The first known example of the
insignia: the seal of Erik Abelsøn, Duke of Schleswig (d.
The
Coat of Arms of Schleswig ( ) depicts two blue
lions in a
golden shield.
It is the
heraldic symbol of the former
Duchy of
Schleswig,
originally a Danish province but later disputed between Danes and
Germans. The region has been divided between Germany and Denmark
since 1920 and the symbol consequently appears in official heraldry
in both countries. It is derived from the national
coat of arms of Denmark and has been
dated to the middle of the 13th century, first known from the arms
of Erik Abelsøn, Duke of Schleswig. Throughout the ages, the design
has featured both crowned and uncrowned lions, the lions have
occasionally been accompanied by hearts and usage between
lions and
leopards has shifted. The far most common
version was to omit both crowns and hearts and this version has
been used exclusively for several centuries.
The
blazon in
heraldic terms is:
Or, two lions passant in
pale Azure armed Or langued Gules.
Current use
Denmark
The unmodified arms of Schleswig is represented in the
coat of arms of Denmark's royal family. The
symbol has been located in the top-right corner since 1819 as
specified by royal
decree. The current
version was specified by royal decree on July 5, 1972.
A modified form of the symbol was used by the
South Jutland County from 1980 until
the
county was dissolved
effective January 1, 2007.
The county originally wished to use the
historic arms, but official authorisation was withheld to avoid
confusion with both the royal coat of arms and the arms of the
German Bundesland
Schleswig-Holstein
. This modified version showed the two lions
jointly holding a Danish
pennant. This was
inspired by the
medieval seal of
Eric of
Pomerania in which the three lions jointy hold the
Danish flag.
Germany
The coat of arms of Schleswig-Holstein is a combination of the
historic insignia of
Holstein and a
slightly modified version of the Schleswig arms. This symbol was
used by the secessionist German administration of the two duchies
during the
First War of
Schleswig (1848-51) and depicted on the currency issued by this
administration. At this time, the lions faced left. The area became
a
Prussian province following the
Second War of Schleswig
(1864) and the symbol was restored. The lions have faced right
since the 1880s. According to legend, this change was ordered by
Otto von Bismarck who noted that
it was "impolite" of the Schleswig lions to turn their backs on
Holstein. The official insignia is reserved for the government of
Schleswig-Holstein, but a slightly modified version is allowed for
use by the general public.
The lions also appear in the coats of arms of
the city of Flensburg
, and the Kreise Schleswig-Flensburg
and Rendsburg-Eckernförde
. Many municipal arms in the German part of
Schleswig also use insignia featuring either the two lions or the
Schleswig colours, blue and yellow.
Gallery
Image:Royal Coat of Arms of Denmark.svg|The original coat of arms
of Schleswig is represented in the top-right corner of the arms of
the
Danish royal
familyImage:Coat of arms of South Jutland.svg|In Danish
heraldry, the Schleswig lions normally appear with red tongues and
golden claws.
Image:Coat of arms of
Schleswig-Holstein.svg|Coat of arms of the German Bundesland Schleswig-HolsteinImage:HHH007.jpg|Coat of arms of Duke Hans
the Elder of Schleswig-Holstein-
Haderslev (a son of
Frederick I
of Denmark)
Image:Wappen Flensburg.png|Coat of arms of
FlensburgImage:Wappen Kreis
Schleswig-Flensburg.png|Coat of arms of Kreis Schleswig-FlensburgImage:Wappen Kreis
Rendsburg-Eckernfoerde.png|Coat of arms of Kreis Rendsburg-EckernfördeImage:Boeklund-Gemeindewappen.png|Coat of
arms of Böklund
Image:Busdorf-Wappen.png|Coat of arms of
Busdorf
Image:Handewitt-Wappen.png|Coat of arms of
Handewitt
Image:Langballig Amt Wappen.png|Coat of arms
of Amt LangballigImage:Munkbrarup-Wappen.png|Coat of arms of
MunkbrarupImage:Flensburg Kreis Wappen.png|Coat of arms of the
former Kreis Flensburg-LandImage:Husum Kreis Wappen.png|Coat of
arms of the former Kreis HusumImage:Rendsburg Kreis Wappen.png|Coat
of arms of the former Kreis RendsburgImage:Flensborghus.JPG|Flag
used by the
South Schleswig Association , representing the
Danish minority in Germany
References
See also
Wikis
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