Coat of arms of Madeira

Coat of arms of the Autonomous Region of Madeira
Details
Escutcheon blue a pale or charged with the Cross of Christ
Supporters Two monk seals
Motto Portuguese: Das Ilhas as Mais Belas e Livres

The coat of arms of the Autonomous Region of Madeira was established by Regional Legislative Decree n.º 11/91/M, on the 24th of April 1991.

Contents

Features

Interior

The central shield is blazoned, azure a pale or charged with a Cross of Christ.

Supporters

The monk seals supporting the shield in the coat of arms is a homage of the Autonomous Region of Madeira to the only large mammals found by the first inhabintants of the island, and also alludes to the need of preserving this endangered species.

Crest

The gold armillary sphere represents the Age of Discovery, iniciated by the Portuguese, and King Manuel I of Portugal who order to inhabit the archipelago.

Motto

The Autonomous Region of Madeira motto, Das Ilhas as Mais Belas e Livres, is Portuguese for "Of all islands, the most beautiful and free".

References

See also