Württembergia (National Allegory)

This article deals with the symbolic figure of Württemberg and its representation in various artistic directions.
For further meanings see Württembergia (disambiguation) .

The Württembergia is an allegorical figure and symbolizes the state of Württemberg , whose neo-Latin name corresponds to its name. In addition to the role of a patron saint , she is also assigned the role of genius loci . Together with many other national allegories, it has an ancient model in Pallas Athene .

Artistic adaptation

… In the painting
The cover picture is a section of the ceiling painting that the painter Hans von Kolb created in the domed hall of the König-Karls- Bad in Bad Wildbad . The Württembergia floats on a cloud above a baroque balustrade . In her left hand she holds a chalice with a snake as a symbol of the renewal of life and health. The cornucopia on her right is an indication of her empire's prosperity. A guardian angel behind it holds the Württemberg state coat of arms . Putti with garlands of flowers underline the spectacle.

... to illustrate maps.

Fig. 1: Text cartouche
on a map from 1651

Fig. 2: Medallion
on a map from 1710

Fig. 3: Title cartouche of
a map from 1720

Fig. 4: Title cartouche of
a map from 1740

For the design of maps, especially as a coat of arms holder for legends , cartouches and medallions , the depiction of Württembergia was a popular motif for various cartographers for a long time, not least because the Württemberg court was usually the client from the middle of the 16th century . After Saxony and Bavaria , Württemberg was the third state in the empire at that time , in which the government systematically commissioned cartographers to map the state.

The Baden-Württemberg State Archives suspect the female figure (Fig. 1) to be Irene , the goddess of peace , but cornucopia, ears of corn and laurel are also attributes of Württembergia . Their personification could possibly be older than that of Helvetia , which was expressly created in 1672 as the embodiment of Switzerland and the unity of the Confederation. A map from 1710 (Fig. 2) makes use of similar figures that flank the medallion of Duke Eberhard Ludwigs . The closeness of the female figure to the land is clearly underlined by the heraldic animal of Württemberg . Finally, the third example (Fig. 3) from 1720 leaves no doubt about the figure. The attributes of the wall crown , scepter and bundle of lictors correspond to the reproduction on the gold coin from 1841 in the next section.

In sculpture as a sculpture

The picture on the left shows a detail of the former Karl Olga monument in Stuttgart . The sculpture by the sculptor Ernst Curfeß represents the Württembergia , which donates wreaths for the royal couple Karl and Olga . The busts of both monarchs were shown on a plaque underneath. The monument was considered to be one of the most important in the upper grounds of the Botanical Garden in Wilhelma and was destroyed in air raids during World War II.

... and
the back of a gulden from 1841 is shown as a relief on the right . The coin was minted on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the reign of Wilhelm I , King of Württemberg (1816–1864).

The Württembergia is shown seated. She wears a wall crown, scepter and coat of arms of the state of Württemberg. Two putti pay homage to her with a cornucopia and a bundle of lictors . Parallel to this coinage there was also an edition in silver.

Poetic processing
In the patriotic festival "Germanias Erwachen" by Otto Trinkaus from 1895, Württembergia, together with her sisters Borussia , Oldenburgia , Bavaria , Saxonia and Badenia, sends the sons of the fatherland into the battlefield to defeat the stolen Alsatia ( Alsace ) and Lotharingia ( Lorraine ) to free and to rush to the aid of the threatened Germania .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Bernd Martin Rohde, map prints before 1850 ( Memento of the original from September 16, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (Diploma thesis) 
2. ↑ Map of Ulm's share in the Helfenstein reign (Baden-Württemberg State Archives)
3. ↑ Esther-Beatrice Christiane von Bruchhausen, The character in the costume ball, p. 93 (dissertation, PDF 1.21 MB)