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Coat of arms of Galicia (Spain)
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of Galicia is described in the Spanish
Law 5 of May 29, 1984, the Law of the symbols of Galicia.
, a chalice
of gold
with a silver
host, accompanied by seven silver cross
es, three on each side and one in the center of the shield (representative of the seven historic provinces of Galicia).
The royal crown
in gules
, i.e. red, enclosed in a golden ring set with precious stones, made up of eight acanthus
leaf fleuron
s, out of which five are visible. Each leaf is set with pearls, and five tiaras are born from them to converge in a globe of azure, with the semi-meridian and the equator in gold, topped by a golden cross.
from the late 13th century - in Segar's Roll and in the Armorial du Hérault Vermandois, which attribute the coat of arms to the king of Galicia
, although by that time it did no longer exist as a separate title. The first source describes three uncovered chalice
s, whereas the second only describes one covered chalice.
Since the Middle Ages, the concept of the chalice as a linguistic metaphor spread: chalice = Galice; many European authors eventually theorized about this fact from the 16th to the 18th centuries, a fact the Romanticist
Galician author Manuel Murguía
would later echo. Later rolls of arms also make reference to it, e.g. the Armorial Gymnich of Flanders (1445), and, especially, the Armorial Bergshanmar, a compilation of some 3300 coats of arms belonging to states and families of almost all over Europe as of 1436. In that roll of arms it says "in the fourth turned sheet... a well-stylized big cup occupying as much space of the field as possible". Above the composition the word Galiscién (Galicia) is written.
The most ancient remaining representations of the coat of arms in Galician civil architecture are also from the 15th century depicted in the Royal hospital of Santiago, Concejo de Betanzos, La Coruña walls, Lugo Cathedral's organ, Noia Church's tower, Moscosos residence in Laxe
).
From the 16th century onwards, crosses were added around the chalice as ornamentation.
Joseph de Avilés, in "Heroic science", defined the coat of arms: "The kingdom of Galicia in Spain includes a field of azur with scattered crosses and a big golden cup and chalice".
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Law 5 of May 29, 1984, the Law of the symbols of Galicia.
Description
The coat of arms of Galicia includes, enclosed in a field of azureAzure
In heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
, a chalice
Chalice (cup)
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for drinking during a ceremony.-Christian:...
of gold
Or (heraldry)
In heraldry, Or is the tincture of gold and, together with argent , belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a field of evenly spaced dots...
with a silver
Argent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
host, accompanied by seven silver cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
es, three on each side and one in the center of the shield (representative of the seven historic provinces of Galicia).
The royal crown
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
in gules
Gules
In heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
, i.e. red, enclosed in a golden ring set with precious stones, made up of eight acanthus
Acanthus (genus)
Acanthus is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical and warm temperate regions, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean Basin and Asia. Common names include Acanthus and Bear's breeches...
leaf fleuron
Fleuron
Fleuron may refer to:* The Fleuron, a British journal of typography* Fleuron , an architectural element* Fleuron , a typographical element* Svend Fleuron , a Danish writer...
s, out of which five are visible. Each leaf is set with pearls, and five tiaras are born from them to converge in a globe of azure, with the semi-meridian and the equator in gold, topped by a golden cross.
History
The historians Faustino Menéndez-Pidal and Juan José Sánchez Badiola find the first references to it in two rolls of armsRoll of arms
A roll of arms is a collection of coats of arms, usually consisting of rows of painted pictures of shields, each shield accompanied by the name of the person bearing the arms...
from the late 13th century - in Segar's Roll and in the Armorial du Hérault Vermandois, which attribute the coat of arms to the king of Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia
The Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Founded by Suebic king Hermeric in the year 409, the Galician capital was established in Braga, being the first kingdom which...
, although by that time it did no longer exist as a separate title. The first source describes three uncovered chalice
Chalice (cup)
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for drinking during a ceremony.-Christian:...
s, whereas the second only describes one covered chalice.
Since the Middle Ages, the concept of the chalice as a linguistic metaphor spread: chalice = Galice; many European authors eventually theorized about this fact from the 16th to the 18th centuries, a fact the Romanticist
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
Galician author Manuel Murguía
Manuel Murguía
Manuel Murguia was a Galician journalist and historian who created the Real Academia Galega. He was one of the main figures in Galician Rexurdimento movement. He is also remembered as Rosalía de Castro's husband, publisher and main supporter.-Life:...
would later echo. Later rolls of arms also make reference to it, e.g. the Armorial Gymnich of Flanders (1445), and, especially, the Armorial Bergshanmar, a compilation of some 3300 coats of arms belonging to states and families of almost all over Europe as of 1436. In that roll of arms it says "in the fourth turned sheet... a well-stylized big cup occupying as much space of the field as possible". Above the composition the word Galiscién (Galicia) is written.
The most ancient remaining representations of the coat of arms in Galician civil architecture are also from the 15th century depicted in the Royal hospital of Santiago, Concejo de Betanzos, La Coruña walls, Lugo Cathedral's organ, Noia Church's tower, Moscosos residence in Laxe
Laxe
Laxe is a municipality of Spain in the Province of A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is situated in the sheltered Cabanas bay area, meaning that Laxe's expansive sandy beaches are well-sheltered from Atlantic winds....
).
From the 16th century onwards, crosses were added around the chalice as ornamentation.
Joseph de Avilés, in "Heroic science", defined the coat of arms: "The kingdom of Galicia in Spain includes a field of azur with scattered crosses and a big golden cup and chalice".
Use
According to the text of the aforementioned Law of symbols, the coat of arms of Galicia shall be included:- In the flags referred to in the fifth article of the law.
- In the laws of Galicia promulgated, in name of the King, by the President of the Xunta of Galicia.
- In the façadeFacadeA facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
of the Autonomous Community administration buildings. - In embossed and lacquer stamps of the Autonomous Community.
- In supporting documents of Galician decorations.
- In official publications.
- In documents, forms, stamps and letterheads in official use in the Autonomous Community.
- In diplomas and degree certificates.