National Arms of Denmark: Difference between revisions

Thearms above are the arms of Denmark proper. The lions as the arms for Denmark are known since the early 12^th century. These are the arms that are commonly used by all State institutions. The parliament also uses the arms, but without the crown. The Danish arms are first seen on the seal of King Knud, on his seal from 1190, and were his personal arms. The arms are probably a bit older, as they were also used by his brother and successor Valdemar. It is thus likely that the arms were also used by their father King Valdemar the great (1157-1182).   

The great arms were officially adapted on 16-11-1972 in their present form. The arms are quartered, over which is placed a cross derived from the national flag, the Dannebrog. Above all is placed the arms o fOldenburg. The royal family descends from the Dukes of Oldenburg.The first and fourth quarter show the arms of Denmark proper. The second quarter shows the two lions of Slesvig. The duchy of Slesvig lies on the border of Denmark and Germany. The Danish kings originated from Slesvig. The third quarter shows three crowns, which originally symbolised the three Kingdoms united in the Kalmar Union: Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Below the crowns are the symbols of [[Greenland]] (polar bear) and [[Faroe Islands]] (sheep). The arms of Greenland are shown wrongly, see under Greenland.