Commemorative stamp series - Germany / German Democratic Republic 1989 - 20 Pfennig

Historical monuments - Rolande The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the German Democratic Republic publishes four multicolored special postage stamps "Historical monuments - Rolande". Special cancellations from November 7, 1989 to January 6, 1990 Historic Monuments The term "Rolande" refers to monumental imagery from the 14th century to the beginning of the 18th century in the form of a knight, which was erected on the market square or in the immediate vicinity of the Town Hall as a legal symbol. The installation of the initially wooden, later mostly replaced in stone Roland figurines caused mostly the municipal council. The Roland as an equestrian statue - characterized by the armor in the style of the time, by the drawn sword as a power or legal symbol and by other attributes - symbolized mainly the legal conception of the city; therefore he was a sign of diverse, even regionally different rights. The origin of the "Roland" is still not clear. The Bremen-based Roland, whose significance as the symbol of "city law" has even been proven, also achieved a great succession to the image as an artistically valuable monument - in contrast to the other, simpler Roland figures. A total of 41 Rolande were proven or handed down; 19 of them were completely preserved. In GDR territory there are 14 sculptures: Belgern, Kr. Torgau; Brandenburg; Book / Altmark; Halberstadt; Halle / Saale; haldensleben; Neustadt / resin; Nordhausen; Potzlow. Kr. Prenzlau; Perleberg; Quedlinburg; Questenberg, Kr. Sangerhausen; Stendal; Zerbst. The concentration of these historical monuments on the northern German region (on episcopal and Brandenburg cities) is u. a. brought in connection with the power politics of the Luxembourg German emperors. Especially at the time of Charles IV. "Rolande" as Paladin symbols were associated with the then reviving legend of Charles, in the Emperor Karl d. Gr. saw the righteous knight. The name "Roland" refers to the historical figure of the Paladin Charles d. Gr., Who fell in 778 in the battle of RoncevalIes. The earliest evidence for a Roland dates back to 1340; The majority of the Roland figurines created in the 14th and 15th centuries must also be considered symbolic figures in the context of the cities' attachment to the imperial central authority over the territorial ruler. 20 Pfennig value: Roland in book / Altmark, Kr. Tangerhütte, district Magdeburg Sandstone figure, built in 1611 with the (now destroyed) town hall, 3.30 m high. Head renewed in 1693, the figure then transferred to the former Lehnschulzenamt; Restored in 1960. Standing figure - type of knight in the plate harness with his sword drawn in his right hand, the shield with eagle on his left leg placed on the ground; Sash on the left shoulder; Sponge wig and mustache; wooden sword. On the thigh and on the pedestal the names of councilors.