Saxon Steed

The Saxon Steed (German: Sachsenross, Niedersachsenross, Welfenross, Westfalenpferd; Dutch: Twentse Ros / Saksische ros/paard; English: White Horse of Kent: Low Saxon: Witte Peerd) is a favorite heraldic motif of the Saxons.

The Saxon Steed originated in the tribal Duchy of Saxony. It is said that it originates from the black (heathen) and white (Christian) horse the Saxon leader Widukind rode on, or Odin's horse Sleipnir. There is also a very common roof-sign on (farm)houses with 2 horseheads which can refer to Hengist and Horsa, the quasi-mythical progenitors of the English nation who led the Anglo-Saxon migration to southern Britain in the 5th Century AD. It was later adopted by the House of Welf, whose original symbol was a golden lion on red ground. It has also been used in several provinces in Westphalia (therefore, it is also called Westfalenross, meaning "Westphalian steed", or Welfenross, meaning "Welf steed"). After this, it became the heraldic animal of the Kingdom of Hanover (since 1866 the Prussian Province of Hanover), of the Prussian Province of Westphalia and since 1922 of the Free State of Brunswick. This tradition continues in two modern federal States of Germany: Lower Saxony and North-Rhine Westphalia.

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