Västergötland

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VÄSTERGÖTLAND

Official blazon

I av svart och guld ginstyckat fält ett lejon av motsatta tinkturer med röd beväring, därest dylik skall komma till användning, i övre vänstra och i nedre hörnet av fältets svarta del åtföljt av en stjärna av silver.

Origin/meaning

The lion in a divided shield first appeared in the 13th century as arms for the local ruler Tyrgil Knutsson. The oldest use as provincial arms dates from 1562 and shows 4 stars besides the lion. On later images the arms showed variations with 1-4 stars each with 6 to 8 points. The arms were finally officially granted in 1885.