Mark (commune)

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Mark Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in southwest Sweden.The municipal seat is located in the center of Kinna town.The municipality was created through the Municipal Reform Act of 1971 by the amalgamation of eight smaller municipal entities.Coat of armsThe coat of arms was created and granted with the municipality in 1974. The colours of Gold and Black on the shield represent power and solidity.The grain represents the history of agriculture in the region.The circles symbolise four cannonballs, representing the wars fought between Denmark and Sweden in the greater Mark region.The weaver's shuttle-tool represents the historical tradition of textile workmanship in the region, which the region is famous for nationwide.HistoryMedieval timesThe word Mark comes from an old documented district called Mark Härad that existed in the southern parts of the region sometime during the 13th century.The word Mark is believed to be an old Swedish name for "border" or "edge". During the medieval times the district of Mark Härad (now Mark municipality) was situated right at the border region between the Kingdom of Denmark and Kingdom of Sweden.Several wars were fought in the region which during medieval times, and it is not uncommon that farmers accidentally unearth old remains and weapons when plowing the fields.The fields close to Öresten Fortress have been the place for most of the relic findings. Öresten Fortress was originally built by the Danes, and the first documented nobleman to rule and inhabit the fortress was Tyge Puder (1364-1384/86). The fortress was conquered by the Swedish army during the battle of Öresten in 1470 when the Danish king Kristian the First lost the battle against Sten Sture the Oldest.