Brasov’s armoury

Even before the German’s establishment in Transylvania, the Hungarian King Solomon went to war against the savage Cumanians, and succeeded in throwing them away to the border territories. However, the enemies surrounded here The King and his warriors and put them in great danger. From a safe hiding-place, the Cumanians shot many arrows towards the royal army which was growing weaker and smaller. The arrows were hissing mostly around the king, for the crown that he had on the helmet was showing the enemies who he was. When the king noticed this, took the crown from the helmet and put it, while riding, on a tree trunk. Now, the enemies were no longer able to recognise him, so they imagined they’ve killed him. Therefore, they felt inspirited and advanced in force.

The royal army had to withdraw, but the pagans didn’t recognize the runaway king and believed he was dead; otherwise they would have killed him certainly.

This is how King Solomon saved his life by sacrificing his crown. But the royal crown remained on that tree trunk, unnoticed for many, many years, until the Saxons found it.

Between the peak and Tampa Saddle the Teutonic Knights erected Brasovia citadel. The Saxons settled a community and built the city hall on the very sport the crown has been found. In honour of the crown, they called the town Kronstadt (The Crown Burg). All the urban buildings, the flags, the shields etc have been decorated with the blazon depicting the crown or the crown on the tree trunk and the tree roots.

Later, the historians tried to describe the signification of the blazon:

The roots would represent the 13 rural Saxon communities of Tara Barsei, which inhabitants are like the roots: they labor the land under the surface in order the get rich harvests they sell after in the city. Just like the roots not only sustain the tree trunk but they also consolidate it, to make it able to stand up tempests, so the German communities protect the town and keep it safe. Just like the tree’s roots pass unnoticed, so does the silent work of the peasants.

The solid trunk symbolizes the town: the crusty hard bark is like the town’s walls and bastions.

The crown is like the king. On the trunk, the crown can stay safely, just like the king can count on the support and the loyalty of the town and of the Saxons.