Territorial Heraldry of Sweden

[Marcus Karlsson]

The Territorial Heraldry of Sweden is divided into different stages. First the Kingdom as a whole have its Arms, presented in its greater and lesser form. The Greater Arms is also the personal Arms of the reigning King or Queen, the Lesser Arms (Azure three open Crowns Or placed two and one, the Shield is crowned by a Royal Crown) are used as a symbol of the State.

Historicaly Sweden then was divided into Landskap, for which Arms where created to display in the funeral procession of King Gustavus Vasa in 1560. Later new Arms where created for Landskap which where added to the Swedish Crown. It should also be noted that Finland at this time where an integrated part of Sweden and Arms also where created for the Landskap in Finland (which continued to be used when Finland became a Grand Duchy under the Russian Czar and in the independent Finland after 1917). The Landskap have no administrative function this instead is exercised by a unit called Län headed by a Landshövding (which acts as the Government/King's representative). The Län sometimes have the same borders as the older Landskap and then uses the undifferented Arms ensignend by a Royal Crown (the Arms of a Landskap may be ensigned by a Ducal Crown). When the borders of the Län dosen't correspond to a Landskap or include parts of more than one Landskap new Arms have been created usualy by combinding two or more Landskap Arms. In recent Years there have been som reductions of the number of Län thus the old Skaraborg, Älvsborg and Göteborg och Bohuslän have been united to form the Västra Götaland Region. The Arms created for this unit was not that creative as it quartered the Arms of Landskap which are included with those of the City of Göteborg.


I. Göteborg, II. Bohuslän, III. Dalsland and IV. Västergötland.

The two Län in the Landskap Skåne, Kristianstad and Malmöhus was also united to form Skåne län. This new Län does use a differented form of the Landskap Arms of Skåne.


Arms of the former Kristianstads län. Approved in its final form in 1939. The Arms actually shows the Crest of the Arms of the City of Malmö (one of the few Civic Arms in Sweden that have a Crest).


Arms of the former Malmöhus län. The Chief alludes to the lesser Arms of Sweden. The Griffin's head are from the Arms of the City of Malmö. This Picture dosen't correspond with the final approval from 1939. This had the Crowns in fess not two and one.

[Arthur Radburn]

Very interesting, Marcus. The gryphon's heads are very impressive, especially the one with the plumes.

[Marcus Karlsson]

The Capital Stockholm constituted a separate administrative unit not part of the Stockholms län. The Capital itself constituted the so called Överståthållarämbetet until 1968, when int was merged with the Län.

Överståthållarämbetet had Arms approved in 1938. It was Azure seme of opern crowns a Head of St Erik afronte all Or.


A black and with Picture of these Arms, from Meddelanden från Riksheraldikerämbetet VII 1938.


Stockholms län had since the 18th Century used Arms with the Griffin of Södermanland holding the Orb from the Arms of Uppland. Originaly placed on a field Or but when the final approvement in 1941 the field was parted per bend Or and Gules, to allow the Orb to be dislplayed on a Red field as in the Uppland Arms. The Län included part of the Landskap of Uppland (north of Stockholm) and Södermanland (south of Stockholm). The Air Force unit the F18 Kungl. Södertörns flygflottilj (18th Wing Royal Södertörn Wing) also used this Arms. Beeing based at Tullinge south of Stockholm, in a Area called Södertörn hnece the name. This Area didn't have any Arms of its own so when the Wing was formed in 1946 the Arms of the Stockholms län was used. If the Wing had not been disbanded in 1974 (A Groundbased School was active until 1986), the Arms would probably have gained the present Air Force Chief with a twoblade winged propeller.

The New län formed in 1968 was in the same Year granted the following Arms uniting the Head of St Erik from the Arms of the City of Stockholm, The Griffin of Södermanland (reduced to its Head) and the Orb of Uppland.


New Arms of Stockholms län.


Arms of Skåne län. The Landskap Skåne has a Red Griffin's Head with Blue Crown on a golden Field.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Blazons of the Landskap Arms:

Blekinge.
Azure a Oak the trunk enfiled with three Crowns all Or. Created at the burrial of King Karl X Gustav in 1660 as Blekinge formely was part of Denmark. Oaks are a significant tree in Blekinge and also once played an important role in shipbuilding. One of the most important naval bases of Sweden where located to Karlskrona after the conquest, and still the main naval base is situated here. The three Crowns symbolises the fact that Blekinge now was Swedish.

Bohuslän.
Argent a Tower Guled with two closed doors Or hinged Sable, supported on the sinister side by a Lion rampant Azure armed and languaged Or, and on the dexter side a Sword erect Azure.
Created in 1660 and based on the Arms of the City of Kungälv. The Tower probaly symbolises the Fortress of Bohus situated in Kungälv and built in the 14th Century. The Arms was finaly approved in 1962 with differentions from the City Arms.

Dalarna.
Azure two Dala arrows in saltire Or tipped Argent, and in chief a open Crown Or.
Based on a seal probably in use since 1523, made into Arms in 1560 for display in the funeral procession at the death of King Gustavus Vasa.

Dalsland.
Argent a Bull statant Gules armed Or.
In the funeral procession of Gustavus Vasa in 1560 Dalsland's Arms was an red Ox on a silver field. But already in 1562 the Ox was substituted for a Bull. But the official blason of the Arms continued to read Ox (oxe) until 1942 when it was changed to tjur (Bull). This involved lengthy linguistical investigations to show that in the 1500s the words could bee used interchangeably.

To be continued ...

[Chris Green]

I am going to push in here with the arms of Värmland, where I live:

Argent an eagle displayed azure beaked langued and membered rouge.



The original CoA from 1560 had a wolverine (järv) and was thus easily confused with that of Medelpad (which itself was subsequently completely redsigned), so a displayed eagle was substituted, first: or an eagle displayed sable ... , then from 1936 azure.

Here is my Värmland flag fluttering bravely in a stiff north-easter:

http://wermlandsheraldik.wordpress.com/ ... ds-flagga/

[Marcus Karlsson]

Thanks Arthur and Chris. As for the Värmland Arms, the last Colour presented as late as 2000 to the now disbanded Värmland Regiment features the Eagle Sable on a field Or.

Continue with the Landskap Arms:

Gästrikland
Argent seme of hurts, an moose statant Gules armed Or.
The Arms was one of those created in 1560.

Gotland
Azure a ram statant supporting behind its back a cross staff Or flying a pennant Gules with a brodure Or and five tails Or.
The Island of Gotland is known for its Sheep rearing, and since 1280ies the Seal showed the Ram with a banner. Gotlands län also uses these Arms,

Halland
Azure a Lion rampant langued and armed Gules.
These Arms where created in 1660 for the funeral of King Karl X Gustav. The origin is rather obscure, perhaps the Lion stems from the Arms of Bengt Algotsson Medival Duke of Finland and Halland. Who in his Arms had a Lion.

Härjedalen
Argent a Hammer's head afronte Sable with shaft Gules between on the dexter side a pliers Sable and on the sinister side of two forging hammers Sable with shafts Gules the upper one turned uppside down.
Härjedalen was made part of Sweden in 1635, but Arms where not created until the end of the 18th Century. The present Arms was approved in 1935 and symbolises the Mining and Iron industry.

Hälsingland
Sable a Buck Or armed Gules.
In the original Arms from 1560 the Buck was more peaceful and statant. Over the time it became more Heraldic and Rampant as such the blason was approved in 1938.

Jämtland
Azure a Moose trippant Argent armed Gules, attacked at the back by a Falcon Or amred Gules ant at the front by a Dog Or langued Gules.
These Arms are based on a Seal made in Copenhagen 1635 when Jämtland was (a rather independent) part of the Danish-Norwegian Kingdom. It shows a hunting scene as Jämtland was know for its hunting. It should however be noticed that Falcons never was used in hunting Moose, Dogs was and are much used.

[Chris Green]

As for the Värmland Arms, the last Colour presented as late as 2000 to the now disbanded Värmland Regiment features the Eagle Sable on a field Or.

Strangely the last Regimental Colour of I2 (Värmland Reg't) was presented on 13 May 2000 and the Regiment was disbanded only six weeks later on 1 July 2000.

[Marcus Karlsson]

As for the Värmland Arms, the last Colour presented as late as 2000 to the now disbanded Värmland Regiment features the Eagle Sable on a field Or.

Strangely the last Regimental Colour of I2 (Värmland Reg't) was presented on 13 May 2000 and the Regiment was disbanded only six weeks later on 1 July 2000.

Well as the Swedish Defence Politics have been missmanaged the last decades, I'am not suprised that a Regiment soon to be disbanded recieved new Colours.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Then I continued with the Landskap Arms:

Lappland
Argent a Vildman (Savage) Gules wreathed abuut the Head and Hip by a wreath of Birch leaves Vert and suporting on dexter should a Clubb Or.
These Arms orignate sometime between 1607 and 1612 (when it was dispalyed in the funeral procession of King Karl IX). The Savage was orignaly Sable but this was changed to Gules at the latest approved blason in 1949. The meaning of these Arms are a bit obscure but perhaps the Savage are taken from the Carta Marina of Olaus Magnus which at the northern parts of Sweden show the ancient hero and killer of Russians Starkad. By the creators of the Arms he should have been transformed into a more heraldic Savage.

Medelpad
Parted wavy in four parts Azure, Argent, Gules, Argent and Azure.
Originaly Medelpad hade different Arms: Argent a Beaver Sable. Showing the importance of furhunting in this Landskap. This older Arms where confused with the older Värmland Arms with a Wolverine Sable on a field Argent, as the artists dosen't seems skilled enough to separate the two. This led that both Arms where changed in the 1570ies, and Medelpad got the Arms wth the Waves shown. It is said that these represent the Rivers Ljungan and Indalsälven, that flows thru Medelpad.

Norrbotten was not one of the historical Landskap and was created in 1810 out of Västerbotten. Arms was long non existant which led that the Military Units namned for Norrbotten used the Västerbotten Arms as motive on thier Colours and Arms. Also the Västerbotten Arms was used in the Arms of Norrbottens län. Finaly in 1995 Norrbotten got Arms which thus are the youngest in this Series of Landskap Arms. So far this have not produced any changes in the military Arms or in the Arms of Norrbottens län.


The Norrbotten Arms, which shows the Rivers Torne, Kalix, Lule and Pite älvar joining the Gulf of Bothnia.

Närke
Gules two Arrow in saltire Or tipped Argent between four Roses Argent.
Created in 1560 and have remained unchanged ever since. But it was reported that king Erik XIV in 1567 changed the Arms to Azure a Cross between four Fleur de Lys all Or. No Picture of this survives and these new Arms didn't catch on. The reason for the Arrows and Roses in the Närke Arms are not known.

Skåne (Scania)
Or a Griffin's Head erased Gules and crowned with an open Crown Azure, beak and tounge can also be made Azure when neded.
Skåne was the most important of the Areas that Sweden was awarded at the 1658 Brömsebro Peace Treaty. This led to Arms created for the Lanskap for dispaly in the funeral procession of Karl X Gustav in 1660. This was achived by simply taking the Arms of the largest City in Skåne Malmö. The field was changed from Argent to Or. The Crown was orignaly Or but in the revision of 1939 it was changed to Azure for better contrast. The writing about the Beak and tounge was added as a compromise to allow the Local history association who wanted to keep the Crown Or, at least not to have to panit the beak and tounge in Azure.

Småland
Or a Lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure holding with both forepaws a Cross-bow Gules with bow and string Sable and a Arrow Sable tipped Argent.
In the funeral procession of Gustavus Vasa in 1560, Småland had different arms a Cross-bow in bend between two Roses. The Roses where sometimes changed into Fleur-de-Lys. The Lion holding the Cross-bow was instituted in 1569 at the coronation of King Johan III. At this time Sweden was at War with Denmark and probably it was thought the Småland beeing at that time at the border with Denmark needed a more "militant" Arms. The revision made in 1900s, it was decided not to return to the old Arms, and the Lion with Cross-bow was given its final approval in 1944.

The old Småland Arms however made a short comeback as Arms for the military unit Smålandsbrigaden (Småland Brigade).


The Arms of the Smålandsbrigaden. Approved in 1995 and made obsolete when the Brigade was disbanded in 2000.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Södermanland (also known as Sörmland).
Or a Griffin rampant Sable armed and languaged Gules.
The Arms as been the same since intruduced at the Funeral of Gustavus Vasa in 1560. The Griffin (Sw. Grip) possibly have been choosed för Södermanland as it was home of the important Castle Gripsholm. This was built in the 14th Century and named for the nobleman Bo Jonsson Grip. He was at the time one of the greatest landowners in Sweden and an important Politcian.

Värmland has already been dealt with.

Uppland.
Gules and Orb Or.
Used since 1560, the Orb symbolises the fact the Uppland was at the time Centre for both the Wordly and Spiritual Power (the Archepiscopal See of Uppsala is situated here).

Västerbotten.
Azure semee of sixpointed Stars Or a Reindeer in motion Argent horned and hoofed Gules.
Created in 1560. An older seal from about 1440 exists for this Area which at that time was known as Korsholms län, western part. It shows a Man attacked by two Bears, and was probably unknown to the creators of the Arms.

Västmanland.
Argent a tripple mount, Azure issuant from the base, from each mound a flame Gules rises.

Västergötland.
Parted per bend sinister Sable and Or a Lion rampant counterchanged armed and langued Gules, in the Sable part accompanied by two sixpointed Stars Argent, placed in bend sinister one above and one below the Lion.
The King of the Heraldic Jungle, was deemed suitable to represent one of the most important Landskap (home to the oldest diocese in Sweden at Skara). One of the Chief Magistrates (Lagman) of Västergötland also had Arms with a Lion on a field parted per bend, which also might have inspired the creators of 1560.

Ångermanland.
Azure three Salmon in pale Argent finned Gules, the middle one turned sinister.
The Arms created in 1560 for Ångermanland did also had a Salmon but only one, a this was placen in bend over a fishnet covering the lower part of the Shield. This was soon changed to the present three Salmons without the net. The present offcial blason was approved in 1941, and was the first that mentioned that the Fins shoudl bee Gules.

Öland.
Azure a Deer trippant Or, armed Gules and bearing round the neck a collar Gules.
Also this Arms made its debut at the Funeral procession of Gustavus Vasa in 1560. The Deer symbolises the Royal Deer Park on the Island. This Arms have been confused with the Arms of Åland, these Islands in 1569 become fief to the Queen Dowager Katarina Stenbock. At the same time it was granted Arms showing two roes one above the other on a field strewn with Roses. But in the 1880ies Öland was granted Arms with the Roes on a field strewn with nine Roses! Åland on its part came to use the Deer Arms! In 1944 however the misstake was corrected and Öland recieved the Arms used today. At the same time Finnish authorities was hinted that Åland (which was part of Finland) should return to its original Arms. Off this however came nothing and to this Day Åland continues to use Arms nearlt identical to Öland. Some differences however exists, the Åland Deer are not armed Gules and doesn't carry a Collar.

Östergötland.
Gules a Griffin Rampant with the tail, wings and tounge of a Dragon Or, armed and langued Azure, between in each corner a Rose Argent.
In the funeral procession of 1560 Östergöland was represented by two Arms: one for the part west of the Creek Stångån (Västanstång) and one for the part east of the Creek (Östanstång). The Västanstång Arms feautreted a Dragon (later supplemented by Stars or Roses). The Östanstång Arms had on a Shield parted per fess a Lion rampant and counterchanged. The main Colours of both Arms was Gules and Or. The two where later united and in 1884 the blason describe the Östergötland Arms as a Griffin with the wings and tail of a Dragon. This creature is problaby a union of the Dragon of Västanstång and the Lion of Östanstång.

This Conclude the section on Landskap Arms. It should be added that Finland also was part of Sweden when thefirst Landskap Arms series was created as the Finnish Landskap also got Arms. I have however choose to limit this thread to the present Borders of Sweden.