coat of arms of Belgium

{{about|the coat of arms of the country of Belgium and its Royal Family|a broader article|Belgian heraldry}}{{Infobox coat of arms

|name = Coat of arms of Belgium

|image = Great coat of arms of Belgium.svg

|image_width = 220px

|caption = Greater version (French version of motto)

|middle = Middle coat of arms of Belgium.svg

|middle_width = 200px

|middle_caption = Middle version (French version of motto)

|lesser = State Coat of Arms of Belgium.svg

|lesser_width = 180px

|lesser_caption = Lesser version (French version of motto)

|armiger = Kingdom of Belgium

|year_adopted = 17 March 1837

|crest = A helmet with raised visor or crowned with a Royal Crown of Belgium

|mantle = mantling Sable doubled

|torse =

|shield = Sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued Gules with two crossed sceptres (a hand of justice and a lion) or behind a shield. The grand collar of the Order of Leopold (Belgium) surrounds the shield

|supporters = Two lions guardant proper each supporting a lance Gules point or with two National Flags of Belgium (Tierced per pale Sable, or and Gules).

|compartment = Underneath the compartment is placed the ribbon Gules with two stripes Sable charged with the motto

|motto = {{langx|fr|L'union fait la force}}
{{langx|nl|Eendracht maakt macht}}
{{langx|de|Einigkeit macht stark}}

|orders = Order of Leopold

|other_elements = The whole is placed on a mantle Gules with ermine lining, fringes and tassels Or and ensigned with the Royal Crown of Belgium. Above the mantle rise banners with the arms of the nine provinces that constituted Belgium in 1837. They are (from dexter to sinister) Antwerp, West Flanders, East Flanders, Liège, Brabant, Hainaut, Limburg, Luxembourg and Namur

|earlier_versions =

|use =

}}

The coat of arms of Belgium bears a lion or, known as Leo Belgicus (Latin for the Belgian lion), as its charge. This is in accordance with article 193 (originally 125) of the Belgian Constitution: The Belgian nation takes red, yellow and black as colours, and as state coat of arms the Belgian lion with the motto UNITY MAKES STRENGTH. A royal decree of 17 March 1837 determines the achievement to be used in the greater and the lesser version, respectively.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}

History

The newly independent Kingdom of Belgium decided to base its coat of arms and flag on the symbols used by the short-lived United Belgian States. These came into being after the Southern Netherlands threw off Austrian rule. It existed as an independent polity from January to December 1790. The Duchy of Brabant had taken the lead in the so-called Brabant Revolution, the insurrection against Emperor Joseph II, and afterwards dominated the United Netherlandish States. Therefore, the Lion of Brabant (sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued gules) came to stand for the entire federation.

File:Belgian Lion.png used on the (current) official coat of arms of Belgium]]

This was not without precedent. In the course of the Dutch Revolt the provinces rebelling against the rule of King Philip II adopted a common seal in 1578 showing the Leo Belgicus wearing a crown and holding a sword and a sheaf of arrows. The crown stood for sovereignty, the sword for the war against Spain and the arrows for the concord and unity among the rebellious provinces. At first the lion of the (Dutch) Republic of the United Provinces had the Brabant colours or on sable. It was only when most of Brabant was reconquered by Spain in the 1580s and Holland came to dominate the Republic, that the colours of the Dutch lion (or and gules) became the definitive tinctures of the arms of the United Provinces. The Dutch Revolt likewise providCOaed the motto "Unity Makes Strength". The inscription of the seal of 1578 reads {{lang|la|Concordia res parvae crescunt}} (through unity small things grow), a quote taken from Sallust's Jugurthine War. Soon Dutch sources used the translation {{lang|nl|Eendracht maekt magt}}. The United States of Belgium of 1790 used the Latin version {{lang|la|In Unione Salus}}. Their motto was in turn taken over and translated into French by the Kingdom of Belgium in 1831. It was only in 1958 that it was decided that the official Dutch translation should read {{lang|nl|Eendracht maakt macht}}.

Coat of arms of Belgium

File:Great coat of arms of Belgium.svg|coat of arms of Belgium (Great)

File:Middle coat of arms of Belgium.svg|coat of arms of Belgium (Middle)

File:State Coat of Arms of Belgium.svg|coat of arms of Belgium (state/small)

File:Arms of Belgium (with crown).svg|coat of arms of Belgium (shield)

Historical coat of arms of Belgium

File:Arms of Flanders.svg|Coat of arms of the County of Flanders (863–1794)

File:Coat of arms of hainaut (with crown).png|Coat of arms of the County of Hainaut (900–1477)

File:Arms of the Archduchy of Austria.svg|Coat of Arms of Lower Lotharingia (959–1190)

File:Wappen Bistum Lüttich.png|Coat of arms of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (980–1790)

File:Arms of Namur.svg|Coat of arms of the County of Namur (981–1797)

File:Coat of arms limburg.png|Coat of arms of the Duchy of Limburg (1065–1797)

File:Wapenschild van Brabant.svg|Coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant (1183–1794)

File:Coat of arms luxembourg.png|Coat of arms of the Duchy of Luxembourg (1353–1797)

File:Coat of arms of the Burgundian State.svg|Coat of arms of the Burgundian State (1384–1482)

File:Coat of Arms of Philip IV of Burgundy.svg|Coat of arms of The Habsburg Netherlands (1482–1797)

File:Coat of Arms of Archduke Albert of Austria as Governor-Monarch of the Low Countries.svg|Coat of arms of the Spanish Netherlands (1556–1714)

File:Coat of arms of the Austrian Netherlands.svg|Coat of arms of the Austrian Netherlands (1714–1797)

File:Coat of arms of United Belgian States.svg|Coat of arms of United Belgian States (1789–1790)

File:Royal coat of arms of the Netherlands (1815-1907).svg|Coat of arms of The United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–1830)

File:State Coat of Arms of Belgium.svg|Coat of arms of Belgium (1830–now)

Colonial coat of arms of Belgium

File:Coat of arms of the Congo Free State.svg|Coat of arms of the Belgian Congo (great) (1908–1960)

File:Greater Coat of Arms of the Belgian Congo.svg|Coat of arms of the Belgian Congo (middle) (1908–1960)

File:Lesser Coat of Arms of the Belgian Congo.svg|Coat of arms of the Belgian Congo (small) (1908–1960)

File:Coat of arms of Ruanda-Urundi.svg|Coat of arms of Belgian Ruanda-Urundi (1916–1962)

File:Coat of arms of Lado Enclave.svg|Coat of arms of the Lado Enclave (1894–1910)

File:Seal of the Belgian concession of Tianjin.svg|Coat of arms of the Belgian concession of Tianjin (1902–1931)

Other coats of arms of Belgium

File:Greater coat of arms of the City of Brussels.svg|coat of arms of the City of Brussels (1817–now)

File:Coat of arms of Neutral Moresnet.svg|Coat of arms of The Neutral Moresnet (1816–192)

File:Ostend Logo 1.svg|Coat of arms of the Belgian Ostend Company(1722–1731)

File:Vlaamse Heraldische Raad wapen.svg|Coat of arms of the Council of Heraldry and Vexillology, Flanders (1985–now)

File:Coat of arms of the Council of Heraldry and Vexillology.svg|Coat of arms of the Council of Heraldry and Vexillology, Wallonia (1985–now)

Leo Belgicus (Belgian lion)

File:Belgian Lion.png|Leo Belgicus (Lion used on the coat of arms of Belgium)

File:Belgian Lion + coat of arms Saksen-Coburg en Gotha.png|Leo Belgicus with the coat of arms of the Royal house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

File:Coat of arms used by Leopold I of Belgium.png|Leo Belgicus used by King Leopold I of Belgium on his personal coat of arms

File:Belgian government Lion.png|Lion used by the Belgian (federal) government

File:Lion of the United Belgian States.png|Leo Belgicus of the United Belgian States

File:Heraldic Lion Rampant - Or.svg|Leo Belgicus of the Duchy of Brabant and Belgicism

Variants of the Belgian coat of arms

=Greater version=

The shield is emblazoned: Sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued gules. It is surmounted by a helmet with raised visor, with mantling or and sable and the royal crown in lieu of a crest. Behind the shield are placed a hand of justice and a sceptre with a lion. The grand collar of the Order of Leopold surrounds the shield. Two lions guardant proper support the shield as well as a lance with the national colours black, yellow and red. Underneath the compartment is placed the motto {{lang|fr|L'union fait la force}} in French or Eendracht maakt macht in Dutch, or Unity Is Strength in English. The riband of the motto is red, with black stripes on either side. The lettering is golden. Since the Royal Decree of 1837 never received an official translation, the use of the Dutch version of the motto is customary rather than official. The whole is placed on a red mantle with ermine lining and golden fringes and tassels, ensigned with the royal crown. Above the mantle rise banners with the arms of the nine provinces that constituted Belgium in 1837. They are (from dexter to sinister) Antwerp, West Flanders, East Flanders, Liège, Brabant, Hainaut, Limburg, Luxembourg and Namur.

File:Great coat of arms of Belgium.svg|Coat of arms of Belgium (greater)

File:Great Coat of Arms of Belgium (Ten provinces).svg|Coat of arms of Belgium (variant with all 10 provinces)

File:Greater Belgian coat of arms 1937.png|Greater Belgian coat of arms in article 125 of the constitution (1837)https://www.hubert-herald.nl/Belgie.htm

File:Greater coat of arms Belgium, 19th century.jpg|Greater coat of arms Belgium (19th century)

File:Belgian greater coat of arms on a coin.png|Greater Belgian coat of arms on a coinhttps://www.hubert-herald.nl/Belgie.htm

File:Greater Circular coat of arms Belgium on a coin.png|Greater (Circular) coat of arms of Belgium on a coin

The greater arms are used only rarely. They adorn the great seal that is affixed to laws and international treaties.

Since the province of Brabant was split into Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Brussels in 1995, the greater arms no longer reflect the present territorial divisions of the state. The changes made to the arms of the Flemish provinces as a result of this decision are not reflected in the great seal either.

=Lesser version=

The lesser coat of arms (as used by the Belgian federal government, on passport covers and the official sites of the monarchy and of the government) consists of the shield, the royal crown, the crossed sceptres, the collar of the Order of Leopold and the motto.

File:State Coat of Arms of Belgium.svg|Coat of arms of Belgium (Lesser/State)

File:Belgian lesser coat of arms (constitution).png|Belgian lesser coat of arms in the constitution

File:Belgian Passport 2008 cover.jpg|Lesser arms on a Belgian passport cover

File:Wapenschild België, buitenland.png|Lesser coat of arms on an embassy plaque

File:Lesser coat of arms Belgium on a coin.png|Lesser coat of arms of Belgium on a coin.

= Shield version =

The shield version is now rarely used, it used to be mainly on coins and military badges.

File:Arms of Belgium (with crown).svg|Coat of arms Belgium (shield, with crown)

File:Royal Arms of Belgium.svg|Coat of arms Belgium (shield)

File:Belgian shield on a coin.png|Belgian shield (with crown) on a coin

File:Armoiries ERM.svg|Coat of arms of the Belgian Royal Military Academy (shield seen in the middle of the red field with a crown and a sword right thru the middle)

= Royal versions =

A Royal Decree published on 19 July 2019 and signed on the same day, by King Philippe, reinstated the Saxonian escutcheon in all the royal versions of the family's coat of arms.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/arrete/2019/07/12/2019030777/moniteur|title=Royal Decree of July 12, 2019|date=July 19, 2019|website=Moniteur Belge|access-date=July 23, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/02/saxe-appeal-king-of-belgium-reintroduces-german-lineage|title=Saxe appeal: king of Belgium reintroduces German lineage|first=Daniel|last=Boffey|newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 2, 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}} The reinstatement of the shield of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha into the royal arms occurred shortly after the visit of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to the ancestral Friedenstein Castle.{{Cite web|url=http://royalcentral.co.uk/europe/king-philippe-and-queen-mathilde-visit-ancestral-castles-during-visit-to-german-states-125755|title=King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visit ancestral castles during visit to German states|last=Ilse|first=Jess |date=2019-07-13|website=Royal Central|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-23}} The king also added translations of the motto into the three official languages of Belgium, to reflect his wish "to be the King of the whole Kingdom and of all Belgians".{{Cite journal |date=1 August 2019 |title=Belgian royal coat of arms gets a 'modern' update|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-news/art-culture/62381/belgian-royal-coat-of-arms-gets-a-modern-update/|journal=Brussel Times |access-date=2 August 2019}} The latest royal decree therefore reverses previous changes made to the Royal versions of the coat arms which removed the armorial bearings of Saxony during the First World War.

;Reigning King's or Queen's (Royal Arms) version

Sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued Gules charged on the shoulder with an escutcheon of the House of Wettin. The shield is surmounted by a golden helm with the Royal Crown of Belgium and lambrequin Or and Sable. The shield surrounded by the necklace of the Order of Leopold. The supporter are two lions guardant proper each supporting a lance Or with two National Flags of Belgium. Motto: Eendracht maakt macht - L'union fait la force - Einigkeit macht stark, in gold letters, on a ribbon Gules, edged Sable. The whole is placed on a mantle Purpure with ermine lining, fringes and tassels Or and ensigned with the Royal Crown of Belgium.

;Former King or Queen's version

The Royal Arms difference with a label of three points Gules, the centre point bearing the royal crown Or. The shield is surmounted by the Royal Crown of Belgium.

;Duke or Duchess of Brabant version

The Royal Arms difference with a label of three points Or. The shield is surmounted by the Princely Crown of Belgium. The supporters each accompanied by a banner of gold, fringed likewise, bearing Sable, a golden lion, armed and langued Gules (Brabant).

;Other Princes or Princesses of Belgium of the male and female descent in direct line of King Leopold I

The Royal Arms difference with a narrow bordure Or. The shield is surmounted by the Princely Crown of Belgium.

;Other Princes or Princesses of Our Royal House

The Royal Arms difference with a narrow bordure Purpure. The shield is surmounted by the Princely Crown of Belgium.

== Coat of arms of the (former) King of Belgim ==

;

File:Coat of arms of Kingdom of Belgium 1846.png|Coat of Arms of King Leopold I of Belgium (1831-1846)

File:Coat of Arms of King Leopold I of Belgium.svg|Coat of Arms of King Leopold I of Belgium (1846-1865)

File:Coat of Arms of the King of the Belgians (1837-1921).svg|Coat of Arms of King Leopold II of Belgium (1865-1902)

File:Coat of Arms of the King of the Belgians (1921-2019).svg|Coat of arms of King Albert I, Leopold III, Baudouin and Albert II of Belgium (1902-2019)

File:Coat of Arms of the King of the Belgians.svg|Coat of arms of King Philippe of Belgium (2019-now)

Coat of arms of the Belgian royal family

File:Coat of Arms of the King of the Belgians.svg| Coat of arms of the King of Belgians, King Philippe

File:Coat of arms of a Prince of the Royal House of Belgium.svg| Coat of arms of the Belgian royal house (greater)

File:Coat of arms of the Royal House of Belgium.svg| Coat of arms of the Belgian royal house (middle)

File:Lesser arms of the Royal House of Belgium.svg| Coat of arms of the Belgian royal house (small)

File:Coat of arms of a Prince of Belgium.svg| Coat of arms of the Prince of Belgium

File:Coat of arms of a Princess of Belgium.svg| Coat of arms of the Princess of Belgium

File:Coat of arms of a Prince of the Royal House of Belgium.svg| Coat of arms of a prince of the Royal house

File:Coat of arms of a Princess of the Royal House of Belgium.svg| Coat of arms of a princess of the Royal house

File:Coat of arms of the Duke of Brabant.svg| Coat of arms of the prince and Duke of Brabant

File:Coat of arms of the Duchess of Brabant.svg| Coat of arms of the princess and Duchess of Brabant (Princes Elisabeth)

== Coat of arms of the Royal couple ==

;

File:Alliance Coat of Arms of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.svg| Coat of arms of the Current King Philippe and Queen Mathilde

File:Alliance Coat of Arms of King Albert II and Queen Paola (1993-2019).svg| Coat of arms of the former King Albert II and Queen Paola

File:Alliance Coat of Arms of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola.svg| Coat of arms of the former King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola

File:Alliance Coat of Arms of King Leopold III and Queen Astrid.svg| Coat of arms of the former King Leopold III and Queen Astrid

File:Alliance Coat of Arms of King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth.svg| Coat of arms of the former King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth

File:Alliance Coat of Arms of King Leopold II and Queen Marie Henriette.svg| Coat of arms of the former king Leopold II and Queen Marie

File:Alliance Coat of Arms of King Leopold I and Queen Louise.svg| Coat of arms of the first king of the Belgians Leopold I and Queen Louise

References

;Citations

;Bibliography

Andrée Scufflaire. Les origines du sceau de l'Etat belge, in: Roger Harmignies, ed. Sources de l'héraldique en Europe occidentale, (Brussels, 1985) 201–225.
Hubert de Vries. Wapens van de Nederlanden: De historische ontwikkeling van de heraldische symbolen van Nederlanden, België, hun provincies en Luxemburg (Amsterdam, 1995).
Philippe du Bois de Ryckholt. Dictionnaire des cris et devises de la noblesse belge (Recueil généalogique et héraldique, 24.) (Brussels, 1976) p. 17–18.