In Sweden today Heraldry is used primarily by Royalty but is also extensively used by corporations and government offices. In order to become legally registered and protected under Swedish law, an official coat of arms must first be registered with the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV), and is subject to approval by the National Herald (Statsheraldiker) and the bureaucratic Heraldic Board of the National Archives of Sweden. Heraldic arms of common citizens (burgher arms), however, are less strictly controlled. These are recognized by inclusion in the annually published Scandinavian Roll of Arms. Swedish heraldry has a number of characteristics that distinguish the Swedish style from heraldry in other European countries.Common features of Swedish heraldry are similar to those of...
The last person to receive a charter of nobility was the explorer Sven Hedin who received his in 1902, more than a hundred years ago. And this will most likely be the last Swede ever. In 1974 the new constitution proclaimed that no person can be granted nobility nor receive the orders of the state. The house of nobility lost their last privileges and political influences in 2003 and is today considered an exclusive society for nobles. As was stated in the previous post the first known heraldic achievements in Sweden is dated 1219 and depicts the arms of the two brothers Sigtrygg and Lars Bengtsson of the Boberg family. The seal shows two identical arms and the Latin text...
The earliest known achievements of arms in Sweden are those of two brothers, Sigtrygg and Lars Bengtsson, from 1219; the earliest example of Swedish civic heraldry is the city arms of Kalmarr, which originated as a city seal in 1247. The seal used extensively in the Middle Ages, was instrumental in spreading heraldry to churches, local governments, and other institutions, and was the forerunner of the coat of arms in medieval Sweden. Armorial seals of noblewomen appeared in the 12th century, burghers and artisans began adopting arms in the 13th century, and even some peasants took arms in the 14th century. The House of Nobles was created in 1626 and the nobility was divided into three classes; The Master classes:...
The format for registering both accession to the nobility and registering of Coats of Arms has been consistent in Sweden since the early 17th century and was based on the system that had prevailed in the middle ages in its general principles. There is no evidence of Coats of Arms being granted to non-nobles in Sweden, except in the case of the Knights of the Order of Seraphim. However, since their knighthood made them of noble rank, although not hereditary nobles, the granting of Coats of Arms in such cases rather than being an exception was a confirmation of the rule. The Knights were unable to pass their Arms to their descendants. Not only does this make it clear that...
Sweden, Coats of Arms of each province above, is one of the European countries where an heraldic administration has been maintained , side by side with a democratic system of monarchical government. In Sweden heraldry was, until the mid 20th century, under the Riksheraldiker or King of Arms. The chief heraldic official is now known as the Statsheraldiker. The Riksheraldiker of Sweden registered the Coats of Arms for persons who were being made Barons, Counts or other nobles and the Coats of Arms so registered were incorporated in the patents issued by the Crown. The granting of arms and entry into the nobility were thus synchronized. In Sweden, as in England, Coats of Arms of burghers or citizens were unknown...
