Italian East Africa
Posted: 13 Feb 2014, 20:39
For its Shortlived East Africa Empire that included Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Italian Somaliland these grand Arms was composed uniting the Arms of the Governorates making up the Italian East Africa.
Picture from the Servizio Cartografico del Ministero dell'Africa Italiana (Carthographic Service of the Ministry of Italian Africa) via Wikimedia. The Date for its adoption seems to be 31 August 1939.
The Red Lion with a Star on the shoulder and placed about a field barry wavy Azure and Argent is for Eritrea Governorate, The field showing a Roman Aquila Standard on an mountain is for the Scioa Governorate (Central Part of Ethiopia arround the Capital Addis Abeba), the Arms holding a Sword over a Field Gules bearing a Cross is for the Amhara Governorate (Northern part of Ethiopia), The field with the Leopard and the Stars is for the Italian Somaliland Governorate, the field Argent with a Crescent Vert is for the Harrar Governorate (Eastern Ethiopia) and the Plough over a Fess Wavy is for the Galla-Sidamo Governorate (Western and Southern Ethiopia). In the middle the round Shield bering the Gules a Cross Argent for the Italian Royal House of Savoy. The Supporters are holding Fasces as symbol for the National Fascist Party that ruled Italy at the time. An indication of the uneasy cohabitation of the King Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini as Primeminister and Head of Government in heraldic form*. The Chain round the Shield appears to the the Annunziata Order (the formost Order of the Kingdom of Italy) and another for me unknown Decoration.
* This was also displayed in the Lesser Arms of the Kingdom of Italy where the Crowned Shield of the Savoy was flanked by two Fasces.
Picture from the Servizio Cartografico del Ministero dell'Africa Italiana (Carthographic Service of the Ministry of Italian Africa) via Wikimedia. The Date for its adoption seems to be 31 August 1939.
The Red Lion with a Star on the shoulder and placed about a field barry wavy Azure and Argent is for Eritrea Governorate, The field showing a Roman Aquila Standard on an mountain is for the Scioa Governorate (Central Part of Ethiopia arround the Capital Addis Abeba), the Arms holding a Sword over a Field Gules bearing a Cross is for the Amhara Governorate (Northern part of Ethiopia), The field with the Leopard and the Stars is for the Italian Somaliland Governorate, the field Argent with a Crescent Vert is for the Harrar Governorate (Eastern Ethiopia) and the Plough over a Fess Wavy is for the Galla-Sidamo Governorate (Western and Southern Ethiopia). In the middle the round Shield bering the Gules a Cross Argent for the Italian Royal House of Savoy. The Supporters are holding Fasces as symbol for the National Fascist Party that ruled Italy at the time. An indication of the uneasy cohabitation of the King Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini as Primeminister and Head of Government in heraldic form*. The Chain round the Shield appears to the the Annunziata Order (the formost Order of the Kingdom of Italy) and another for me unknown Decoration.
* This was also displayed in the Lesser Arms of the Kingdom of Italy where the Crowned Shield of the Savoy was flanked by two Fasces.