Coat of arms of Serbia
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of Serbia
is based the family arms of the former Obrenović
dynasty (adopted in 1882) and features the white bicephalic eagle
of the Nemanjić
dynasty. An ermine
cape of the style once worn by kings is featured in the background. The double-headed eagle
has been used since Byzantine
era, the Serbian cross
has been used since the 12th century. In November 2010 the coat of arms was slightly modified. However, the change has been highly criticized by the public and some officials, citing that the cost of replacing the emblem with such a minor alteration is unjustifiably high.
. The inescutcheon stands for the Serbian nation; in a red shield, a cross between four silver firesteel
s arranged in the quarters around it, all of them facing horizontally outwards.
A blazon
in heraldic terms is: Gules, a bicephalic eagle Argent armed Or, two fleurs-de-lys Or. Overall an escutcheon Gules, a cross Argent between four firesteels Argent. All crowned with a royal crown.
The design on the inescutcheon has been used by Serbian states and the Serbian church since the Middle Ages.
The four shapes around the central cross are firesteels, but they commonly referred to as the Cyrillic letter С
. They actually originate from the Greek letter B (beta) from the phrase: Basileus Basileon Basileuon Basileuonton (King of Kings, Ruling Over Rulers), as originally used on the flag of the Palaiologos
dynasty of Byzantine Empire
.
Although Serbia is now a republic
, the coat of arms also features the crown of the former monarchy.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
is based the family arms of the former Obrenović
House of Obrenovic
The House of Obrenović was a Serbian dynasty that ruled Serbia from 1815 to 1842, and again from 1858 to 1903. They came to power through the leadership of their progenitor Miloš Obrenović in the Second Serbian uprising against the Ottoman Empire, which led to the formation of the Principality of...
dynasty (adopted in 1882) and features the white bicephalic eagle
Double-headed eagle
The double-headed eagle is a common symbol in heraldry and vexillology. It is most commonly associated with the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire. In Byzantine heraldry, the heads represent the dual sovereignty of the Emperor and/or dominance of the Byzantine Emperors over both East and...
of the Nemanjić
House of Nemanjic
The Nemanjić was the most important dynasty of Serbia in the Middle Ages, and one of the most important in Southeastern Europe. The royal house produced eleven Serbian monarchs between 1166 and 1371. It's progenitor was Stephen Nemanja, who descended from a cadet line of the Vukanović dynasty...
dynasty. An ermine
Ermine (heraldry)
Ermine is a heraldic fur representing the winter coat of the stoat . Many skins would be sewn together to make a luxurious garment, producing a pattern of small black spots on a white field...
cape of the style once worn by kings is featured in the background. The double-headed eagle
Serbian eagle
The double-headed eagle is a common symbol in Serbian heraldry and vexillology; the heads represent the dual sovereignty of the emperor and/or dominance of the Byzantine Emperors over both East and West....
has been used since Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
era, the Serbian cross
Serbian cross
The Serbian Cross is a national symbol of Serbia, part of the Coat of Arms of Serbia, and the flag of Serbia. It is composed of a cross symbol with four C-shapes on each of its corners, in use as a national emblem since the 14th century....
has been used since the 12th century. In November 2010 the coat of arms was slightly modified. However, the change has been highly criticized by the public and some officials, citing that the cost of replacing the emblem with such a minor alteration is unjustifiably high.
Design
The principal field stands for the Serbian State. It consists of a double-headed eagle on a red shield; its body and wings in silver, and tongues, beaks, legs and claws in gold, between two golden fleur-de-lisFleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
. The inescutcheon stands for the Serbian nation; in a red shield, a cross between four silver firesteel
Firesteel
A Fire striker is a piece of high-carbon steel used for striking a spark, usually kept in a tinderbox together with flint and tinder.-Usage:...
s arranged in the quarters around it, all of them facing horizontally outwards.
A blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
in heraldic terms is: Gules, a bicephalic eagle Argent armed Or, two fleurs-de-lys Or. Overall an escutcheon Gules, a cross Argent between four firesteels Argent. All crowned with a royal crown.
The design on the inescutcheon has been used by Serbian states and the Serbian church since the Middle Ages.
The four shapes around the central cross are firesteels, but they commonly referred to as the Cyrillic letter С
Es (Cyrillic)
Es is a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet.It commonly represents the voiceless alveolar fricative , like the pronunciation of ⟨s⟩ in "sand".-History:...
. They actually originate from the Greek letter B (beta) from the phrase: Basileus Basileon Basileuon Basileuonton (King of Kings, Ruling Over Rulers), as originally used on the flag of the Palaiologos
Palaiologos
Palaiologos , often latinized as Palaeologus, was a Byzantine Greek noble family, which produced the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. After the Fourth Crusade, members of the family fled to the neighboring Empire of Nicaea, where Michael VIII Palaiologos became co-emperor in 1259,...
dynasty of Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
.
Although Serbia is now a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
, the coat of arms also features the crown of the former monarchy.