BRANDENBURG
- Jan 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 22
Brandenburg is located in the north-east of the country and seems to embrace and protect the capital Berlin and the outrageous Potsdam.
BRANDENBURG: ICONIC LANDMARKS
Landscapes of lakes and forests create a sense of space around the capital.
Brandenburg is located in the northeast of the country, housing the German capital, Berlin, at its heart.
The region is known not only for its lakes and forests, ideal for outdoor recreation, but also for its many historic castles and palaces — the capital region. The crown jewel is the former Berlin suburb of Potsdam, with its sumptuous palace and park complexes and fountains. Most famous of them is named Sanssouci meaning "no worries" in French.
For those seeking the exotic, a visit to the ancient monastery in Zauch, founded and where the first Count of Brandenburg is buried, is recommended. Among other relics, the monastery has the resonant name of Lenin. Not buried.
Not far from Berlin is the Spreewald nature reserve, crisscrossed by so many canals that it is nicknamed the "Green Venice." In some ways it’s even better – there are no noisy tourists or cheeky pigeons around, only forest, endless meadows and idyllic landscapes.
BRANDENBURG: COAT OF ARMS' HISTORY
The red eagle commemorates the Margraves of Brandenburg and their influence in the region.
The history of Brandenburg begins not with borders, but with a figure. Or rather, with a bird. The eagle of the Brandenburg March first asserts itself confidently around 1170, appearing on the seal and statuette of Count Otto I of the Ascanian line.
This family, originating from the eastern Harz highlands, proved remarkably prolific: its lines spread across German lands, but it was Otto who became the founder of the Brandenburg branch. In an era when power still had to be visually demonstrated, the eagle proved an ideal argument.
The symbol was not adopted by chance. The margraves acted as imperial officials and adopted the black imperial eagle as a sign of their connection to the highest authority. But the Middle Ages were a time of rapid political maneuvering: one day you were the emperor's representative, the next, a virtually independent ruler. The eagle was retained, but repainted, its black plumage becoming red — a subtle yet expressive gesture. Independence expressed through color.
There's also a more prosaic theory: supposedly, the eagle is connected to the coat of arms of the Ascanian ancestral castle, lost in the Austrian mountains. Here, the attentive reader inevitably recalls the Tyrolean eagle. The birds are indeed suspiciously similar — not twins, but clearly related. However, Tyrolean heraldists consider the idea of their eagle's "northern origin" untenable. The debate even reached the political level: the former Prime Minister of Brandenburg discussed the issue with the head of the Tyrolean state government, to no avail. Eagles, as it turns out, don't like to share their lineage.
By the 14th century, the red eagle had already become firmly established in visual culture. In one well-known medieval book, it appears in a miniature with Count Otto IV playing chess. The eagle here lacks the regalia of power, merely an attentive witness. All the additional attributes — the Elector's hat, sword, scepter, and breastplate with the Elector's scepter — would appear later. Then, the eagle would become not just a symbol of power, but also of high status.
The "Elector's scepter" on the eagle's chest recalled the title of prince-elector, the holder of the deciding vote in the election of the emperor. For Brandenburg, this wasn't just an honor, but a matter of principle: among the seven electors, its vote carried the most weight, and the symbolism underscored this confidence.
After 1945, the eagle's history came to an abrupt end. As part of the GDR, it was deemed too "provocative" and was replaced by a new coat of arms: an oak tree, a rising sun, and the year "1945" — symbolizing optimism, anti-fascism, and faith in a new beginning. A small historical symbol, the flag of the city of Brandenburg, was left in the corner as a polite nod to the past. Then, after administrative reform, the state was abolished altogether, and the coat of arms disappeared.
It was only after German reunification, in 1990, that the red eagle returned. But it was different: without crowns, swords, scepters, and batons. Only the bird remained — strong, austere, and surprisingly modern. A reminder that true symbolism doesn't become weighty over time, but rather becomes purer.
BRANDENBURG: FUN FACTS
Of the futility of attempts at whitewashing and industrialization as an end in itself.
In 2013, a new state parliament building was built in Potsdam — and almost immediately a dispute arose that had nothing to do with party squabbles and budgets. The eagle became the stumbling block. Architect Peter Kulka proposed a white Brandenburg eagle for the plenary hall — minimalist, almost disappearing against the white walls. According to the architect, it was to be a symbol of peace, distance from a warlike history, and a new, restrained identity.
But the residents of Brandenburg unexpectedly proved far more sensitive to heraldry than expected. Tens of thousands of people signed an online petition with a simple demand: bring back the red eagle. The compromise was almost textbook: the large white eagle was removed to the vestibule, and the small, but "correct" red one was placed on the speaker's podium. Thus, the debate over color unexpectedly became a lesson in identity: symbols can be reinterpreted, but their memory cannot be ignored.
Brandenburg is not only a state, but also a specific city on the Havel River, with a distinct duality. Its coat of arms appeared back in 1715, at the time of the unification of the Old and New Towns. Therefore, the shield here is double: two castles under a common crown, symbolizing the long-awaited unity. The Old Town has two eagles on its towers, one Brandenburg and one Prussian, a subtle hint at its complex political history. The New Town has a knight-margrave with an eagle on its shield.
The colors of the roof tiles on the towers also suggest a connection: green and blue are the colors of the two former cities and the Havel River, which simultaneously divided and connected them. Interestingly, this is one of only two officially approved city coats of arms in Germany with two shields. During the GDR era, the crown and nobility were removed: the coat of arms became industrial — a gate, a river, and smoking chimneys. Four chimneys were depicted, although in reality there were eleven, and they significantly changed the appearance of the city before their demolition in 1994. History always has a way of returning.
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