Post by Hans-Jürgen von Knappe on Aug 24, 2006 21:27:01 GMT -6
The German’s Nobility were perhaps more conscious of their lineage than any of their class elsewhere in Europe, often set aside a room in their mansion or castle an Armorial Hall or “Wappensaal”. In this Hall, the shields are in a frieze around the walls in order of precedence, with the local rulers given prime position.
In Austria, a popular theme is the family tree of the Imperial family, often with figures depicting individual members accompanied by their shield of arms. Sometimes the scenes depicted were all too graphic, as in “Tratzberg” Castle in the Tyrol. Here, a frieze shows Albrecht of Habsburg, the King of the Romans, being stabbed to death in 1308 by his nephew Johann "the Patricide". The evil nature of the deed is expressed by showing Erzherzog Johann accompanied by a snake.
The House of Habsburg themselves were keen to claim descent through heraldry, not only from the former ruling dynasty of Austria, the House of Babenburg, but also from legendary rulers of Austria. This theme is played out in its fullest form on the front of the Cathedral Church of St. George, in the Wiener “Neustadt”, where the Coronation of Kaiser Friedrich III was commemorated in 1453 through a heraldic frieze, representing a fantastical genealogical tree of the House of Austria through 95 Lordships.
The theme of maintaining the status quo through heraldry is awesomely expressed in the Provincial Council House of Carinthia in Klagenfurt, where each noble family, abbey and town is represented through a baroque cartouche of arms. Not content with one “Wappensaal”, the heraldic scheme, which includes nearly 700 shields in all, also finds its way into a second, smaller chamber.
[/img]
[/center]