Coat of arms of Serbia

Great Coat of arms of Serbia
Versions
Small Coat of Arms of Serbia
Details
Adopted	1882 (readopted in 2004)

The Coat of Arms of Serbia is the same as the coat of arms of the former Obrenović dynasty (first adopted in 1882; re-adopted in 2004) and features the white bicephalic eagle of the House of Nemanjić (which in turn took on the eagle from the Palaiologos dynasty of the Byzantine Empire). An ermine cape of the style once worn by kings is featured in the background. The double-headed eagle has been used since Byzantine times, the Serbian cross has been used since the 12th century.

The small coat of arms of Serbia is also known as kokarda (Кокарда).

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 fleurs-de-lys. The inescutcheon stands for the Serbian Nation; in a red shield, a cross between four silver firesteels 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 letters around the central cross are commonly thought to be the letter, "C" (two forward, two backward). This comes from the well known Serbian phrase, "Само Cлога Србина Cпасава"(Cyrillic) or "Samo Sloga Srbina Spasava"(Latin) which translates to English as, "Only Unity Saves the Serbs". Many more scholarly schools of thought believe these letters to be the Greek letter B (beta) from the phrase: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣΙΝ (The King of Kings rules over Kings - From the Gospel of John; speaking of Jesus Christ).

Although Serbia is now a republic, the new coat of arms also features the crown of the former Serbian monarchy. While unusual for republics, it is not unprecedented.

Coat of Arms of House of Nemanjić Royal house of Nemanja, estate of Rascia, Doclea (Zeta), Travunia, Pagania and Zachlumia (1166-1371)

Coat of Arms of Principality of Serbia (1835-1882)

Coat of Arms of Kingdom of Serbia (1882-1918) and of the Republic of Serbia (2004- )

Coat of Arms of Socialist Republic of Serbia (1947-1990) and of the Republic of Serbia (1990-2004)

See also

• Flag of Serbia
• Coat of arms of the Socialist Republic of Serbia
• Seal of Republika Srpska

External links

• Serbian Coat of Arms
• Serbian Heraldic Society; its president and board members are also members of the Privy council of HRH Karadjordjevic and advisors for the Serbian state on State heraldry
• Serbian Coat of Arms
• The Society of Heraldic Enthusiasts Milosh Obilich

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