The coat of arms, also called coat of arms, is a design created to identify families, individuals, corporations, cities and countries. The coats of arms generally have a shield as a central element, a defensive weapon used by medieval warriors.
Although there are designs that can be compared to coats of arms in antiquity, this tradition was developed during the Middle Ages in Europe. At that time, the coats of arms were offered to warriors who performed heroic acts.
The field of study of coats of arms is called heraldry and its original manufacture follows strict rules, the heraldic laws. The act of drawing coats of arms was called "to braze" and those responsible for these drawings were called "heraldists".
From medieval coats of arms to family coats of arms
Even before the development of heraldry, other civilizations already used symbols similar to coats of arms for their representation. During antiquity, symbolic elements of representation were developed by the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Romans.
But it was during the Middle Ages, in the aristocracies that this tradition has gained strength. The coats of arms were offered as a tribute to acts of courage of the warriors and over time they became symbols representing families, they were a kind of badge that represented their status.
Coats of arms lost importance as monarchic regimes weakened, which happened at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century.
In the 20th century, coats of arms are once again used, now to represent cities, states, regions, countries and other entities, such as soccer teams, for example.
Coats of arms also continued to be used as a tradition for the representation of families. Until today it is possible to find families which maintains the image of the coats of arms as a symbol of identification.
See also the meaning of status and aristocracy.
Classification of Coats of Arms
Coats of arms can be classified in several ways. See below the classification of these drawings according to class and according to who they represent:
Coat of Arms Classes
- Simple coats of arms: simple coats of arms represent just one entity.
- Composite coats of arms: composite coats of arms are the union of two or more coats of arms, of different entities.
Representation of coats of arms
- Coats of Arms: they represent a sovereign state or a king.
- Coats of Arms of Owners: they represent a person who holds an office or who has received an honor.
- Coats of Arms: represent a family.
- Ecclesiastical Coats of Arms: represent the holder of a religious entity.
- Domain Coats of Arms: represent non-sovereign territory.
understand what it is sovereignty.
coat of arms of Brazil
Like the Brazilian flag, the coat of arms is one of the official symbols of the Federative Republic of Brazil. was created in 1889, during the first republican government in Brazil, under the presidency of Marechal Deodoro da Fonseca.
Learn more about Brazil's flag.
This symbol is mandatory for use by Executive Powers, Legislative and judiciary and also by the Armed forces.
The coat of arms is formed by a sky blue shield over a five-pointed green and yellow star. In the center of the shield are five white stars representing the southern cross constellation.
The shield is drawn over a sword and its surroundings are made up of coffee leaves - on one side the leaves bear fruit and on the other side flowers. All this on a golden splendor.
At the bottom of the coat of arms are two blue bands, with the words: "República Federativa do Brasil" and "November 15, 1889", the date of the proclamation of the republic in the country.
know more about Executive power, Legislative power and Judicial power.
