It is believed that the so-called Marian stars on top of the two side-towers and the cross recalls the fact that Hamburg used to be an archbishopric.

[2] The Greater Coat of Arms shows the castle, the stars and the church in silver on red ground with two lions standing on a compartment.

[4] The colors of version of the lesser arms of 2008 are declared by an act of law of the Senate of Hamburg on 14 May 1752.

admiralty council) was established to oversee the law of sea and the security of shipping, as a port authority.

[1] In 1811, abandoned during the French occupation, the admiralty council was officially disestablished in 1814, and succeeded as a court instance by the Handelsgericht (trade court) and for administrative purposes by the port and shipping deputation (German title: Schifffahrts- und Hafendeputation).