DENMARK NATIONAL ARMS Denmark is a nation of 5 million people in Northern Europe. Denmark is a very old European monarchy and its rulers have, at various times, ruled over extensive empires including not only the Scandinavian Peninsula but also England. The present Royal House of Denmark descends from the ducal House of Oldenburg which came to the Danish throne in 1448. The lion coat of Denmark is found as early as the 12th century and is among the oldest Coats of Arms anywhere, but the complete armorial achievement is the product of historical development.; it virtually embodies the country’s history among its many quarterings which include Denamrk, Schleswig, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Gothland, and Vandalia; the quarters are...
GREAT SEAL OF THE USA Once the concept of sovereignty expressed in Coats of Arms had become accepted in other parts of the world it was only natural that as countries, which had been colonies, attained independence they should continue the tradition. Of course, not all Arms adopted followed traditional patterns but the intention was clear. On July 4th 1776 the British Colonies in the southern part of North America formally declared their independence. After long and fruitless discussion, the Continental Congress, on June 20th 1782 approved the design for what was to be the Great Seal of the United States of America. This was the work of many hands, but the design on the reverse of the Seal was...
SWITZERLAND NATIONAL COAT OF ARMS . Switzerland has a very simple National Coat of Arms consisting of a white cross on a red field, this does not mean that it has a brief history however. Legend has it that in the most remote times red was the national color of the first Scandinavian colonists who came to inhabit the high Alpine valleys where Switzerland is today situated. Their banners and clothes were in the color red. In the most ancient times Swiss warriors, on their clothes and flags, carried the white cross since they regarded the freeing of their native land as crusade in itself. The Swiss Arms are mentioned as early as 1339 with reference to the Swiss forces...
KING ALFONSO XIII In most cases, after the medieval period, it can be seen that even in the face of the most violent upheavals there is a deep-rooted desire to maintain some degree of continuity in the Armorial display of the State. There is also a desire to indicate the full extent of that state and to show this a sovereign may include quarterings for all those States which he claims to represent. Quarterings may also be introduced for reasons connected solely with his House. We have already observed the practice adopted by some sovereigns of placing the Arms of their house on a smaller shield ( an escutcheon ) upon the Arms of their State. A glance at the...
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...
