The history of the coat of arms of Sweden originates from the coat of armsKing Eric of Sweden III, who can be considered the first official symbol of the country. In 1224, three leopards first appeared on it, which were located one above the other, which was similar to the Danish coat of arms. After the death (in 1249) of King Eric there were no direct heirs. Jarl Birger from the noble family of the Volkunds, as the closest assistant to the late ruler, achieved the throne for his young son Valdemar, who is the female nephew of Eric.
Golden Lion
Jarl Binger, who ruled Sweden as a guardianson until 1266, in his family coat of arms had an image of a golden lion on an azure background over the top of three left silver bands. After the transition of full power to the adult Valdemar, the new king used the coat of arms of Uncle Eric III, on which there were three lions, as his coat of arms. In 1225, Valdemar’s brother Margus Birger overthrew him from the throne, receiving the nickname Defender of the Peasants. He, unlike his predecessor, decided to retain the adherence to the clan heraldry of the Folkung clan, but crowned lions appeared on the new coat of arms.
Three crowns
Three golden crowns - the most famous in the whole world.a feature by which they recognize the coat of arms of Sweden. What does this heraldic element mean and what is its purpose? Disputes about this do not cease to this day, and the hypotheses are put forward very different. Interestingly, the crowns are on the oldest known royal seal. Three crowns were introduced by King Albert of Mecklenburg (1363-1389) as one of the main elements of the coat of arms. One of the versions links the appearance of these details on the arms with the most widespread at that time cult of the Three Kings - the Magi, who brought gifts to the baby Christ. This cult gained strength and widespread after Frederick Barbarossa in 1164 transferred the relics of the Magi from Milan to Cologne. The second version refers three crowns to the symbol of the Holy Trinity.
Есть версии, трактующие короны как обычный heraldic element. Some researchers claim that they look like a crown of the Mecklenburg family coat of arms, reinforced by a sacred number, or they are signs of ownership of Mecklenburg, Finland and Sweden. Another version says that crowns are none other than the arms of the legendary King Arthur, embodying all the moral ideals of sacred knighthood, or simply one of the arms of the kings of Ancient Ireland.
The national emblem of Sweden is used asThe main symbol of the state. In certain cases, a large state emblem is required when holding official events in parliament and government, the army and foreign Swedish diplomatic missions.
Big coat of arms
Большой государственный герб Швеции может used as the basis of personal emblems by members of the royal family. All changes and additions concerning the main symbol of the country are approved only by the head of state.
The large state emblem is an azure-colored shield divided into four parts by a gold cross with the emblem of the royal house in the middle.
On the first and fourth parts of the shield are threeopen gold crowns (two on top and one on bottom). The second and fourth parts of the shield include six left silver and azure bevels and a crowned golden lion in a scarlet environment.
The central shield is cut into four parts.In the first, there is the emblem of the house of Vaz: two right silver and azure bevels and a golden sheaf on a scarlet field. The second part of the shield shows the coat of arms of the Bernadotte family: a silver three-arch suspension bridge with two towers, on which is an eagle holding golden peruns in its paws, and from above is the constellation Ursa Major.
Щит держат в лапах два коронованных стерегущих golden lion with scarlet weapon and forked tails. Lions stand on a gold base. At the top of the shield is the royal crown, surrounded by signs of the knightly order of the Seraphim.
The large Swedish coat of arms uses a purple mantle on an ermine with gold tassels, cords and fringe as a background.
There is a simplified version of the large coat of arms, on which there are no orders, lions, shield holders, a mantle and a base.
Small coat of arms
Three open golden crowns without royalThe crown and shield is a simplified small coat of arms of Sweden. The photo of the hockey team of this country, where players have such a small coat of arms on their sweaters, made the three crowns one of the most recognizable world symbols.
Swedish organizations and companies wishing to use elements of the state emblem in their symbolism are required to obtain special permission from the State Heraldic Council.
