The Eagle in Heraldry

The eagle is an especially important part of heraldry. It can be used as the charger (centrepiece) of a shield or simply as decoration. The eagle has been used to represent many different countries and empires since the Achaemenid Empire in 550 BC. However, in history, the eagle is most known for its role representing the roman empire.

In the late medieval period, the eagle began to be used in European heraldry although it was still very linked to the roman empire. Although the eagle was used all over Europe, it was most common in Germany, and it soon became a sign of status and wealth. Between the 12th and the 16th centuries the shape and position of the eagle varied greatly until it was quite different from the original roman symbol.

In the 19th century, Napoleon used the eagle to represent his empire. He would go into battle with a bronze eagle on the top of a pole, calling it the imperial eagle. After Napoleon’s demise, Louis XVIII ordered all these bronze eagles to be destroyed. Napoleon also used imperial eagles in the heraldry of the first empire as did his nephew in the second empire.

On the 20 th of June 1782, the bald eagle was officially declared the national bird of the
United States, and it is used on the great seal. The eagle is used on flags and seals for
the government of the United States. On the crest itself the eagle can be in various positions. For example, the eagle can have one, two or even their heads. The position of the eagles’ wings also varied as they could be spread out wide, touching at the back, as if getting ready to fly or even tucked in by the eagles’ side.