City of Neuss (Germany)

Stadt Neuss am Rhein, Rhein-Kreis Neuss, Northrhine-Westphalia

Last modified: 2017-11-11 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: neuss | crown | balls(9) | lion(golden) | supporter | eagle(double headed) | cross(silver) |
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• Introduction
• Flag of Neuss
• Coat of Arms
• Plain Flag reported 1972

• County and Municipal Flags (Northrhine-Westphalia / Nordrhein-Westfalen)
• Rhine-County Neuss [NE]
• Northrhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
• Germany

Introduction

Neuss is a very old town, founded around 16 BC by the Romans and has now approximately 150,000 inhabitants. The red and white in the flag are the city colours. The nine golden balls in the corner are a symbol for the archbishopric of Köln, to which Neuss belonged in the Middle Ages.
Lothar Zok, 16 Jul 1997

Flag of Neuss

Desription of flag:
It is a red over white horizontal bicolour. In the centre of the flag is the coat-of-arms of the city. In the upper hoist corner are nine golden (= yellow) balls.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2012

Desription of coat of arms:
The shield is supported by two golden (= yellow), rampant lions and topped by a crown. The shield is divided per pale. The dexter side shows a golden (= yellow) double-headed eagle, armed and tongued red. The sinister side is a red field divided by a silver (= white) cross. In the upper hoist corner are nine golden (= yellow) balls ordered 4:3:2.
Meaning:
The cross is known since 1255, probably as a symbol of escorting the crusaders. The "old" arms showing the double eagle were granted in 1475 by emperor Friedrich III. Both signs were combined the first time beneath a crown about 1560. Finally in 1637 the supporters were added. The nine balls are attributes of the local patron saint St. Quirin. (arms of Quirin, Quirinuswappen). They are also alluding to the old name of the city: Novesium (= ninefold). There had been devotees of St. Quirin in Neuss since 1000, on 30 April 1050 his relics had been transferred to a local monastery of Benedictine nuns. In 13th century there had been a widespread adoration of the saint all over western Germany, the Alsace and the Netherlands. It is also understood in Neuss that the siege of the city by Charles the Bold in 1474/1475 failed on account of St.Quirin's aid.
Sources: Stadler 1972, p.73 and this online hagiography
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2012

Plain Flag reported 1972

The flags ratio is 3:5. It is a red over white horizontal bicolour.
Source: Stadler 1972, p.73
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Jul 2007

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