Heraldry of Småland explained

Coat of arms of Småland
Armiger:Province of Småland, Sweden
Year Adopted:1569
Shield:Or a lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure holding in front paws a Crossbow of the second bowed and stringed Sable with a bolt Argent.

Småland is a province of Sweden and at the funeral of Gustav Vasa in 1560 the province was granted its arms. Today there are also county arms that are based on the arms of Småland.

Småland

The first coat of arms for Småland, granted in 1560, pictured a red crossbow with roses on a golden shield but at the coronation of Johan III in 1569 a new coat of arms was granted. A lion was wielding the crossbow and the roses had fallen off. There was also a revision in 1944, but no alterations were made.[1] Småland is also considered a duchy and has the right to carry a ducal coronet with the arms.

Blazon: "Or a lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure holding in front paws a Crossbow of the second bowed and stringed Sable with a bolt Argent."

Official blazon in Swedish: "I gyllene fält ett rött lejon med blå beväring, därest sådan skall förekomma, och hållande i tassarna ett uppåtvänt rött armborst med pilspets av silver samt båge och strängar svarta.".

Kronoberg County

Kronoberg County was formally granted its arms in 1944; however, use of the same was already an established practice. It is a variation of the arms of Småland, with the lion standing on a mountain.[2]

Blazon: "Or, a lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure holding in front paws a Crossbow of the second bowed and stringed Sable with a bolt Argent, standing on a triple Mount Vert."

Official blazon in Swedish: "I fält av guld ett på ett grönt treberg stående, upprest, rött lejon med blå beväring, vilket med båda framtassarna håller ett stolpvis ställt rött armborst med svart båge och pil av silver.".

Kalmar County

Kalmar County includes the eastern part of Småland and the island province of Öland. The arms is a combination of the arms of Småland and Öland.

Blazon: "Quartered, the arms of Småland and Öland"

Official blazon in Swedish: "Sköld kvadrerad av Smålands och Ölands vapen".[3]

Jönköping County

Jönköping County geographically represents the northern part of Småland. The arms of the County, however, are not based on the arms of the province but rather on the combination of the arms for the town of Jönköping and the lesser state arms of Sweden.

Official blazon in Swedish: "I rött fält en från en av en vågskura bildad blå stam uppskjutande krenelerad borg av silver med tre krenelerade torn, det mellersta högst,svarta fönster, dörrar och port samt upphissat portgaller av silver och däröver en med tre bjälkvis ordnade kronor av guld belagd blå ginstam.".[4]

Öland

See main article: Heraldry of Öland.

Öland is a separate province from Småland, however its arms are included in the arms for Kalmar County.

Blazon: "Azure a Deer Or attired, hoofed and gorged Gules."

Official blazon in Swedish: "I blått fält en gående hjort av guld med rött halsband och röd beväring, därest sådan skall komma till användning."[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Heraldiskt register - Småland . 2023-03-07 . . sv.
  2. Web site: Heraldiskt register - Kronobergs län . 2023-03-07 . . sv.
  3. Web site: Heraldiskt register - Kalmar län . 2023-03-07 . . sv.
  4. Web site: Heraldiskt register - Jönköpings län . 2023-03-07 . . sv.
  5. Web site: Heraldiskt register - Öland . 2023-03-07 . . sv.