Coat of Arms of Denmark - Territories and Titles Formerly Represented in The Danish Arms

Territories and Titles Formerly Represented in The Danish Arms

The following list is based on the research by Danish heraldist, Erling Svane. Danish names are shown in italics.

• Norway (Norge): 1398 - c. 1819: on red, a crowned golden lion carrying a golden axe with a silver blade. The union with Norway was dissolved in 1814 as a result of the Napoleonic Wars.
• Sweden (Sverige): 1398 - the Folkung lion, the arms of Sweden until 1364. Only used during the reign of Eric of Pomerania.
• Pomerania (Pommern): 1398 - a red griffin on silver. Only used during the reign of Eric of Pomerania.
• Bavaria (Bayern): 1440 - lozengy blue/white. Only used during the reign of Christopher of Bavaria.
• Palatinate (Pfalz): 1440 - a crowned golden lion on black. Only used during the reign of Christopher of Bavaria.
• King of the Wends (Vendernes Konge): 1440 - 1972: a crowned golden lindorm on red. Canute VI proclaimed himself Rex Sclavorum (King of Slavs). From the reign of Valdemar IV this title was known as King of the Wends. This symbol was later also interpreted as the coat of arms of Funen and appeared in the official insignia of the now-defunct army regiment Fynske Livregiment. It should not be confused with the similar insignia of Bornholm, also formerly included in the Danish arms.
• King of the Goths (Gothernes Konge): 1449 - 1972: in gold, a blue lion passant over nine red hearts arranged 4, 3, 2. Originally a leopard. Derived from the arms of Denmark and originally the arms of the Dukes of Halland. The lion is almost never crowned. This symbol was later also interpreted as the coat of arms of Jutland. It appears on the stern of the 19th century frigate Jylland and in the official insignia of the army regiment Jydske Dragonregiment.
• Holstein (Holsten): 1440 - 1972: on red, a silver nettle leaf; sometimes seen as a silver shield with a red indented bordure.
• Stormarn (Stormarn): 1496 - 1972: on red, a silver swan with a golden crown around its neck.
• Delmenhorst (Delmenhorst): 1531 - 1972: on blue, a golden cross.
• Dithmarschen (Ditmarsken): 1563 - 1972: on red, a knight dressed in golden armor on a silver horse. On his arm, an oval blue shield with a golden cross. Frederick II conquered Dithmarschen in 1559.
• Iceland (Island): 16th century - 1903: on red, a crowned silver stockfish. The symbol had been associated with Iceland from the early sixteenth century. First included in the arms of Frederick II. 1903 - 1948: a silver falcon on blue. Iceland dissolved the union with Denmark in 1944, and following the death of King Christian X in 1947, the new King Frederick IX decided to remove the falcon from his arms. This change took place by royal decree on 6 July 1948.
• Gotland (Gotland / archaic: Gulland): on red, a silver Agnus Dei. First included by King Frederick II. Last used during the reign of King Frederick VI.
• Saaremaa (Øsel): from 1603, last used by King Frederick VI: on blue a black eagle. Several historians have explained this violation of the heraldic rule of tincture as the black colour being the result of an oxidation of white paint containing lead.
• Fehmarn (Femern): from 1666, last used by King Frederick VI: on blue, a golden crown.
• Bornholm (Bornholm): from c. 1665, last used by King Frederick VI: on red, a golden four-legged dragon.
• Lauenburg (Lauenborg): 1819 - 1972: on red, a golden horse's head. Derived from the German Sachsenross arms which shows a silver horse on red.