA.svg, Mainz-Hechtsheim Wappen Lerchenberg.svg,

Wappen-Mz-Weisenau.jpg,

DEU Landkreis Mainz-Bingen COA.svg,

Mainz-Bingen Mainz-Bingen is a district (''Kreis'') in the east of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Rheingau-Taunus, the district-free cities Wiesbaden and Mainz, the districts Groß-Gerau, Alzey-Worms, Bad ...

DEU Bad Sobernheim (1924) COA.svg,

Wappen von Bingen.png,

Bingen am Rhein Bingen am Rhein () is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The settlement's original name was Bingium, a Celtic word that may have meant "hole in the rock", a description of the shoal behind the ''Mäuseturm'', k ...

Wappen von Gau-Algesheim.png,

Wappen von Gau-Bischofsheim.png, Gau-Bischofsheim DEU Heidesheim COA.svg,

Heidesheim am Rhein Heidesheim am Rhein is an ''Ortsbezirk'' (borough) of the town Ingelheim am Rhein in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Before July 2019, it was a separate municipality belonging to the former ''Verbandsgemeinde'' (a kind ...

DEU Hergenfeld COA.svg, Hergenfeld DEU Klein-Winternheim COA.svg,

Klein-Winternheim Klein-Winternheim is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a Municipalities of Germany, municipality belonging to a ''Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Geography Location Kl ...

DEU Langenthal COA.svg, Langenthal (Hunsrück) DEU Monzingen COA.svg,

Wappen von Nackenheim.png,

Nackenheim Nackenheim is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a Municipalities of Germany, municipality belonging to a ''Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – and a winegrowing centre in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Ge ...

Wappen von Niederheimbach.png, Niederheimbach DEU Ober-Olm COA.svg,

Ober-Olm Ober-Olm is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a municipality belonging to a ''Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Geography Neighbouring municipalities Ober-Olm's neig ...

DEU Pleitersheim COA.svg, Pleitersheim DEU Schlossboeckelheim COA.svg,

DEU Schöneberg (Hunsrück) COA.svg, Schöneberg (Hunsrück) DEU Seesbach COA.svg,

Wappen von Trechtingshausen.png,

Trechtingshausen Trechtingshausen (formerly also ''Trechtlingshausen'') is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a municipality belonging to a ''Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The winegro ...

DEU VG Woellstein COA.svg,

Wöllstein Wöllstein is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a municipality belonging to a '' Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Geography Location The municipality lies in Rhenis ...

DEU Wöllstein COA.svg,

Hesse

Wappen Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis.svg,

Wappen Biebergemünd.svg ,

Wappen Eltville am Rhein.png,

Wappen Neustadt (Hessen).svg, Neustadt Wappen Amöneburg.png,

Amöneburg Amöneburg () is a town in the Marburg-Biedenkopf district in Hesse, Germany. It lies on a mountain and is built around the castle of the same name, ''Burg Amöneburg''. Geography Location Amöneburg lies on a basalt cone that can be seen fr ...

WappenHeppenheim.svg,

Heppenheim Heppenheim (Bergstraße) is the seat of Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany, lying on the Bergstraße on the edge of the Odenwald. It is best known for being the birthplace of 4-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Geography ...

Kiedrich Wappen.png,

Kiedrich Kiedrich is a municipality in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. Geography Kiedrich lies in the Rheingau on the south slope of the Taunus, approximately 2 km north from the town of Eltvil ...

Wappen Lorch (Rheingau).png, Lorch (Rheingau) Wappen Main-Taunus-Kreis.svg,

Wappen Kriftel.svg,

Kriftel Kriftel is a municipality in the Main-Taunus district, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated 16 km west of Frankfurt (centre). It has about 11,000 inhabitants. Kriftel is also commonly known as "Fruit Orchard of the Anterior Taunus" (''Obstgar ...

DEU Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg COA.svg,

Darmstadt-Dieburg Darmstadt-Dieburg is a Kreis (Districts of Germany, district) in the south of Hesse, Germany. Neighboring districts are Offenbach (district), Offenbach, Aschaffenburg (district), Aschaffenburg, Miltenberg (district), Miltenberg, Odenwaldkreis, Berg ...

Wappen Landkreis Offenbach.svg, Kreis Offenbach Wappen Hainburg (Hessen).svg, Hainburg Wappen Mainhausen.png,

Mainhausen Mainhausen is a municipality of over 9,000 in the Offenbach district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. Geography Location Mainhausen is one of 13 towns and communities in the Offenbach district, lying in the southernmos ...

Wappen Oberursel Taunus.svg,

Wappen Roedermark.png,

Rödermark Rödermark is a town in the Offenbach (district), Offenbach district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt (region), Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany, southeast of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main and northeast of Darmstadt. Geography Location The town ...

Wappen Rodgau.svg,

DEU Seligenstadt COA.svg,

Wappen Ober-Mörlen.png,

Frankfurt-Griesheim coat of arms.jpg,

DEU Hoechst am Main COA.svg, Frankfurt-Höchst Wappen Frankfurt_Nied.jpg, Frankfurt-Nied Wappen Gernsheim.png,

Gernsheim Gernsheim () is a town in Groß-Gerau district and Darmstadt region in Hesse, Germany, lying on the Rhine. Geography Location The ''Schöfferstadt Gernsheim'', as Gernsheim may officially call itself – it was Peter Schöffer's birthplace – ...

Wappen Hofgeismar.svg,

Wappen Hofheim am Taunus.png,

DEU Fritzlar COA.svg,

Wappen Naumburg (Hessen).png,

Naumburg Naumburg () is a town in (and the administrative capital of) the district Burgenlandkreis, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany. It has a population of around 33,000. The Naumburg Cathedral became a UNES ...

Wappen Wetter (Hessen).svg,

Wetter (Hessen) Wetter (Hessen) is a small town in Hesse, Germany. The rather unusual designation Wetter ( Hessen-Nassau) stems from a time when the town belonged to the Prussian province of the same name, and nowadays is only used by the railway – even today, t ...

Wappen Geisenheim.png, Geisenheim (before 1977) Wappen-Geisenheim.png, Geisenheim (since 1977)

Baden-Württemberg

Wappen Hohenlohekreis.svg,

Wappen Landkreis Kuenzelsau.png, former Landkreis Künzelsau, merged with Hohenlohekreis in 1973 Wappen Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis.svg,

Wappen Landkreis Buchen.png, former

, merged with Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis in 1973 Wappen Landkreis Mosbach.png, former Landkreis Mosbach, merged with Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis in 1973 Wappen Main-Tauber-Kreis.svg,

Wappen Landkreis Tauberbischofsheim.png, former Landkreis Tauberbischofsheim, merged with Main-Tauber-Kreis in 1973 Wappen Tauberbischofsheim.svg,

Tauberbischofsheim Tauberbischofsheim is a German town in the north-east of Baden-Württemberg on the river Tauber with a population of about 13,200. It is the capital of the Main-Tauber district. It is a popular tourist destination due to its numerous historical b ...

DEU Billigheim COA.svg, Billigheim DEU Buchen COA.svg,

Buchen Buchen (South Franconian: ''Buche'') is a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is situated in the Odenwald low mountain range, 23 km northeast of the regional center Mosbach. Geography Buchen is situated on the seam between the ...

Wappen Cleebronn.svg,

DEU Mudau COA.svg,

Mudau Mudau is a municipality in the Neckar-Odenwald district, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. it has 4,833 inhabitants. Geography Mudau lies in the southeastern Odenwald mountains between the Neckar and Main rivers, 75 km southeast of Frankfurt ...

DEU Neudenau COA.svg,

Wappen Herbolzheim Neudenau.png, former Gemeinde Herbolzheim, now Herbolzheim (Neudenau), part of the city of

since 1973 Obergriesheim-wappen.jpg, former Gemeinde Obergriesheim, part of the city of Gundelsheim since 1973 Wappen Osterburken.svg,

Osterburken Osterburken () is a town in the Neckar-Odenwald district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 28 km southwest of Tauberbischofsheim, 50 km northeast of Heilbronn, 90 km east of Heidelberg, 60 km southwest of Würzb ...

Wappen Ravenstein.svg,

DEU Rosenberg Baden COA.svg, Rosenberg DEU Seckach COA.svg,

Seckach Seckach is a village and a municipality in the district of Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous ...

DEU Walldürn COA.svg,

Wappen Viernheim.svg,

Wappen Krautheim Jagst.svg,

DEU Kelkheim (Taunus) COA.svg,

Kelkheim Kelkheim (), officially "Kelkheim (Taunus)", is a town in the Main-Taunus district in Hesse, Germany, close to Germany's financial center Frankfurt/Main. Geography Location Located on the southwestern slopes of the Taunus mountains, Kelkheim i ...

DEU Bönnigheim COA.svg,

Bavaria

Wappen Landkreis Aschaffenburg.svg,

Wappen der Stadt Alzenau.svg,

Wappen von Blankenbach (Unterfranken).svg, Blankenbach Wappen von Goldbach (Unterfranken).svg, Goldbach Wappen Großwelzheim.svg, Großwelzheim Wappen von Haibach (Unterfranken).svg, Haibach DEU Johannesberg COA.svg, Johannesberg Wappen Kahl.svg,

Wappen Kleinostheim.svg,

Wappen Mainaschaff.svg,

Wappen Moembris.png,

DEU Rothenbuch COA.svg,

DEU Sailauf COA.svg,

DEU Schöllkrippen COA.svg,

DEU Waldaschaff COA.svg,

DEU Weibersbrunn COA.svg,

DEU Wiesen COA.svg, Wiesen Wappen Landkreis Lohr.png , Landkreis Lohr Wappen Landkreis Miltenberg.svg,

Wappen von Bürgstadt.png,

Wappen von Collenberg.svg,

Wappen von Dorfprozelten.svg, Dorfprozelten Wappen Eichenbühl.svg, Eichenbühl Wappen Elsenfeld.svg,

Wappen von Faulbach.svg,

Wappen von Großheubach.svg,

Wappen Hausen (Aschaffenburg).svg, Hausen bei Aschaffenburg DEU Kirchzell COA.svg, Kirchzell DEU Kleinwallstadt COA.svg,

DEU Klingenberg COA.svg,

DEU Leidersbach COA.svg, Leidersbach DEU Miltenberg COA.svg, Stadt

DEU Mömlingen COA.svg,

Mömlingen Mömlingen is a municipality in the Miltenberg district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Lower Franconia (''Unterfranken'') in Bavaria, Germany. Geography Location Mömlingen, which styles itself “Gateway to the Odenwald”, lies framed by ...

DEU Mönchberg COA.svg, Mönchberg DEU Neunkirchen COA.svg, Neunkirchen DEU Niedernberg COA.svg,

DEU Röllbach COA.svg,

DEU Sulzbach am Main COA.svg,

DEU Weilbach COA.svg, Weilbach (Bayern) Wappen Assamstadt.svg, Assamstadt? DEU Werbach COA.svg,

Werbach Werbach () is a country town in the district of Main-Tauber in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Geographical location Werbach is located in the Taubertal between Tauberbischofsheim, Wertheim (Main) and Würzburg. History Werbach is firs ...

DEU Wittighausen COA.svg, Wittighausen DEU Landkreis Main-Spessart COA.svg, Landkreis Main-Spessart Wappen von Rieneck.svg,

Wappen von Frammersbach.svg,

Thuringia

Wappen Erfurt.svg,

(Partner of Mainz) Wappen Fürstentum Erfurt.svg ,

Principality of Erfurt The Principality of Erfurt (german: Fürstentum Erfurt; french: Principauté d'Erfurt) was a small state in modern Thuringia, Germany, that existed from 1807 to 1814, comprising the modern city of Erfurt and the surrounding land. It was subordi ...

(1807–14) Landkreis Eichsfeld Wappen.svg, Landkreis Eichsfeld Wappen Arenshausen.png, Arenshausen Wappen Breitenworbis.png,

Wappen Buettstedt.gif, Büttstedt Wappen Deuna.png,

Wappen Effelder (Eichsfeld).png, Effelder Wappen Freienhagen.png, Freienhagen Großbartloff Wappen.svg, Großbartloff Wappen Heilbad Heiligenstadt.png,

Wappen Hohes Kreuz.png, Hohes Kreuz Wappen Holungen.png, Holungen Wappen Juetzenbach.png, Jützenbach Wappen Kella.png,

Kella, Thuringia Kella is a municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the ...

Wappen Kirchgandern.png,

Wappen Kreuzebra.png,

Wappen VG Lindenberg-Eichsfeld.png, Administrative region of Lindenberg-Eichsfeld Wappen Berlingerode.png,

(in Lindenberg-Eichsfeld) Wappen Brehme.svg, Brehme (in Lindenberg-Eichsfeld) Wappen Hundeshagen.png,

(in Lindenberg-Eichsfeld) Wappen Marth.png,

Wappen Neustadt (Eichsfeld).png, Neustadt (Eichsfeld) Wappen Reinholterode.png, Reinholterode Wappen Rohrberg.png, Rohrberg Wappen Uder.svg, Uder Wappen Weissenborn-Luederode.png, Weißenborn-Lüderode Wappen Wuestheuterode.png, Wüstheuterode Wappen Landkreis Sömmerda.svg, Landkreis Sömmerda Wappen Sömmerda.svg, Sömmerda Wappen Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis.svg,

Wappen Landkreis Weimarer Land.svg,

Wappen Noeda.png, Nöda Wappen Duenwald.png,

Wappen von Großvargula.png,

Heyerode.jpg, Heyerode Wappen Kirchheim (Thueringen).png, Kirchheim Wappen Muehlberg (Thueringen).png, Mühlberg Wappen Treffurt.png,

Wappen Birkungen.png, Birkungen, in

Wappen Ershausen.png, Ershausen, in Schimberg Wappen Worbis.png, Worbis, in

Lower Saxony

DEU Landkreis Goettingen COA.svg,

Wappen der Samtgemeinde Gieboldehausen.png, Samtgemeinde Gieboldehausen Wappen Flecken Gieboldehausen.svg,

Bishops

COA Daniel von der Leyen.jpg,

Damian Hartard von der Leyen-Hohengeroldseck Damian Hartard ''Reichsfreiherr'' von der Leyen-Hohengeroldseck (12 March 1624 in Trier – 6 December 1678) was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz and the Bishop of Worms from 1675 to 1678. Damian Hartard von der Leyen-Hohengeroldseck was the young ...

COA Emmerich Josef von Breidbach Bürresheim.jpg,

Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim (12 November 1707 – 11 June 1774) was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz from 1763 to 1774 and Prince-Bishop of Worms from 1768 to 1774, in which capacities he was notable for introducing reforms i ...

Coat of arms of Hermann Volk.svg,

Hermann Volk Hermann Volk (27 December 1903 – 1 July 1988) was a German cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Mainz from 1962 to 1982, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1973. Early life and ministry Hermann Volk was born in ...

Coat of arms of Karl Lehmann.svg,

Karl Lehmann Karl Lehmann (16 May 1936 – 11 March 2018) was a German Cardinal prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Mainz from 1983 to 2016, being elevated to Cardinal in 2001. He also served as Chairman of the Conference of the Ge ...

Coat of arms of Peter Kohlgraf.svg,

Peter Kohlgraf Peter Kohlgraf (born March 21, 1967 in Cologne, West Germany) is a German Roman Catholic bishop. He is the current Bishop of Mainz. Life Kohlgraf was born the son of a mason and a nurse. After his Abitur in 1986 at the Dreikönigsgymnasium ...

German municipal arms with wheels which have no connection to Mainz

Donnersbergkreis The Donnersbergkreis is a district (''Kreis'') in the middle of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Neighboring districts are Bad Kreuznach, Alzey-Worms, Bad Dürkheim, Kaiserslautern, Kusel. History The district was created in 1969 by merging the dis ...

: The two wheels come from the earlier arms of

Kirchheimbolanden Kirchheimbolanden (), the capital of Donnersbergkreis, is a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, south-western Germany. It is situated approximately 25 km west of Worms, and 30 km north-east of Kaiserslautern. The first part of the name, ''Kir ...

and

Rockenhausen Rockenhausen is a town in the Donnersbergkreis, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the river Alsenz, approx. north of Kaiserslautern. Rockenhausen is the seat of the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' ("collective municipality") Nordpfälzer ...

. The red wheel represented the line of

Bolanden Bolanden is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe aft ...

, the blue represented the line of Hohenfels. *

Osnabrück Osnabrück (; wep, Ossenbrügge; archaic ''Osnaburg'') is a city in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is situated on the river Hase in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest. With a population ...

: this city's arms have a black, or sometimes red, wheel of six spokes on a silver field. The flag is white with black border stripes. A wheel is known as a device on coins of the Archdiocese of Osnabrück and appears in seals of as early as the 13th century, although during the course of time it was altered many times, the originally red wheel having become black by 1496. Later the red colour was re-adopted, but the black tincture has won out. In the 13th century Saint Peter was portrayed next to the wheel, as patron of the cathedral. * The coat of arms of includes two red five-spoked cartwheels and two red five-petalled roses in the quarters of the black cross of the Archbishops and Electors of

Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...

(''Kurköln''). The rose represents the noble family which had its ancestral home in Störmede since 1233 (compare the coat of arms of the von Lippe family). After Albert von Störmede bequeathed his fief to his son-in-law Friedrich von Hörde, the cartwheel of the von Hördes was added to the roses. *

Geseke ''Geseke'' () is a town in the administrative district of Soest, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Geography Geseke is situated approximately 12 km south-east of Lippstadt and 20 km south-west of Paderborn. The city is located at th ...

: the current coat of arms was adopted on 17 August 1977, replacing the silver cross which had been adopted on 16 November 1902. The silver cross had appeared on seals as early as the late Middle Ages, the earliest example dating from 1237. It is related to the arms of the Archbishopric of Cologne, a black cross on silver. The cross was first used as a coat of arms officially around 1700.Wappen von GESEKE
/ref> The wheel of Störmede was added to the coat of arms after a reform of districts united Störmede with Geseke. DEU Donnersbergkreis COA.svg,

DEU Marnheim COA.svg,

Marnheim Marnheim is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe aft ...

in Donnersbergkreis Osnabrück Wappen.svg,

Wappen stoermede.jpg, Störmede Stadtwappen der Stadt Geseke.svg,

DEU Breunigweiler COA.svg, Breunigweiler DEU Imsbach COA.svg,

Imsbach Imsbach is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. References

Municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate Donnersbergkreis {{Donnersbergkreis-geo-stub ...

DEU Muehlheim Main COA.svg,

Mühlheim am Main Mühlheim am Main is a town of roughly 28,500 inhabitants on the Main’s left bank in the Offenbach district in the ''Regierungsbezirk'' of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. Its municipal area measures 20.67 km² (including outlying centres’ a ...

(waterwheel) Wappen von Heimbuchenthal.svg, Heimbuchenthal DEU Bohmte COA.svg,

Bohmte Bohmte is a municipality in the district of Osnabrück, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Hunte, approx. 20 km northeast of Osnabrück. The foundation of today's Bohmte is a result of the regional reorganization of 1972 ...

DEU Neckarzimmern COA.svg,

Neckarzimmern Neckarzimmern is a municipality in the district of Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neckarzimmern also was the main site of dispersal for the German Anti-Friction Bearings Industry during the Allied bombing of Germany. Thi ...

DEU Dörzbach COA.svg,

Dörzbach Dörzbach (East Franconian: ''Därzbach'') is a municipality in the Jagst river valley in the Hohenlohe district of Baden-Württemberg, in south central Germany. It is also the site of 3 historic castles, the Chapel of St. Wendel (in a limestone ...

References

External links

Entwicklung des Erfurter Wappens, Abschnitt über das Mainzer Rad
(Arms of Erfurt, with a section on the Wheel of Mainz)

(The Brothers Grimm: the wheel in the arms of Mainz) * The various explanations concerning the origins of the Wheel of Mainz are available as a

PDF Portable Document Format (PDF), standardized as ISO 32000, is a file format developed by Adobe in 1992 to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. ...

from the Rhineland-Palatinate ''Landeszentrale für politische Bildung'' a
here

(by Dr. B. Peter) (Mainz seen heraldically: arms in Mainz) {{in lang, de

Heraldic charges History of Mainz Coats of arms with wheels