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Belgian heraldry

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Belgian heraldry
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Belgian heraldry is the form of coats of arms and other heraldic bearings and insignia used in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Belgian colonial empire but also in the historical territories that make up modern-day Belgium.

Quick facts Versions, Motto ...
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Brabantian Lion carried by Floris de Merode, Baron of Leefdael during the Funeral of Albert VII. This emblem of the dukes of Brabant is now the coat of arms of Belgium.

Today, coats of arms in Belgium are regulated and granted by different bodies depending on the nature, status, and location of the armiger.

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Coats of Arms of Belgium

Historical Coats of Arms of Belgium

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Belgian coat of arms information

Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Belgium (greater)
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Adopted
17 March 1837
Coronet
Royal Crown of Belgium
Crest
A helmet with raised visor or
Escutcheon
Sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued Gules
Supporters
Two lions guardant proper each supporting a lance Gules point or with two National Flags of Belgium (Tierced per pale Sable, or and Gules).
Compartment
Underneath the compartment is placed the ribbon Gules with two stripes Sable charged with the motto
Motto
L'union fait la force
Orders
The grand collar of the Order of Leopold
Other elements
Two crossed sceptres (a hand of justice and a lion) or behind a shield. The whole is placed on a mantle Gules with ermine lining, fringes and tassels Or and ensigned with the Royal Crown of Belgium. Above the mantle rise banners with the arms of the nine provinces that constituted Belgium in 1837. They are (from dexter to sinister) Antwerp, West Flanders, East Flanders, Liège, Brabant, Hainaut, Limburg, Luxembourg and Namur
Other versions
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Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Belgium (lesser)
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Adopted
17 March 1837
Coronet
Royal Crown of Belgium
Escutcheon
Sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued Gules
Compartment
Letters gold on a ribbon gules edged sable with the motto
Motto
L'union fait la force
Orders
The grand collar of the Order of Leopold
Other elements
Two sceptres or placed in saltire, to the dexter, to the hand of justice, and to the sinister, to the lion of the shield

Elements of the Belgian heraldry

Leo Belgicus (Belgian lion)

The Leo Belgicus, Belgian lion of Brabantion lion is used on the official Coat of arms of Belgium. It's derived from the flag Brabant and the county of Brabant which contains a yellow lion with a red tongue and red gules on a black background. This symbolism was first used in the Brabantian revolution (1789–1790) And was later reused in the Belgian revolution (1830–1831) And later became the official symbol and animal of Belgium.

Helmets

In Belgium, barred helms are most commonly used, and are not reserved for the nobility like in some jurisdictions. They most often have gold bars, as well as a gold collar and trim. They are often lined and attached to the escutcheon with a shield strap

Belgian Royal crowns (Coronets rankings)

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King
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Crown prince
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Prince
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Duke

Marquess

Count
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Viscount

Baron

Knight

Squire


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Coats of Arms of regions, communities and language areas, Provinces and Municipalities

Regions

Communities and Language areas

Provinces

Municipal heraldry

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Other Belgian heraldry

Colonial heraldry

Other

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Belgian Royal heraldry

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The coats of arms of the Belgian royal family is currently regulated by a Royal Decree published on 19 July 2019 and signed on the same day, by King Philippe. This decree also reinstated the Saxonian escutcheon in all the royal versions of the family's coat of arms.[2][3] The reinstatement of the shield of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha into the royal arms occurred shortly after the visit of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to the ancestral Friedenstein Castle.[4] The king also added translations of the motto into the three official languages of Belgium, to reflect his wish "to be the King of the whole Kingdom and of all Belgians".[5] The latest royal decree therefore reverses previous changes made to the Royal versions of the coat arms which removed the armorial bearings of Saxony during the First World War.

Coats of arms of the (former) Belgian King

Coat of arms of the Belgian royal family

Coat of arms of the Royal couple

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Individuals and families

Like civic arms, arms of non-noble individuals and families (in the form of family associations) are regulated by the competent council of the community in question.[6] These are the Council of Heraldry and Vexillology for the French Community[7] and the Flemish Heraldic Council for the Flemish Community.[6] Today, both councils grant a helm with torse and mantling as well as a motto as additaments of the shield. The additaments reserved for the nobility, such as crowned helmets (i.e. crest coronets) and rank crowns (coronets), supporters, banners and battle cries, mantles and pavilions, are prohibited.[6]

Before that, the Genealogical and Heraldic Office of Belgium recorded the arms of persons and families.[6]

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18th century roll of arms of members of the Drapery Court of Brussels.
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Nobility

Arms of the Belgian nobility are regulated by the Council of Nobility.[6]

Terminology

Like Englnd, France and some other countries' heraldry, achievements of arms are usually blazoned in a specialized jargon.

More information Tinctures, English ...
More information Ordinaries, English ...
More information Division of the field, English ...
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See also

Notes and references

Bibliography

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