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The emblem of the Canton Basel-Stadt and the City of Basel
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The "Baselstab" is a stylised replica of a bishop's crook. By the end of the 14th century the emblem in its present form with crook, knob and three tips had been established.
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Why, amongst the numerous bishop towns only just the Basel bishop used the crook as the town's emblem, is not known. An assumption is that this was a relic, namely the crook of the Saint Germanus, who founded the monastery Moutier-Grandval in the 7th century and who suffered martyrdom.
Around 1100 the Baslerstab was first depicted as emblem on the coins issued by the bishops of Basel. By the end of the 14th century the emblem in its present form with crook, knob and three tips had been established, as clearly shown by the seal of the bishop's mayor tribunal on a document dated 1384. It is rather probable, that the division into the three tips is due to a heraldic stylisation of the tip let into the foot of the crook and the two corners of the foot end. When the city acquired the mayor tribunal in 1385 by pledge, the Baselstab got transferred along with it. Already back then the town's Baslerstab was black in order to differentiate it from the red one of the bishops.
In 1512 Pope Julius II. rewarded the federal towns for their assistance during his war over lombardic towns (fighting the French influence in Northern Italy). He upgraded their field signs with religious images full of artful embroidery. Basel was awarded the proclamation. Additionally they got the privilege, to use the golden Baslerstab in their emblem. Probably due to reformation in 1529 Basel returned to the use of the black, plain Baselstab.
On the town's emblem the crook is directed heraldicly to the right, whereas the position on the emblem was not bound to follow any rules. During its long history throughout several centuries, the Baselstab has been used in each manner and in most different stiles possible.
Since the 15th century, the emblem holder has been a mythical creature: the Basilisk. It has the shape of a rooster with an eagle's beacon, dragon wings and a lizard's tail.
Copy rights of the Baselstab
The Baselstab as official emblem of the Canton of Basel-Stadt is protected by copy rights and must not be used for any commercial purposes.
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