Last modified: 2020-03-22 by 
klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: saarpfalz | homburg(county) | st.ingbert(county) | quartered | lion(yellow) | cross(red) | crozier | lion(white) | lion(red) | label | pale(white) | eagle(double headed) |
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![[Saarpfalz County flag (Germany)]](../images/d/de-sp.gif)
3:5
image by Jörg Majewski, 29 June 2014
Saarpflaz County was established on 1 January 1974 by a merger of the former counties of homburg and St. Ingbert.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
It is a white over blue horizontal bicolour. The coat of arms is in the centre of the flag.
Source: this online catalogue
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 June 2014
![[Saarpfalz County banner (Germany)]](../images/d/de-sp_.gif)
5:2 image by Jörg Majewski and Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 June 2014
It is a white - blue vertical bicolour. The coat of arms is shifted to the top.
Source: this online catalogue
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 June 2014
The shield is quartered. Above right in a black field is a golden (= yellow), rampant, double-queued lion, crowned, armed and tongued red. Above left the silver (= white) field is divided by a red, centred cross. Below right in golden (= yellow) field is a blue crozier issuant. Below left in a red field is a silver (= white), rampant, double-queued lion tongued blue.
Meaning:
The arms combine symbols for the most influential historical rulers in the district. The first quarter displays the Palatine lion. The cross is representing the Archbishopric and Electorate of Trier. The crozier is representing the many (smaller) possessions of a number of monasteries in the county. The silver lion is representing the Counts of Homburg. Their dominions had been incorporated into the County of Saarbrücken in 1449. The flag colours are derived from those of Bavaria.
Source: Linder und Olzog 1996
Flag, banner and coat of arms were approved on 21 May 1975.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 29 June 2014
![[Homburg county flag]](../images/d/de-sp-c1.gif)
3:5 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
It was a red-white horizontal bicolour with centred arms.
Source: based on painting provided by Falko Schmidt
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
![[Homburg county banner]](../images/d/de-sp-c1_.gif)
5:2 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
It was a red-white vertical bicolour with arms shifted to the top.
Source: based on painting provided by Falko Schmidt
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
Shield quartered, 1st quarter Gules a lion rampant Argent, 2nd quarter Or a lion rampant Gules enhanced superimposed by a throughout label Azure with three points, 3rd quarter Or a crozier Gules issuant from base, 4th quarter Sable a double headed eagle Argent armed and tongued Gules.
Meaning:
The white lion is taken from the arms of the Counts of Homburg, the red lion from those of the Counts of Zweibrücken. The former ruled the area since around 110 until 1450. The latter had special privileges since 1394. The biggest estates were owned by the Hornbach Abbey, which had no proper arms and is represented by the crozier. The eagle displays the arms of the Counts of Saarwerden, known from a seal from the late 12th century. Their influence in the area is proven since 1100. Their territory belonged to the Lords of Moers until 1527.
Source: Stadler 1964, p.47
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
Flag colours and arms were approved on 14 July 1961 by Minister of Interior of Saarland and abolished on 1 January 1974.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
![[St. Ingbert county flag]](../images/d/de-sp-c2.gif)
3:5 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
It was a blue-white horizontal bicolour with centred arms.
Source: based on painting provided by Falko Schmidt
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
![[St. Ingbert county banner]](../images/d/de-sp-c2_.gif)
5:2 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
It was a blue-white vertical bicolour with arms shifted to the top.
Source: based on painting provided by Falko Schmidt
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
Shield parted by a pale Argent charged with an abbot's crozier Gules; at dexter Azure, semy of crosslets fitchy Argent, a sinister facing lion rampant Argent, crowned Or and tongued Gules; at sinister Sable a lion rampant Or, crowned and armed Gules.
Meaning:
The white lion displays the old arms of the Counts of Saarbrücken. The yellow lion is that one of the Wittelsbach kin as rulers of the Palatine Electorate and since 1410 of the Duchy of Zweibrücken. The pale is taken from the arms of the Counts of Leyen, who owned estates in the current county from the 15th century until 1792. Their seat had been in Blieskastel. The crozier is alluding to the estates belonging to local abbeys.
Source: Stadler 1964, p.79
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
Flag colours and arms were approved on 16 July 1962 by Minister of Interior of Saarland and abolished on 1 January 1974.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Mar 2020
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