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{{Short description|none}}
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{{Infobox coat of arms {{Infobox coat of arms
|name = Coat of arms of Slovakia |name = Coat of arms of Slovak Republic
|image = Coat of Arms of Slovakia.svg |image = Coat of arms of Slovakia.svg
|image_width = 200 |image_width = 200
|middle = |armiger = ]
⚫ |year_adopted = 1 March 1990 (13 June 1919)
|middle_width =
|middle_caption =
|lesser =
|lesser_width =
|lesser_caption =
|armiger = ]
⚫ |year_adopted = 1 January 1993 (13 June 1919)
|crest = |crest =
|torse = |torse =
Line 28: Line 18:
}} }}


{{Politics of Slovakia}}
]


The '''coat of arms of ]''' consists of a red (''gules'') shield, in early Gothic style, ] with a ] (''argent'') ] standing on the middle peak of a dark blue mountain consisting of three peaks. Extremities of the cross are amplified, and its ends are concaved. The double cross is a symbol of its Christian faith and the hills represent three symbolic mountain ranges: ], Fátra (made up of the ] and ] ranges), and ] (the last one is in northern ]).{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} The '''coat of arms of the Slovak Republic''' consists of a red (''gules'') shield, in early Gothic style, ] with a ] (''argent'') ] standing on the middle peak of a dark blue mountain consisting of three peaks. Extremities of the cross are amplified, and its ends are concaved. The double cross is a symbol of its Christian faith and the hills represent three symbolic mountain ranges: ], Fatra (made up of the ] and ] ranges), and ] (in ]).


The genesis and history of the iconography and symbolism of the state emblem of the Slovak Republic has three basic development periods and all three organically follow each other: Byzantine (6th-12th centuries), Hungarian (12th-20th centuries) and Slovak (19th-20th centuries).<ref name="Kolnik Slovak coat of arms" />
⚫ == Double cross ==
One of the modern interpretations of the double cross is that it represents Slovakia as an heir and guardian of ] tradition{{Clarify|date=April 2014}}, brought to the region by ], two missionaries from the ].


==Modern design history==
The two-barred cross in the Slovak coat of arms originated in the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire in the 9th century. Unlike the ], the symbolism and meaning of the double cross is not well understood. One interpretation is that the first horizontal line symbolized the ] power and the other horizontal line the ] power of Byzantine emperors. Another that the first cross represents the death and the second cross the resurrection of ]. In the Byzantine Empire of the 9th century, the double cross was a political symbol used by Byzantine clerks and missionaries.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}
In 1990, the Slovak Interior Ministry tasked ] (a painter and heraldic artist) and Ladislav Vrtel (an expert in ]) with creating a new coat of arms and ] in the aftermath of the ].<ref name=teraz>{{cite news |title=Zomrel autor výtvarného spracovania štátnych symbolov SR |url=http://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/zomrel-autor-vytvarneho-spracovania-symb/273523-clanok.html |work=] |date=2017-08-03 |access-date=2017-09-06}}</ref><ref name=sme>{{cite news |title=Zomrel autor slovenských národných symbolov Ladislav Čisárik ml. |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/20618149/zomrel-autor-slovenskych-narodnych-symbolov-ladislav-cisarik-ml.html |work=] |date=2017-08-03 |access-date=2017-09-06}}</ref><ref name=ssp>{{cite news |first=Marcela|last=Glevická|title=How the national emblem appeared – including so far secret communism designs |url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20460586/how-the-national-emblem-appeared-including-so-far-secret-communism-designs.html |work=] |date=2017-02-16 |access-date=2017-09-07}}</ref> Čisárik and Vrtel based their designs for a modern coat of arms and flag on an existing 14th century ] coat of arms,<ref name=teraz/><ref name=sme/> it was based on the seal of King ].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Lenyúlták-e a szlovákok a magyar címert? |work=Mandiner |url=https://mandiner.blog.hu/2008/12/29/lenyultak_e_a_szlovakok_a_magyar_cimert}}</ref> However, Čisárik and Vrtel chose to enlarge the hills three times to emphasize it as a national symbol. In addition to the national coat of arms and the ], the duo also designed a new presidential standard, which incorporates the same design as well.<ref name=teraz/><ref name=sme/>


⚫ == Double cross ==
The double cross arrived in the territory of current-day Slovakia probably no later than during the 9th century mission of ] to ]. {{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} Though used frequently in Great Moravia, it was not a state symbol at that time, because there were no state symbols in the modern sense in Europe at that time yet. By means of ] (the ruler of ], son of the German emperor Arnulf of Carinthia and godchild of the Great Moravian king ]), this symbol got to Lorraine and is called the ] there.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}
One of the modern interpretations of the double cross is that it represents Slovakia as an heir and guardian of ] tradition.<ref name="Štátny znak Slovenskej republiky">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldica.szm.com/stranky/slov/indexslov.htm|title=Štátny znak Slovenskej republiky|website=Heraldica.szm.com|access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref>


] with double cross]]
The double cross symbol appeared again in rudimentary features on the first coins that ], the first king of the ] (part of which now forms the territory of present-day Slovakia), had minted at an unknown place. Before he became king in 1000, he was the Grand Prince of the ] and was living there with his Bavarian wife Gisella. The frequent opinion that the double cross was a cross that the ] granted to Stephen I. around 1000 is still disputed. The opinion arose only in the 15th century based on a legend from the 12th century, which in addition only says that Stephen received an apostolic cross (i.e. a normal, not a double cross).


In Slovakia, there is a coded myth that the double cross was brought to the region by ], two missionaries from the ]. This legend, which is generally accepted today, arose only in the period of romanticism, accompanying the process of national awareness of the Slovaks in the middle of 19th century. So far, no archaeological finds have confirmed the presence of a double cross in Central Europe during the Great Moravian period or the immediately following period. The oldest double cross in present-day Slovakia dates back to the 11th century. Moreover the exception of depictions on Byzantine coins, the double cross did not appear anywhere in mural iconography, in plastic form, or as a solitary object before the middle of the 10th century. According to Slovak archeologist Titus Kolník, the double cross legend of Cyril and Methodius is a fiction: "that myths have more power than history".<ref name="Kolnik Slovak coat of arms">{{Cite web |last=Kolník |first=Titus |date=13 September 2019 |title=Byzantské korene ikonografie a symboliky štátneho znaku Slovenskej republiky |trans-title=Byzantine roots of the iconography and symbolism of the state coat of arms of the Slovak Republic |url=https://matica.sk/byzantske-korene-statneho-znaku-sr/ |website=Matica slovenská |language=Slovak}}</ref>
The direct predecessor of the current coat of arms of Slovakia can be found in the coat of arms used by ], the prince of the Nitrian frontier principality (1046–1060) and later ]. Béla was a member of the house of ] and was named after the ]{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}, who had baptized King Stephen, the cousin of Béla's father, some decades ago. Béla conducted his own internal and international policy in his Nitrian frontier principality. The Byzantine emperor, involved in a quarrel with the Hungarian king, even sent Béla a prince's crown to Nitra. Furthermore, Béla had own coins minted in 1050 in Nitra, the capital of his principality – coins which deliberately differed from those of the Hungarian king and which bore the double cross symbol.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}


The appearance of the double cross in coins before ] is highly disputed. According to recent view It is a simple misinterpretation of two normal crosses.<ref>Kolník: Byzantské korene ikonografie a symboliky štátneho znaku Slovenskej republiky Historický Zborník, 1999. 9. 13–32. p.</ref> There are also attempts to validate the legend of the double cross associated with Cyril and Methodius, as well as to explore its potential mediating role through the supposed appearance of the double cross on early coins from the Hungarian royal ] (King ] (997–1038), King ] (1060–1063)) to the depiction of the real double cross on the coins of King ] (1172–1196)). The merging of the "cross" from the central field with the division sign - with the real cross in the colophon of the coin is completely accidental and cannot be considered a double cross. That is an iconographic misunderstanding, a simple misinterpretation of two normal crosses.<ref name="Kolnik Slovak coat of arms" /><ref>Kolník: Byzantské korene ikonografie a symboliky štátneho znaku Slovenskej republiky Historický Zborník, 1999. 9. 13–32. p.</ref>


The double cross, a symbol of royal power, appeared only during the reign of King ] (1172–1196).<ref name="Laszlovszky">{{Cite book |last=Laszlovszky |first=József |url=https://library.hungaricana.hu/hu/view/SZTNH_Konyvek_0148 |title=A magyar címer története |publisher=Pytheas |year=1989 |isbn=963 500 980 1 |location=Budapest |language=Hungarian |trans-title=History of the Hungarian Coat of Arms}}</ref><ref name="Kolnik Slovak coat of arms" /> Daughter of King ], ] was a Byzantine empress, she was the mother of the Byzantine Emperor ]. The second son of King ], Béla arrived in ] in 1163. Béla was raised in the imperial court of Manuel due to the close Byzantine-Hungarian relations of the mid-12th century, and he was even the heir to the throne. He had ambitions to create a Hungarian–Byzantine personal union.<ref name="Kolnik Slovak coat of arms" /> In 1169, Manuel's young wife gave birth to a son, thus depriving Béla of his status as heir of the Byzantine throne. The most intensive contacts between the Hungarian royal court and the Constantinople imperial court was under Béla III.<ref name="Kolnik Slovak coat of arms" /> It was during this time that Béla III brought with him the double cross as a royal emblem, which appeared for the first time on his coat of arms and minted coins.<ref name="Laszlovszky" /><ref name="Kolnik Slovak coat of arms" />
It was only 100 years later, around 1189, that the double cross is known to have been used again – it was used during a crusade of the Hungarian king ] as his royal symbol. The three hills seen in the modern Slovak and Hungarian coats of arms were still not present in the standard. This time, the symbol was already used as a ], because coats of arms became fashionable in Europe at that time. He chose the symbol, because it was a ] symbol and because it was the oldest symbol used in his kingdom.


] from his Golden Bull]]
Béla's successors ] and ], however, did not use anymore the double cross, which was associated with the Nitrian frontier principality situated in the northern part of the kingdom and dissolved in 1107, as their symbol, but they used a red-and-white-stripes symbol associated with the new frontier principality created in Croatia and Dalmatia in the end of the 11th century (see the ] for a picture).


On the coins and seals of King ] (1235–1270), the double-cross shield reappears.<ref name="Laszlovszky3">{{Cite book |last=Laszlovszky |first=József |url=https://library.hungaricana.hu/hu/view/SZTNH_Konyvek_0148 |title=A magyar címer története |publisher=Pytheas |year=1989 |isbn=963 500 980 1 |location=Budapest |language=Hungarian |trans-title=History of the Hungarian Coat of Arms}}</ref>
King ] used the patriarchal cross again – the reasons for this decision are unknown. Some historians suggest that he simply copied Béla III, his ideal, though this is only an assumption. At the time of his rule, the patriarchal cross also became the symbol of the ], although in a slightly modified form. When the Kingdom of Hungary was split in two parts temporarily in 1262, the double cross was used as the symbol for the northern and western part (encompassing present-day Slovakia) and the stripes as the symbol for the other part of the kingdom.


] (1000–1038), the first ] depicted in the ] (1358)]]
The last ] king, ] (1290–1301), used only the patriarchal cross.


] (1342-1382). The modern design of the coat of arms of ] by ] was based on this medieval ] seal.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Bertényi |first=Iván |title=Új magyar címertan |publisher=Maecenas Könyvkiadó |year=1998 |isbn=963-7425-81-0 |location=Budapest |language=Hungarian |trans-title=New Hungarian heraldry}}</ref>]]
During the throne struggles after 1301, ] used the double cross as his symbol (see chapter "Three hills" for details), while ] (1307–1342) used a bipartite coat of arms consisting of the ] symbol and the above-mentioned stripes symbol of ], whose daughter Maria Charles Robert had married.


After the extinction of the male branch of the Árpád dynasty in 1301, the Hungarian ] kings (King ] (1308–1342), King ] (1342–1382)) combined the ] with their own lily coat of arms. By using the striped shield, the Anjous indicated their connection to the Árpád dynasty through a female line. On the reverse side of their seal, they engraved the double cross, which symbolized the ].<ref name="Laszlovszky2">{{Cite book |last=Laszlovszky |first=József |url=https://library.hungaricana.hu/hu/view/SZTNH_Konyvek_0148 |title=A magyar címer története |publisher=Pytheas |year=1989 |isbn=963 500 980 1 |location=Budapest |language=Hungarian |trans-title=History of the Hungarian Coat of Arms}}</ref>
After the ] in 1241-1242 many of the newly founded towns in the Kingdom of Hungary received the right to use the royal double cross as their coat of arms. The first, biggest and most towns of the kingdom arose in present-day Slovakia - the part of the kingdom that was characterized by German settlers, extensive mining activities and thus the most advanced economy at that time. It was probably partly due to this use in municipal coats of arm that the double cross became a clear symbol of the northern part of the kingdom again from the 15th century onwards and ] from the 18th century.

From the late 14th century onwards (according to other sources from the 13th century), the double cross symbol was used both as a symbol for northern parts of the Kingdom ("partes Danubii septentrionales, partes regni superiores", i.e. approximately the territory of present-day Slovakia and northeastern Hungary) and as a symbol of kings of the Kingdom of Hungary. For example, the state symbol of ] (1342–1382) was a quartered coat of arms containing among other symbols the symbol of Charles Robert of Anjou (containing in turn the stripes symbol) as the symbol for the southern parts of the kingdom ("partes regni inferiores") and the symbol for northern parts of the Kingdom (the double cross symbol). A good example of the double meaning of the double cross symbol is the great seal of King ] (1387–1437): This seal contains the double cross symbol in the middle, surroounded by a circle of smaller coats of arms of territories under his rule. These smaller coats of arms include the double cross symbol (for a second time!) as the symbol of what is today Slovakia and the stripes symbol as the symbol for Pannonia.


Since 1526, when the Habsburgs became kings of the Kingdom of Hungary, the current "combined" coat of arms of Hungary including the double cross symbol and the stripes symbol was used as the symbol of the Kingdom of Hungary (except that the small crown below the double cross was added only in the 17th century). Since 1526, when the Habsburgs became kings of the Kingdom of Hungary, the current "combined" coat of arms of Hungary including the double cross symbol and the stripes symbol was used as the symbol of the Kingdom of Hungary (except that the small crown below the double cross was added only in the 17th century).


== Three hills == == Three hills ==
The ] represents the three mountain ranges ], ] and ]<!--intentional link to DAB page--> which symbolized the northern mountainous part of the Kingdom of Hungary. (The Tatra and the Fatra ranges are in Slovakia.) This interpretation is probably the oldest and most frequent one – it can be traced back to the 16th century, but stems probably from the 15th century. According to ]'s "Tripartitum" from 16th century, the heaps represent the mountains in this order. The ] represents the three mountain ranges ], ] and ]<!--intentional link to DAB page--> which symbolized the northern mountainous part of the Kingdom of Hungary. (The Tatra and the Fatra ranges are in present day Slovakia.) This interpretation is probably the oldest and most frequent one – it can be traced back to the 16th century, but stems probably from the 15th century. According to ]'s "Tripartitum" from 16th century, the heaps represent the mountains in this order.


The three mountains below the double cross were used by King ] (1301–1305), who was king of Hungary, but was a ] from the house of the ]. Since this king was recognized basically only in what is today ] and Slovakia, the three mountains symbolize the mountainous highland of the Hungarian Kingdom (present day Slovakia).{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} ] (1305–1307), Ladislaus's successor, used this symbol as well – for the same reasons as Ladislaus.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} The three mountains below the double cross were used by King ] (1301–1305), who was crowned king of Hungary, but was a ] from the house of the ].


== Symbol of the Slovaks== ==Symbol of the Slovaks==


=== Origins and colors=== ===Origins and colours===
⚫ Not later than in the 16th century, the Slovaks started viewing the double cross also as a symbol of their nation.<ref name="Štátny znak Slovenskej republiky"/> This fact manifested itself during the ]/1849, Slovaks were fighting along with the Austrians against the Hungarians (though many Slovaks chose to defend the Hungarian case). A "]" was established for this purpose in August 1848 in Vienna. The present-day coat of arms was used on the seal of this Slovak National Council for the first time officially as the national symbol of the Slovaks (instead of being the official symbol of Upper Hungary only). From that time onwards, the symbol has been used very frequently.
] (1939-1945)]]
] (1960-1990)]]
⚫ Not later than in the 16th century, the Slovaks regarded the double cross also as a symbol of their nation.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} This fact manifested itself during the ]/1849, Slovaks were fighting along with the Austrians against the Magyars (Hungarians). A "]" was established for this purpose in August 1848 in Vienna. The present-day coat of arms was used on the seal of this Slovak National Council for the first time officially as the national symbol of the Slovaks (instead of being the official symbol of Upper Hungary only). From that time onwards, the symbol has been used very frequently.


As for the colors, the colors are supposed to be the three "Slavic" colors red-white-blue (]). Since the Upper Hungary coat of arms was already part of the ] at that time, only the color of the three mountains had to be changed (it happened on the ] for the first time) from green to "blue" to receive the red-white-blue combination. As for the colors, the colors are supposed to be the three "Slavic" colors red-white-blue (]). Since the Upper Hungary coat of arms was already part of the ] at that time, only the color of the three mountains had to be changed (it happened on the ] for the first time) from green to "blue" to receive the red-white-blue combination.
Line 77: Line 64:
As for the origin of the red color (in the Slovak and in the Hungarian coat of arms), the coat of arms has often had the red color as an almost inseparable attendant of the double cross in the coats of many Hungarian and Slovak towns since the Middle Ages. Also, the coat of arms of Béla III. is thought to have had red background. In general, red background color was used frequently for coats of arms in the late 12th and early 13th century in central Europe. One of the modern interpretations of the color is that it represents the bloody lining and symbolizes the Slovak 'martyrdom' during the time of ] (19th century).{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}} As for the origin of the red color (in the Slovak and in the Hungarian coat of arms), the coat of arms has often had the red color as an almost inseparable attendant of the double cross in the coats of many Hungarian and Slovak towns since the Middle Ages. Also, the coat of arms of Béla III. is thought to have had red background. In general, red background color was used frequently for coats of arms in the late 12th and early 13th century in central Europe. One of the modern interpretations of the color is that it represents the bloody lining and symbolizes the Slovak 'martyrdom' during the time of ] (19th century).{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}


The color of the three mountains was originally (from the 14th century) golden and silver; later it became green, and in 1848, as mentioned above, blue. The color of the three mountains was originally green but in 1848 the Slovak National Council used it as blue in accordance with the ].

⚫ ===20th century===
In 1918, ] troops began occupying northern Hungary in accordance with the territorial promises that the ] made to Czechoslovak politicians during World War I. However, Slovakia (]) was occupied by Hungarian troops from the ], who set up the ] as a puppet regime. Its emblem was the ], a symbol of communism. Following a brief ], Slovakia was incorporated into Czechoslovakia.


⚫ === 20th century===
In 1920 the Slovak coat of arms became part of the ] of ]. In 1920 the Slovak coat of arms became part of the ] of ].


Between 1939 and 1945, it was the state symbol of the ]. Between 1939 and 1945, it was the state symbol of the ].


In 1945, it became part of Czechoslovakia's coat of arms again. From 1960 to 1990 the symbol was officially forbidden, because it was interpreted by the Communists as the symbol of the fascist ]. The old coat of arms was replaced in the Czechoslovak coat of arms by an artificial symbol consisting of Mt. ] and three flames. The three flames were supposed to symbolize the ] of 1944. In 1945, it became part of Czechoslovakia's coat of arms again. From 1960 to 1990 the symbol was officially forbidden, because it was interpreted by the Communists as the symbol of the fascist ]. The old coat of arms was replaced in the Czechoslovak coat of arms by an artificial symbol consisting of Mt. ] and three flames. The three flames were supposed to symbolize the ] of 1944.
Line 92: Line 81:
Since 1992 the coat of arms is also placed on the ]. Since 1992 the coat of arms is also placed on the ].


==Photo gallery==
=== Part of other symbols===
<gallery>
]
File:Euromince.jpg|National side of ] with the double cross on three hills as featured in the Slovak coat of arms
File:Slovak passport biometric.jpg|The front cover of ] with the coat of arms at the front page
File:Cestnastraz.jpg|] with the coat of arms in uniforms
File:Slovak Government Flying Service, OM-BYA, Airbus A319-115 CJ (33998348613).jpg|Coat of arms at the tail of an Airbus A319 operated by ]
File:2022-04-29 Deutschland gegen Slowakei (Eishockey-Länderspiel) by Sandro Halank–261.jpg|] with the coat of arms in dresses
</gallery>


==Historical coat of arms==
]
{{gallery|width=120|height=120|noborder=yes|whitebg=no
In the 13th century King ] declared the double cross (ex post) a symbol of Saint Ladislaus (King ]). In 1386, it became part of the coat of arms of the house of ], because ] ] took over the alleged coat of arms of Saint Ladislaus when being baptized as Ladislaus (Wladyslaw). By means of the Jagiellons, the symbol also got into the ].
|File:Slovenská_vlajka_1848_z.png|This flag from the ] was one of the first depictions of Slovak coat of arms with three hills in blue colour. On this flag, whole Hungarian coat of arms was adopted, along with ]<br/>(1848–1849)

|File:Red star.svg|Coat of arms of ]<br/>(1919)
The ] uses a banner of these arms.
|File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_Czechoslovak_Legion.svg|Coat of Arms of ], which was used before creation of official Czechoslovak symbols. Occasionally it was depicted with green hills<br/>(1914–1920)

|File:Lesser coat of arms of Czechoslovakia.svg|Lesser coat of arms of ]<br/>(1920–1939)<br/>(1945–1960)
Slovak graphic designer Branislav Novotka<ref>http://www.heraldica.szm.com/stranky/slov/indexslov.htm</ref> designed a greater coat of arms of Slovakia and registered it at the ]. However, this coat of arms is no official symbol of Slovakia.
|File:Middle coat of arms of Czechoslovakia.svg|Middle coat of arms of ]<br/>(1920–1939)<br/>(1945–1960)
|File:Greater coat of arms of Czechoslovakia (1918-1938 and 1945-1961).svg|Greater coat of arms of ]<br/>(1920–1939)<br/>(1945–1960)
|File:Coat of Arms of the Slovak State (1939-1945).svg|Coat of arms of ] within the ]<br/>(1938–1939) and<br/>]<br/>(1939–1945)
|File:Coat of arms of Czechoslovakia (1960–1990).svg|Coat of arms of ]<br/>(1960–1990)
|File:Coat of arms of Slovakia (1960-1990).svg|Coat of arms of ] within ]<br/>(1969–1990)
|File:Herb Czechosłowacji (1990-1992).svg|Coat of arms of ]<br/>(1990–1992)
|File:Coat of arms of Slovakia.svg|Coat of arms of ] within ]<br/>(1990–1992)
⚫ }}


== See also == == See also ==
*]
*] *]
*] *]
*]
*]


==Notes== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


==External links== ==External links==

Latest revision as of 14:43, 23 December 2024

Coat of arms of Slovak Republic
ArmigerSlovak Republic
Adopted1 March 1990 (13 June 1919)
ShieldGules, a mount of three peaks Azure, issuant therefrom a double cross Argent
Politics of Slovakia
National symbols
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Recent elections
Parties in the National Council
Administrative divisions

The coat of arms of the Slovak Republic consists of a red (gules) shield, in early Gothic style, charged with a silver (argent) double cross standing on the middle peak of a dark blue mountain consisting of three peaks. Extremities of the cross are amplified, and its ends are concaved. The double cross is a symbol of its Christian faith and the hills represent three symbolic mountain ranges: Tatra, Fatra (made up of the Veľká Fatra and Malá Fatra ranges), and Matra (in Hungary).

The genesis and history of the iconography and symbolism of the state emblem of the Slovak Republic has three basic development periods and all three organically follow each other: Byzantine (6th-12th centuries), Hungarian (12th-20th centuries) and Slovak (19th-20th centuries).

Modern design history

In 1990, the Slovak Interior Ministry tasked Ladislav Čisárik (a painter and heraldic artist) and Ladislav Vrtel (an expert in heraldry) with creating a new coat of arms and national flag in the aftermath of the Velvet Revolution. Čisárik and Vrtel based their designs for a modern coat of arms and flag on an existing 14th century Hungarian coat of arms, it was based on the seal of King Louis I of Hungary. However, Čisárik and Vrtel chose to enlarge the hills three times to emphasize it as a national symbol. In addition to the national coat of arms and the national flag, the duo also designed a new presidential standard, which incorporates the same design as well.

Double cross

One of the modern interpretations of the double cross is that it represents Slovakia as an heir and guardian of Christian tradition.

Béla IV of Hungary, king, royal, seal, gold, golden bull, Hungary, double cross, Hungarian coat of arm
Coins of King Béla III of Hungary with double cross

In Slovakia, there is a coded myth that the double cross was brought to the region by St. Cyril and St. Methodius, two missionaries from the Byzantine Empire. This legend, which is generally accepted today, arose only in the period of romanticism, accompanying the process of national awareness of the Slovaks in the middle of 19th century. So far, no archaeological finds have confirmed the presence of a double cross in Central Europe during the Great Moravian period or the immediately following period. The oldest double cross in present-day Slovakia dates back to the 11th century. Moreover the exception of depictions on Byzantine coins, the double cross did not appear anywhere in mural iconography, in plastic form, or as a solitary object before the middle of the 10th century. According to Slovak archeologist Titus Kolník, the double cross legend of Cyril and Methodius is a fiction: "that myths have more power than history".

There are also attempts to validate the legend of the double cross associated with Cyril and Methodius, as well as to explore its potential mediating role through the supposed appearance of the double cross on early coins from the Hungarian royal Árpad dynasty (King Saint Stephen of Hungary (997–1038), King Béla I of Hungary (1060–1063)) to the depiction of the real double cross on the coins of King Béla III of Hungary (1172–1196)). The merging of the "cross" from the central field with the division sign - with the real cross in the colophon of the coin is completely accidental and cannot be considered a double cross. That is an iconographic misunderstanding, a simple misinterpretation of two normal crosses.

The double cross, a symbol of royal power, appeared only during the reign of King Béla III of Hungary (1172–1196). Daughter of King Saint Ladislaus I Hungary, Saint Irene was a Byzantine empress, she was the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos. The second son of King Géza II of Hungary, Béla arrived in Constantinople in 1163. Béla was raised in the imperial court of Manuel due to the close Byzantine-Hungarian relations of the mid-12th century, and he was even the heir to the throne. He had ambitions to create a Hungarian–Byzantine personal union. In 1169, Manuel's young wife gave birth to a son, thus depriving Béla of his status as heir of the Byzantine throne. The most intensive contacts between the Hungarian royal court and the Constantinople imperial court was under Béla III. It was during this time that Béla III brought with him the double cross as a royal emblem, which appeared for the first time on his coat of arms and minted coins.

Béla IV of Hungary, king, royal, seal, gold, golden bull, Hungary, double cross, Hungarian coat of arm
The seal of King Béla IV of Hungary from his Golden Bull

On the coins and seals of King Béla IV of Hungary (1235–1270), the double-cross shield reappears.

Saint Stephen (1000–1038), the first King of Hungary depicted in the Chronicon Pictum (1358)
King Louis I of Hungary, royal, seal, Hungary, double cross, Hungarian coat of arm
Reverse of the second double seal (1366-1382) of King Louis I of Hungary (1342-1382). The modern design of the coat of arms of Slovakia by Ladislav Čisárik was based on this medieval Hungarian seal.

After the extinction of the male branch of the Árpád dynasty in 1301, the Hungarian Anjou kings (King Charles I of Hungary (1308–1342), King Louis I of Hungary (1342–1382)) combined the Árpád dynasty's striped shield with their own lily coat of arms. By using the striped shield, the Anjous indicated their connection to the Árpád dynasty through a female line. On the reverse side of their seal, they engraved the double cross, which symbolized the Kingdom of Hungary.

Since 1526, when the Habsburgs became kings of the Kingdom of Hungary, the current "combined" coat of arms of Hungary including the double cross symbol and the stripes symbol was used as the symbol of the Kingdom of Hungary (except that the small crown below the double cross was added only in the 17th century).

Three hills

The triple peak represents the three mountain ranges Tatra, Matra and Fatra which symbolized the northern mountainous part of the Kingdom of Hungary. (The Tatra and the Fatra ranges are in present day Slovakia.) This interpretation is probably the oldest and most frequent one – it can be traced back to the 16th century, but stems probably from the 15th century. According to István Werbőczy's "Tripartitum" from 16th century, the heaps represent the mountains in this order.

The three mountains below the double cross were used by King Ladislaus (1301–1305), who was crowned king of Hungary, but was a Czech from the house of the Přemyslids.

Symbol of the Slovaks

Origins and colours

Not later than in the 16th century, the Slovaks started viewing the double cross also as a symbol of their nation. This fact manifested itself during the Revolution of 1848/1849, Slovaks were fighting along with the Austrians against the Hungarians (though many Slovaks chose to defend the Hungarian case). A "Slovak National Council" was established for this purpose in August 1848 in Vienna. The present-day coat of arms was used on the seal of this Slovak National Council for the first time officially as the national symbol of the Slovaks (instead of being the official symbol of Upper Hungary only). From that time onwards, the symbol has been used very frequently.

As for the colors, the colors are supposed to be the three "Slavic" colors red-white-blue (Slavic tricolor). Since the Upper Hungary coat of arms was already part of the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hungary at that time, only the color of the three mountains had to be changed (it happened on the Slovak flag for the first time) from green to "blue" to receive the red-white-blue combination.

As for the origin of the red color (in the Slovak and in the Hungarian coat of arms), the coat of arms has often had the red color as an almost inseparable attendant of the double cross in the coats of many Hungarian and Slovak towns since the Middle Ages. Also, the coat of arms of Béla III. is thought to have had red background. In general, red background color was used frequently for coats of arms in the late 12th and early 13th century in central Europe. One of the modern interpretations of the color is that it represents the bloody lining and symbolizes the Slovak 'martyrdom' during the time of Magyarisation (19th century).

The color of the three mountains was originally green but in 1848 the Slovak National Council used it as blue in accordance with the Slavic tricolor.

20th century

In 1918, Czechoslovak troops began occupying northern Hungary in accordance with the territorial promises that the Triple Entente made to Czechoslovak politicians during World War I. However, Slovakia (Upper Hungary) was occupied by Hungarian troops from the Hungarian Soviet Republic, who set up the Slovak Soviet Republic as a puppet regime. Its emblem was the red star, a symbol of communism. Following a brief war between Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Romania, Slovakia was incorporated into Czechoslovakia.

In 1920 the Slovak coat of arms became part of the state coat of arms of Czechoslovakia.

Between 1939 and 1945, it was the state symbol of the First Slovak Republic.

In 1945, it became part of Czechoslovakia's coat of arms again. From 1960 to 1990 the symbol was officially forbidden, because it was interpreted by the Communists as the symbol of the fascist Slovak State. The old coat of arms was replaced in the Czechoslovak coat of arms by an artificial symbol consisting of Mt. Kriváň and three flames. The three flames were supposed to symbolize the Slovak National Uprising of 1944.

On 1 March 1990, after the Velvet Revolution, the old coat of arms became the official symbol of the "Slovak Republic", which was still part of Czechoslovakia. Based on the Constitution of the Slovak Republic of September 3, 1992, the same coat of arms became the symbol of independent Slovakia, which arose on January 1, 1993. A law of February 18, 1993, precised the details of the coat of arms: for example, though not explicitly defined in the coat's blazon in the past, during the World War II era the cross mostly used to be depicted with convex endings of the stake and the bars; therefore the new description clearly reads to depict them as concave.

The coat of arms is used by the Slovak Air Force as its roundel.

Since 1992 the coat of arms is also placed on the Slovak flag.

Photo gallery

Historical coat of arms

See also

References

  1. ^ Kolník, Titus (13 September 2019). "Byzantské korene ikonografie a symboliky štátneho znaku Slovenskej republiky" [Byzantine roots of the iconography and symbolism of the state coat of arms of the Slovak Republic]. Matica slovenská (in Slovak).
  2. ^ "Zomrel autor výtvarného spracovania štátnych symbolov SR". News Agency of the Slovak Republic. 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  3. ^ "Zomrel autor slovenských národných symbolov Ladislav Čisárik ml". SME. 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  4. Glevická, Marcela (2017-02-16). "How the national emblem appeared – including so far secret communism designs". The Slovak Spectator. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  5. ^ Bertényi, Iván (1998). Új magyar címertan [New Hungarian heraldry] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Maecenas Könyvkiadó. ISBN 963-7425-81-0.
  6. "Lenyúlták-e a szlovákok a magyar címert?". Mandiner.
  7. ^ "Štátny znak Slovenskej republiky". Heraldica.szm.com. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  8. Kolník: Byzantské korene ikonografie a symboliky štátneho znaku Slovenskej republiky Historický Zborník, 1999. 9. 13–32. p.
  9. ^ Laszlovszky, József (1989). A magyar címer története [History of the Hungarian Coat of Arms] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Pytheas. ISBN 963 500 980 1.
  10. Laszlovszky, József (1989). A magyar címer története [History of the Hungarian Coat of Arms] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Pytheas. ISBN 963 500 980 1.
  11. Laszlovszky, József (1989). A magyar címer története [History of the Hungarian Coat of Arms] (in Hungarian). Budapest: Pytheas. ISBN 963 500 980 1.

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