Franconian Rake

The colour "Franconian red" ({{langx |de| Franken-Rot}}) used for the coat of arms is [[HKS (colour system)|HKS]] no. 14.

The colour "Franconian red" ({{langx |de| Franken-Rot}}) used for the coat of arms is [[HKS (colour system)|HKS]] no. 14.

The shape of the rake represents the holism of heaven and earth and was thus used by [[Roman Catholic|church]] bodies, such as the [[Bishopric of Würzburg]], as a seal or in their coats of arms.

The shape of the rake represents the holism of heaven and earth and was thus used by [[Roman Catholic|church]] bodies, such as the [[Diocese of Würzburg|Bishopric of Würzburg]], as a seal or in their coats of arms.

Its three upward or heaven-facing points symbolise the [[Trinity]] of God, while its four downward or earthward-facing points represent the four [[points of the compass]] on earth.[http://www.klettgau-historia.de/downloads/die-grafen-von-sulz-und-ihre-herkunft.pdf ''Die Grafen des Klettgau, die Grafen von Sulz – und ihre Herkunft''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903013353/http://www.klettgau-historia.de/downloads/die-grafen-von-sulz-und-ihre-herkunft.pdf |date=2018-09-03 }} at www.klettgau-historia.de. Retrieved 2 Sep 2018

Its three upward or heaven-facing points symbolise the [[Trinity]] of God, while its four downward or earthward-facing points represent the four [[points of the compass]] on earth.[http://www.klettgau-historia.de/downloads/die-grafen-von-sulz-und-ihre-herkunft.pdf ''Die Grafen des Klettgau, die Grafen von Sulz – und ihre Herkunft''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903013353/http://www.klettgau-historia.de/downloads/die-grafen-von-sulz-und-ihre-herkunft.pdf |date=2018-09-03 }} at www.klettgau-historia.de. Retrieved 2 Sep 2018

== History ==

== History ==

[[File:CoA Würzburg Diocese.svg|thumb|Coat of arms of the Würzburg diocese]]

[[File:CoA Würzburg Diocese.svg|thumb|Coat of arms of the Würzburg diocese]]

The Franconian Rake is first recorded in the early 14th century on the grave of the [[Bishopric of Würzburg|Würzburg]] Prince-bishop, Wolfram Wolfskeel von Grumbach (d. 1333), and in a seal for the city of [[Gerolzhofen]]. The Franconian Rake was initially chosen by the Bishops of Würzburg as a symbol of their (albeit rather nominal) [[Duchy of Franconia|Franconian ducal status]]. It was however not a symbol for Franconia as a whole, as the former [[stem duchy]] had ceased to exist as an administrative entity a long time ago. From 1835 the Rake appeared in the [[coat of arms of Bavaria]]; referring to the East Franconian regions which had been incorporated into the newly established [[Kingdom of Bavaria]] after the [[German mediatization]] of 1803. Only at this point did it become a symbol for the whole of Franconia in the public consciousness.

The Franconian Rake is first recorded in the early 14th century on the grave of the [[Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg|Würzburg]] Prince-bishop, Wolfram Wolfskeel von Grumbach (d. 1333), and in a seal for the city of [[Gerolzhofen]]. The Franconian Rake was initially chosen by the Bishops of Würzburg as a symbol of their (albeit rather nominal) [[Duchy of Franconia|Franconian ducal status]]. It was however not a symbol for Franconia as a whole, as the former [[stem duchy]] had ceased to exist as an administrative entity a long time ago. From 1835 the Rake appeared in the [[coat of arms of Bavaria]]; referring to the East Franconian regions which had been incorporated into the newly established [[Kingdom of Bavaria]] after the [[German mediatization]] of 1803. Only at this point did it become a symbol for the whole of Franconia in the public consciousness.

Today the emblem is found as part of the coat of arms of many administrative bodies in the Franconian region e.g. the [[Bavaria]]n provinces of [[Upper Franconia|Upper]], [[Middle Franconia|Middle]] and [[Lower Franconia]], as well as in adjacent districts covering the territory of the historic East Franconian lands, e.g. [[Main-Tauber-Kreis]] in the state of [[Baden-Württemberg]] or [[Hildburghausen (district)|Hildburghausen]] in southern [[Thuringia]], and many towns and villages, e.g. in the coat of arms of [[Volkach]] or [[Frankenhardt]]. So the Franconian Rake demonstrates an allegiance to the common heritage, although the Franconian lands have been split between many lords over the centuries. The Franconian Rake is also part of the large [[armorial achievement]]s of the Free State of Bavaria and of Baden-Württemberg.

Today the emblem is found as part of the coat of arms of many administrative bodies in the Franconian region e.g. the [[Bavaria]]n provinces of [[Upper Franconia|Upper]], [[Middle Franconia|Middle]] and [[Lower Franconia]], as well as in adjacent districts covering the territory of the historic East Franconian lands, e.g. [[Main-Tauber-Kreis]] in the state of [[Baden-Württemberg]] or [[Hildburghausen (district)|Hildburghausen]] in southern [[Thuringia]], and many towns and villages, e.g. in the coat of arms of [[Volkach]] or [[Frankenhardt]]. So the Franconian Rake demonstrates an allegiance to the common heritage, although the Franconian lands have been split between many lords over the centuries. The Franconian Rake is also part of the large [[armorial achievement]]s of the Free State of Bavaria and of Baden-Württemberg.