Coat of Arms of Spain - Features

Features

The Spanish coat of arms is composed of six other arms and some additional heraldic symbols:

Kingdoms of Spain Additional heraldic symbols
Arms Meaning Details
Kingdom of Castile 1st quarter
Gules, a three towered castle Or, masoned sable and ajouré azure.
Kingdom of León 2nd quarter
Argent, a lion rampant purpure(sometimes blazoned gules) crowned Or, langued and armed gules.
Crown of Aragon 3rd quarter
Or, four pallets gules.
Kingdom of Navarre 4th quarter
Gules, a cross, saltire and orle of chains linked together Or, a centre point vert.
Kingdom of Granada enté en point
Argent, a pomegranate proper seeded gules, supported, sculpted and leafed in two leaves vert.
Arms Meaning Details
House of Bourbon
(Anjou Branch)		 Inescutcheon
Azure bordure gules, three fleur-de-lis Or
Oval in the official version.
Pillars of Hercules Supporters
an ancient name given to the Strait of Gibraltar. The motto plus ultra means 'further beyond' in Latin
Imperial crown (Holy Roman Empire) Top of supporter
King Charles I of Spain's crown. He was also Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (Imperial crown's later appearance)
Spanish Royal crown
(Heraldic crown)		 Helm & Top of supporter
Or and precious stones, with eight rosettes, five visible, and eight pearls interspersed, closed at the top by eight diamonds also adorned with pearls and surmounted by a cross on a globe

The present design, despite criticism by heraldic experts, is regulated by:

  • Act 33/1981, dated 5 October, on the Coat of Arms of Spain (Official Gazette nº 250, dated 19 October)
  • Royal Decree 2964/1981, dated 18 December, approving the official Coat of Arms of Spain (Official Gazette nº 221, dated 15 September)
  • Royal Decree 2267/1982, dated 3 September, technically specifying the colours of the Arms of Spain (Official Gazette nº 221, dated 15 September)

The Monarch has his own personal arms.

INSTITUTIONAL VARIANTS
The Senate The Council of State Variant of the Judiciary Badges
The Customs Surveillance Service The Body of Legal Representatives of the State The General Council of Lawyers The General Council of Solicitors

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