St. Sebastiani Crossbowmen Society in 1250

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The St. Sebastiani Armbrustschützen-Gesellschaft anno 1250 eV is a shooting club in Herzogenrath and one of the oldest shooting clubs in Europe.

The history

The company emerged in 1250 from a vigilante group that was necessary to protect the city at the beginning of the 13th century. The mercenaries who were assigned to protect the city could no longer fulfill this task. A member of the riflemen achieved special fame in 1283 when he fatally injured the leader of the opposing troops, the knight Winnemar von Gijmnich, with a skillful crossbow shot during the great siege of the city.

The colors of the riflemen, as well as the city of Herzogenrath, are the Spanish colors red and yellow.

The rifle suit

In contrast to the mostly green uniforms common to many rifle brotherhoods, the riflemen wear a Stresemann. This consists of a black jacket with black and gray striped pants. You also wear a top hat. The marksman's badge, a yellow-red ribbon with an attached silver crossbow, serves as a distinguishing mark.

In the preservation of tradition and participation in social, sporting and cultural life in the city of Herzogenrath, society is still of particular importance today.

Bird shooting

Shooting has been taking place on the Fuchsberg since 1837.

The modalities of the bird shot on the weekend of the 1st Sunday in July of each year are probably unique. All active shooters shoot their crossbows at the same time at a wooden bird that is screwed onto a shooting pole on a hill. Within a quarter of an hour, each shooter has the opportunity to shoot up to 23 arrows at the same time.

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