History

In 1011, Rudolf III of Burgundy presented a new castle (neu-châtel) on the lakeshore to his wife Irmengarde. The first counts of Neuchâtel were named shortly afterwards, and in 1214 their domain was officially dubbed a city. For three centuries, the Earldom of Neuchâtel flourished, and in 1530, the people of Neuchâtel accepted the Reformation, and their city and territory were proclaimed to be indivisible from then on. Future rulers were required to seek investiture from the citizens.

With increasing power and prestige, Neuchâtel was raised to the level of a principality at the beginning of the seventeenth century. On the death in 1707 of Mary of Orléans, Duchess of Nemours and Princess of Neuchâtel, the people had to choose her successor from among fifteen claimants. They wanted their new prince first and foremost to be a Protestant, and also to be strong enough to protect their territory but based far enough away to leave them to their own devices. Louis XIV actively promoted the many French pretenders to the title, but the Neuchâtelois people passed them over in favour of Frederick I, King of Prussia, who claimed his entitlement in a rather complicated fashion through the Houses of Orange and Nassau. With the requisite stability assured, Neuchâtel entered its golden age, with commerce and industry (including watchmaking and lace) and banking undergoing steady expansion.

At the turn of the nineteenth century, the King of Prussia was defeated by Napoleon and was forced to give up Neuchâtel in order to keep Hanover. Napoleon’s marshal, Berthier, became Prince of Neuchâtel, building roads and restoring infrastructure, but never actually setting foot in his domain. After the fall of Napoleon, Frederick III of Prussia reasserted his rights by proposing that Neuchâtel be linked with the other Swiss cantons (the better to exert influence over the lot of them). On 12 September 1814, Neuchâtel became the 21st canton, but also remained a Prussian principality. It took a bloodless revolution in the decades following for Neuchâtel to shake off its princely past and declare itself, on 30 April 1848, a republic within the Swiss Confederation.

retrieved from: http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/arc_jurassien/neuchatel.history.html

Rulers of Neuchâtel

The first lords and counts called themselves of Neuchatel.

* Rudolf I., 1125 Herr von Neuenburg (de Novocastro), † wohl 1149 Rudolf I, 1125 M. de Neuchâtel (en Novocastro), probably 1149 †

* Mangold, dessen Bruder, 1143 Herr von Neuenburg (de Novocastro), 1125/43 bezeugt Mangold, whose brother, 1143 M. de Neuchâtel (en Novocastro), 1125/43 testifies

* Ulrich II., Herr von Neuenburg, † 1191/92, Sohn Rudolfs Ulrich II de Neuchâtel, † 1191/92, son of Rudolph

* Rudolf II., Herr von Neuenburg 1157-62/92, † vor 1196, dessen Sohn Rudolf II de Neuchâtel 1157-62/92, † before 1196, his son

Lords of Neuchâtel

Rudolf I

† about 1149

Lord of Neuchâtel (de Novocastro), 1125

Mangold (bro.)

mentioned 1125/43

Lord of Neuchâtel (de Novocastro) 1143

Ulrich II (son of Rudolf)

Lord of Neuchâtel, † 1191/92

Rudolf II (son )

† before 1196

Lord of Neuchâtel 1157-62/92

Berchtold (son)       

Lord of Neuchâtel 1201/60, † 1261

Neuchâtel's franchise charter of 1214, the first act in which we find a seal of Count Bertold, shows a deployed eagle, surrounded by the legend: SIGILLUM BERTOLDI. DE NOVO CASTRO.

Rudolf III (son)

† before 1263

Lord of Neuchâtel 1223/57

* Berchtold, Herr von Neuenburg 1201/60, † 1261, dessen Sohn Berchtold, M. de Neuchâtel 1201/60, † 1261, his son

* Rudolf III., Herr von Neuenburg 1223/57, † vor 1263, dessen Sohn Rudolf III., Mr. von Neuenburg 1223/57, † before 1263, his son

* Ulrich IV., 1264/77 bezeugt, dessen Sohn Ulrich IV, 1264/77 testifies to his son

* Amadeus, 1285 Herr von Neuenburg, † 1288, dessen Bruder Amadeus, 1285 M. de Neuchâtel, † 1288, his brother

* Heinrich, 1279 Herr von Neuenburg, 1273/85 bezeugt, dessen Bruder Heinrich, 1279 M. de Neuchâtel, 1273/85 testifies to his brother

Ulrich IV (son)

mentioned 1264/77

Amadeus (bro.)

† 1288

Lord of Neuchâtel, 1285 

Coat of arms of the Counts of Neuchatel, about 1270.

Painting in the former tower of Erstfelden from the beginning of the 14th c.

Heinrich, (bro.)

mentioned 1273/85

Lord of Neuchâtel 1279

Counts of Neuchâtel

Rudolf IV(son of Amadeus)

Count and Lord of Neuchâtel, 1288 - †1343,

* Rudolf IV., 1288 Herr von Neuenburg als Vasall des Hauses Chalon-Arly, 1296 Graf von Neuenburg, † 1343, Sohn von Amadeus Rudolf IV, 1288 Lord of Neuchatel as a vassal of the House of Chalon-Arly, 1296 Count of Neuchatel, † 1343, son of Amadeus

Poet, said to be Count Rudolf of Neuenburg (1201-1258)

In the Manesse Codex (1330 ca)

Arms: Or, two pales chevronny of seven pieces Gules and Argent

Ludwig (son)

Count and Lord of Neuchâtel, 1343 - † 1373,

* Ludwig, 1343 Graf und Herr von Neuenburg, † 1373, dessen Sohn Ludwig, 1343, Count and Lord of Neuchatel, † 1373, his son

* Isabelle (Elisabeth), 1373 Gräfin und Herrin zu Neuenburg, † 1395; ∞ Rudolf IV. Graf von Neuenburg in Nidau (siehe unten), X 1375 – keine Nachkommen Isabelle (Elizabeth), 1373 Countess and mistress of Neuchâtel, † 1395; ∞ Count Rudolf IV of Neuchatel in Nidau (see below), X 1375 - no children

o Verena, deren Schwester, † 1376/84; ∞ Egen III., Graf von Freiburg, † 1385 Verena, whose sister, 1376/84 †, ∞ Egen III., Count of Freiburg, † 1385

Arms of nuenborch in Armorail Bellenville fol 31r3

Arms: Or, a pale chevronny of seven pieces Gules and Argent

Coat of arms of the counts of Neuchâtel as in the Armorial de Gelre

Brussels, Royal Library Ms 15652-56, fol. 26v.

Arms: Or, a pale Gules, three chevrons Argent.

Crest: A crown and a cup sable and a bunch of grey feathers issuant. 

Lambrequines: Chevronny Gules and Argent.

Detail of the cenotaph of the counts of Neuchâtel

Collegiate church, Neuchatel

In the center, Count Louis, surrounded by his first two wives with whom he had children, then to his left his third wife with whom he had no children. Then his parents who can be seen on the sides. These are statues of recumbent figures that have been put up. We notice this because they have pillows. Then the four characters in armor on each side are the three sons of Count Louis, as well as his son-in-law

Isabelle (Elisabeth),

Countess and lady to Neuchâtel, 1373 - † 1395

∞ Rudolf IV. Count of Neuchâtel in Nidau (see below), 10.1375

no issue

Verena, (sister)

† 1376/84

∞ Eugen III., Count of Freiburg, † 1385

Counts of Neuchâtel to Nidau

Mit der Aufteilung des Hauses Neuenburg in mehrere Zweige kam der Grafentitel an die Linie von Neuenburg-Nidau. The layout of the house of Neuchâtel in several branches of his title came to the line of Neuenburg Nidau.

* Ulrich III., † 1225, Bruder von Rudolf II., Graf von Neuenburg zu Nidau, Ulrich III., † 1225, brother of Rudolf II, Count of Neuenburg to Nidau

* Rudolf I., † 1258, dessen Sohn, Graf von Neuenburg zu Nidau und Erlach, 1255 Landgraf in Burgund Rudolf I, † 1258, his son, Earl of Neuchâtel to Nidau and Erlach, 1255 Landgraf in Burgundy

* Rudolf II., † 1308/09, dessen Sohn, 1265 Graf von Erlach und Herr von Nidau, 1269 Graf von Neuenburg, 1276 Landgraf in Burgund Rudolf II, 1308/09 †, whose son, 1265, Count von Erlach and Lord of Nidau, 1269 Count of Neuchâtel, 1276 Landgraf in Burgundy

* Rudolf III., X 1339, dessen Sohn, 1336 zu Burg Balm und Büren Rudolf III., X 1339, his son, 1336 at Castle Balm and Büren

* Rudolf IV., X 1375, dessen Sohn, Graf von Neuenburg, Herr von Nidau; ∞ Isabelle (Elisabeth), 1373 Gräfin und Herrin zu Neuenburg, † 1395 (siehe oben) – keine Nachkommen Rudolf IV, X 1375, his son, Earl of Neuchatel, Lord of Nidau; ∞ Isabelle (Elizabeth), 1373 Countess and mistress of Neuchâtel, † 1395 (see above) - no children

Ulrich III. (brother of Rudolf II)

Count of Neuchâtel to Nidau † 1225

Rudolf I. (son)       

† 1258

Count of Neuchâtel to Nidau and Erlach, Landgrave in Burgundy 1255

Rudolf II. (son)

† 1308/09

Count of Erlach and Lord of Nidau 1265

Count of Neuchâtel 1269

Landgrave in Burgundy 1276

Rudolf III. (son)

to Burg Balm and Büren 1336 - 10.1339

Amadeus van Neuchâtel (overleden op 3 februari 1288) was van 1263 tot aan zijn dood graaf van Neuchâtel.

madeus was de zoon van graaf Rudolf III van Neuchâtel en diens echtgenote Sibylle,

Rudolf IV. (son)

Count of Neuchâtel, Lord of Nidau 10.1375

∞ Isabelle (Elisabeth), Countess and lady to Neuchâtel, 1373- † 1395

His arms in Neuchâtel Castle (Salle des États) (Photo Alain Michot)

Arms of Nydou in Armorial Bellenville fol 31r2 & 4

Arms: Gules, a pale chevronny of six Argent and Sable

Counts of Neuchâtel and Freiburg im Breisgau

Counts of Neuchâtel and Freiburg im Breisgau

Durch Erbschaft kam die Grafschaft Neuenburg Ende des 14. Jahrhunderts an die Grafen von Freiburg  By inheritance came to Neuchatel County to the late 14th century, Count of Freiburg.

* Konrad IV., † 1424, 1395 Herr zu Neuenburg, 1385 Graf von Freiburg, Sohn von Graf Egen III. Conrad IV, † 1424, 1395 Lord of Neuchâtel, 1385, Count of Freiburg, son of Count Egen III. von Freiburg und Verena von Neuenburg (siehe oben) from Freiburg and Verena von Neuenburg (see above)

* Johann, † 1457, dessen Sohn, Graf von Freiburg und Neuenburg – keine überlebenden Nachkommen John, † 1457, his son, Count of Freiburg and Neuchâtel - no surviving descendants

Konrad IV. (son of Count Egen III. of Freiburg and Verena of Neuchâtel (see above))

† 1424

Count of Freiburg 1385

Lord of Neuchâtel 1395

The only seal of Count Conrad which has been preserved shows a split badge with the arms of Friborg and Neuchâtel, surmounted by a helmet, with a cushion and a sort of ball like crest, and accompanied by two lions which serve as tenants. The arms of Friborg are those of the house of Fürstenberg, former stem of the Counts of Friborg; it is the eagle Gules in a field of gold surrounded by a wavy border of azure. The arms of Neuchâtel are those which Count Louis had fixed; the pal Gules with three silver chevrons, in a field of gold. The legend of the seal bears:

CONRAD CONTE DE FRIBOURG. ET DE NEUFCHASTEL. Tab. II P 18.

Johann (son)

Count of Freiburg and Neuchâtel † 1457

no surviving issue

1798 - Chroniken der Habsburger, der Zähringer und der Stadt Freiburg i. Br. mit Materialsammlung (Band 3: Chronik der Herzöge von Zähringen, der Grafen von Freiburg und Fürstenberg und der Herzöge von Teck); http://dl.ub.uni-freiburg.de/diglit/hs497-3/0118

Count Johann legated the County of Neuchâtel to Margrave Rudolf IV. of Hachberg-Rötteln, the son of his still living cousin (and legal heir) Wilhelm of Hachberg-Rötteln

Counts from the House of Zähringen

Zähringer

Die Grafschaft Neuenburg wurde Mitte des 15. Jahrhunderts an das Haus Baden, einen Seitenzweig der Zähringer, vererbt. The County of Neuchâtel in the mid-15th century to the House of Baden, a side branch of the Zähringer, inherited.

* Rudolf IV. von Baden , † 1487, Markgraf von Rötteln, Herr von Badenweiler, 1444 Graf von Neuenburg Rudolf IV of Baden, † 1487, Margrave of Rötteln, Lord of Badenweiler, 1444 Count of Neuenburg

* Philipp, † 1503,  his son, Count of Neuenburg

* Johanna, † 1543,  his daughter, 1503/12 and 1529/43 sovereign Countess of Neuchatel; ∞

Rudolf IV of Baden

Margrave of Rötteln, Lord of Badenweiler, Count of Neuchâtel

1444 -†1487

G. de Wyss: Sceaux historiques du canton de Neuchâtel. In: Mitteilungen der Antiquarischen Gesellschaft in Zürich, Band (Jahr): 13 (1861), Heft 6, S. 103-120 und Beilagen; hier Tab. II., Fig. 20

Philipp von Hochberg (son)

Count of Neuchâtel  *1454 - † 1503

Johanna, (daughter)

sovereign countess of Neuchâtel 1503/12 and 1529/43 - † 1543

∞ Louis I of Orleans-Longueville

Achievement in Neuchatel Castle

Counts from the House of Orléans-Longueville

Haus Orléans-Longueville [ Bearbeiten ] [Edit] House of Orléans-Longueville

Mit Heirat 1504 erlangte das Haus Orléans-Longueville den Titel des souveränen Grafen von Neuenburg. By 1504, the Marriage House of Orléans-Longueville gained the title of the sovereign Counts of Neuchâtel.

* Louis I. , † 1516, 1504-1513 souveräner Graf von Neuenburg etc., 1515 2. Louis I, † 1516, 1504-1513 sovereign Count of Neuenburg, etc., 1515 2. Herzog von Longueville, 5. Duke of Longueville, 5 Graf von Dunois, Tancarville und Montgomery, 1. Count Dunois, Tancarville and Montgomery, 1 Fürst von Chatel-Allion, Vizegraf von Melun, Abbeville, Montreuil-sur-Mer etc., Bruder von François II. d'Orléans, Graf von Dunois und Tancarville Duke of Chatel-Allion, viscount of Melun, Abbeville, Montreuil-sur-Mer, etc., brother of François II d'Orléans, Count of Dunois and Tancarville

* Claude († 1524), dessen Sohn, 1516-1524 3. Claude († 1524), whose son, 1516-1524 3. Herzog von Longueville 1516, 2. Duke of Longueville, 1516, 2nd souveräner Graf von Neuenburg, 6. sovereign Count of Neuchatel, 6 Graf von Dunois etc. Count Dunois etc.

* Louis II. († 1537), dessen Bruder, 4. Louis II († 1537), whose brother, 4 Herzog von Longueville 1524, 3. Duke of Longueville, 1524, 3rd souveräner Graf von Neuenburg, 7. sovereign Count of Neuchatel, 7 Graf von Dunois etc. Count Dunois etc.

* François III. († 1551), dessen Sohn, 5. François III. († 1551), whose son, 5 Herzog von Longueville 1537, 4. Duke of Longueville, 1537, 4 souveräner Graf von Neuenburg, 8. sovereign Count of Neuchatel, 8 Graf von Dunois etc Count Dunois etc

* Léonor († 1573), dessen Vetter, 6. Léonor († 1573), his cousin, 6 Herzog von Longueville 1551, 5. Duke of Longueville, 1551, 5 souveräner Graf von Neuenburg, 9. sovereign Count of Neuchatel, 9 Graf von Dunois etc Count Dunois etc

* Henri I. († 1595), dessen Sohn, 7. Henri I († 1595), whose son, 7 Herzog von Longueville 1573, 6. Duke of Longueville, 1573, 6 souveräner Graf von Neuenburg, 10. sovereign Count of Neuchâtel, 10 Graf von Dunois Count Dunois

Louis I. (brother of François II. d’Orléans)

†1516

sovereign Count of Neuchâtel etc. 1504-1513

2. Duke of Longueville, 5. Count of Dunois, Tancarville and Montgomery, 1. Prince of Chatel-Allion, Vice-count of Melun, Abbeville, Montreuil-sur-Mer etc., Count of Dunois and Tancarville 1515-1516

Claude (son)

3. Duke of Longueville 1516, 2. sovereign Count of Neuchâtel, 6. Count of Dunois etc. 1516- † 1524

Louis II (brother)

† 1537  

4. Duke of Longueville, 3. sovereign Count of Neuchâtel, 7. Count of Dunois etc.1524

François III. (Le Petit Duc) (son)

30.10.1535 - 22.09.1551

5th duke of Longueville, count of Montgommery, of Tancarville, vicount d'Abberville, count of Neufchâtel, pair de France. 1537

Léonor d'Orléans (cousin)

1540 - 07.08.1573

6th duke of Longueville, prince of  Châtellaillon, marquis de Rothelin, count of Montgommery and Tancarville, vicount  of Abberville, of  Melun, count of Neufchâtel and Valangin

Achievement of Leonore d’Orleans

Neuchatel Castle

Arms: Quarterly: 1&4: Azure, three fleurs de lys Or, 2 &1 a garter and a label of three Argent;  2&3: Quarterly:1&4: Azure, three fleurs de lys Or, 2&1 and a garter Gules; 2&3: Or a lion Sable. And in nombril point: Quarterly 1&4: Or, a bend Gules; 2&3 Or, a pale chevronny of seven pieces Gules and Argent.

Crown: Of five leaves and four pearls

Order: Of St. Michel

Supporters: Two grifffins

Henri I er d'Orléans (son)

1568 - 8 April 1595

Duke of Longueville, 6. sovereign Count of Neuchâtel and Valangin, 10. Count of Dunois, pair de France 1573

Princes of Neuchâtel

Fürsten von Neuenburg [ Bearbeiten ] [Edit] Princes of Neuchâtel

* Henri II. († 1663), dessen Sohn, 8. Henri II († 1663), whose son, 8 Herzog von Longueville 1595, Fürst von Neuenburg, 11. Duke of Longueville, 1595, Prince of Neuchatel, 11 Graf von Dunois Count Dunois

* Jean Louis († 1694), dessen Sohn, 9. Jean Louis († 1694), whose son, 9 Herzog von Longueville 1663-1668, 2. Duke of Longueville, 1663-1668, 2 Fürst von Neuenburg, 12. Prince of Neuchatel, 12 Graf von Dunois Count Dunois

* Charles Paris († 1672), dessen Halbbruder, 10. Charles Paris († 1672), whose half-brother, 10 Herzog von Orléans-Longueville 1668-1672, 3. Duke of Orléans-Longueville, 1668-1672, 3 Fürst von Neuenburg, 13. Prince of Neuchatel, 13 Graf von Dunois Count Dunois

* Jean Louis, 2. Jean Louis, 2 Mal, 1672-1694 Time, 1672-1694

* Marie, † 1707, 4. Marie, † 1707, 4 Fürstin von Neuenburg etc., dessen Schwester Princess of Neuchâtel, etc., whose sister

Henri II d'Orléans (also de Valois-Longueville) (son)

06.04.1595–11.05.1663

prince of France, pair de France, duke of Longueville, of Estouteville and Coulommiers, prince and sovereign of Neuchâtel and Valangin, prince of Châtellaillon, count of Dunois, gouvernor  of Picardie later of Normandie. 1595

Foto: NN internet.

The achievement of Henri II. of Orléans-Longueville in Neuchâtel

Arms : ¼ : 1& 4 Azure, three fleurs de lys Or, 2 and 1, a bend and a label of three Argent (Orleans-Longueville); 2&3: ¼ : 1&4 : Azure, three fleurs de lys Or 2 and 1 a bend Gules (Bourbon); 2&3: Barry Argent and Gules of eight, a lion rampant Sable (Estouteville) ; and an escutcheon ¼ 1&4: Or an bend Gules (Baden); 2&3: Or, a pale Gules, four chevrons Argent.

Crown: A crown of a sovereign prince and pair.

Order : Of St. Michel.

Supporters: Two griffins

Jean Louis Charles d'Orléans-Longueville (son)

12 .01.1646-1694

10th duke of Longueville, prince of Châtellaillon, of Neuchâtel and Valangin, duke of Estouteville, count of Saint-Pol, pair de France.1663-1668

Charles-Paris d'Orléans-Longueville (halfbrother)

29.1.1649-12.6.1672

Duke of Orléans-Longueville, Prince of  Châtellaillon, Neuchâtel and Valangin,

Count of Dunois, duke of Estouteville, count of Saint-Pol, pair de France 1668-1672

Jean Louis

(2nd time) 1672-1694

Marie (sister)

† 17.06.1707

4th princess of Neuchâtel 1694

House of Hohenzollern

After 1707 the title of Prince of Neuchâtel was borne by the Kings of Prussia. In the time of the French Revolution and the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Hohenzollerns were not in the effective possession of the Principality

In 1806 Napoleon gave  the Principality of Neuchâtel and the county of Valangin as an independent principality to Marshal Louis-Alexandre Berthier. Berthier also had the rank of Connétable de France and the title of Prince of Wagram as a reward for his participation of the Battle of Wagram (July 6, 1809).

Again the Hohhenzollerns bore the title from 1815 until the revolution of 1848 when Neuchâtel became an independent Republic within the Swiss Confederation. Only in 1857 the king abandoned his claims on Neuchatel without, however, abandoning the title.

Louis-Alexandre Berthier

1753-1815

Prince of Neuchâtel  30.03.1806-1814

1804 (May): Marshal of the Empire

1804 (July) Grand veneur

1805 (February) : Grand-aigle and chief of the 1st cohort of the     Légion d'honneur

1805 (August): major général of the Grande Armée

1806 (March): prince of Neuchâtel and Valangin (Suisse)

1807 (August): Vice-connétable

1809 (August): prince of Wagram

The arms of Berthier as a Prince of Neuchâtel were:

Arms: Or, a pale Gules charged with three chevrons Argent; and a chief Azure, an eagle sejant on a thanderbolt Or.

Order: Of the Grand Aigle of the Legion d’Honneur and two marshal’s batons in saltire.

Mantling: Azure, semée with bees Or, fringed Or, lined ermine and crowned with a french princely crown.

On his seal for the principality the achievement was surrounded by the legend: SCEAU DE LA PRINCIPAUTÉ DE NEUCHÂTEL.

After he was made a duke of Wagram his achievement was augmented with a quarter for this title:

Arms: Parted per pale, the first Or, an arm embowed with a shield Sable, charged with the letter ‘W’, Or and a sword Sable in its hand, and a chief Auree strewn with bees Or, for Berthier;  the second Or, a pale Gules charged with three chevrons Argent; and a chief Azure, an eagle sejant on a thunderbolt Or.

Order: The collar of the Grand Aigle of the Légion d’Honneur.

Supporters: Two marshal’s batons in saltire for his rank as marshal of France, and two hands issuing from a cloud holding a sword upright for his function as Connétable de France.

Mantling: Azure, semée with bees Or, fringed Or, lined ermine and crowned with a french princely crown.

After the fall of the Empire and his loss of the Principality of Neuchâtel the quarter for this principality was removed:

Foto H.d.V.

Frederick III of Prussia

Frederick William IV

1814-1840

1840-1848

The Hohenzollern Arms for Neuchâtel, 1814-1848

City of Neuchatel

This seal bears the Neuchâtel shield with the legend: SIGILLUM JUDICII. COMIT. NOVI. CASTRI. It seems to date from the fourteenth century. A seal of the same scope and character was that of the Neuchâtel Contracts. Count Louis had each of the country's four springs or banners, Neuchâtel, Landeron, Boudry and Vautravers, deposited in a particular seal to seal the sentences of justice and public acts. He had his family coat of arms put there, placed on the chest of a spread eagle, symbol of the empire. According to their destination, these seals were called the seals of contracts (contracts) and we even placed this name in full, usage which is hardly found elsewhere. For, except for this one exception known to us, the legend of each seal contains, regularly, the name or title of the person or authority to whom it belongs, but not the indication of the purpose for which it serves. We know two of these seals of the contracts of Neuchâtel.

The first, dating from the second half of the fourteenth or even the fifteenth century, shows in its ornaments all the elegance of this era of art, and bears the legend SIGILLUM VILLE NOVI CASTRI AD CONTRACTUS..

The other seal, dated 1593, is much lower than the first for the elegance of the design and the execution of the engraving, and entitled SCEL DES CONTRACTS DE LA VILLE DE NEUFCHASTEL.

1397

1517

A third seal belongs to the count's private officer, the mayor of Neuchâtel; it is the seal of the majority or villi cat ure of Neuchâtel. It is similar to that of contracts from which it differs only in legend. In the fourteenth and fifteenth century it has more elegant forms than in the sixteenth; but it preserved until 1517, at least, the Latin legend: SIGILLUM. VILLICATURE.NOVI CASTRI. The seals from the year 1397 and 1517.

1550

1616

Finally, the city itself also had its own seal. It has the same design as that of the town hall, surrounded by the words: SIGILLUM NOVI. CASTRI (in 1550) or SIGILLUM URBIS. NEOCOMENSIS (in 1616).

Arms of the city an its ruler Henri II

Griffin fountain, Old town, Neuchatel

A shield dated 1664 of the eagle ensigned Neuchatel, supported by a griffin

The same legend SIGILLUM URBIS. NEOCOMENSIS is repeated on a 18th century seal in the style of the time of Louis XV.

Achievement ~1725

By Vincent Callet-Molin

Arms: Or, an eagle Sable langued an clawed Gules, on its breast an escutcheon Or, a pale chevronny of seven pieces Gules and Argent

Crown: A crown of five leaves

Supporters: On the dexter a lion with a banner Neuchatel, in its sinister claw an or; on the sinister a lion with a sword in its dexter.

République et Canton de Neuchâtel

30.04.1848 - present

Kanton Neuenburg#Geschichte → Canton of Neuchâtel # History

The present coat of arms of the Kanton of Neuchâtel is:

Arms: Tierced per pale Vert, Argent and Gules, in sinister chief a cross Argent.

                               Adopted 11.04.1848

(See illustration at the head of this article)

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