| Coat of arms of Serbia | |
|---|---|
| Versions | |
Lesser arms |
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| Details | |
| Armiger | Republic of Serbia |
| Adopted | 1882 / reintroduced 2004 redesigned 2010 |
| Crest | a golden crown |
| Escutcheon | Gules, a bicephalic eagle Argent armed Or, two fleurs-de-lys Or. Overall an escutcheon Gules, a cross Argent between four firesteels Argent |
| Other elements | A Coat of arms is draped with a crimson (porphyry) mantle embroidered gold, with a golden fringe, tied up with golden braid with tassels of the same, lined with ermine. Above the mantle is a pavilion gules again with nine fleur-de-lis or and crowned with a golden crown |
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.[1] 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.[2]
Contents |
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-lis. 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 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.
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