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National Arms, part 7, Sweden

SWEDEN NATIONAL COAT OF ARMS The Swedish people renounced their allegiance to King Erik of Pomerania in 1436, as a result a new State Seal was required. The Seal decided upon depicted the patron saint of Sweden, St. Erik, wearing body armor with an open crown on his head; his left hand supports a shield charged with three crowns arranged two above one.The motto around the Seal reads Sanctus Ericus svevorum gothorum rex Sigillum Regnier Svecia “ Eric the Saint, Swedes and Geats King Svea Reich sea “, and this makes it very clear that these are the Arms of Sweden only. They have finally been accepted to represent the country. In 1446 King Karl Knutsson Bonde ( image left...

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National Arms, part 6

Up until the end of the 13th century the arms used by the Swedish rulers, those of Knutt the Tall and the Folkunga dynasty were of Swedish origin and were family Coat of Arms converted through regal and official use into the Arms of the State. A different situation arose in 1363 when Duke Albrecht I of Mecklenburg ( left with his son ), who had married a sister of Magnus Eriksson, attacked his brother in law and the next year secured the proclamation of his own son as King of Sweden. The choice of what Arms to bear as king of Sweden was one fraught with difficulty. Although he had a claim on the Folkunga Arms through his mother,...

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National Arms, part 5

COAT OF ARMS OF THE PRINCIPALITIES OF EUROPE  Arms of the United Kingdom admirably illustrates the way in which National Arms can reflect territorial representation in addition to showing the effects of changes both in dynasty and regime. The Royal Arms of Sweden illustrate the subject in an even clearer light. Sweden has had more changes in dynasty than most and the stages are clearly indicated in its Arms.The seal of King Erik Knutsson ( 1208 – 16) presents heraldic decoration in the form of two crowned leopards facing each other, but are probably not intended as real heraldic charges; no arms are known for him or for his successor John Sverkersson, who was succeeded in 1222 by the six...

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