最近看到吧里出现不少常识性的东东，那我也给大家来一点吧！
尽管中世纪已经远去了，但是，现在欧洲不少国家的国徽上依然带有那个时代的鲜明印记，因为在那个时代,欧洲的民族国家逐渐形成，为现代国家奠定了基础，所以，剖析一下这些国徽也是一件有意思的事情。
我感觉，国徽所透露的历史信息远比国旗丰厚，因为国旗注重“民族”，而国徽蕴含的信息则更多，包括历史、文化、宗教。
阿尔巴尼亚
阿尔巴尼亚号称“山鹰之国”，鹰被认为是民族英雄斯坎德培的象征。
这个鹰是双头的，看来阿国虽是回教国家，可还是奉拜占庭为正统。
瑞士
与国旗传达的信息相同：白色象征和平、公正和光明，红色象征着人民的胜利、幸福和热情。
只不过采用了通用的盾徽。
捷克
分大小两种。大国徽为方形盾徽，盾面分四部分：左上方和右下方为红地上白色的双尾狮，狮子头戴金冠，爪为金黄色，前爪腾起，代表波希米亚；右上方为蓝地上红白色相间的鹰，代表摩拉维亚；左下方为黄地上头戴金冠的黑鹰，爪为红色，胸前绘有白色月牙，十字形和三叶形饰物分别位于月牙中央和两端，代表西里西亚。捷克包括历史上的波西米亚、摩拉维亚和西里西亚地区，这枚盾徽形象地揭示了捷克的历史渊源。
好在捷克整合了，其实这个国家真是命苦，当年希特勒就只认波西米亚和摩拉维亚算捷克斯洛伐克的，就肢解了这个国家还占了领土，希特勒的话也不是没道理，捷克这地方老早就有德国人了，唉，骑士团惹的祸。
德国
为金黄色的盾徽。盾面上是一头红爪红嘴、双翼展开的黑鹰，黑鹰象征着力量和勇气。
沿袭了西德的国徽，也是一个德国的传统标志了。
丹麦
为盾徽。金色的盾面上横置着三只头戴王冠的蓝色狮子，周围点缀着九颗红心。狮子和红心象征勇敢、忠诚、善良。盾上端是一顶华丽的王冠，象征丹麦是一个古老的王国。
有点像英国的，谁让当年北欧海盗占过不列颠大地呢，看来英国人历史上虽然很讨厌北欧人，可就是和他们脱不了干系。
芬兰
为红色盾徽。盾面上为一只头戴王冠的金色狮子，前爪握着一把剑，后爪踩着一把弯刀。九朵白色的玫瑰花点缀在狮子周围。狮子象征芬兰人民的勇敢和力量，九朵玫瑰花代表芬兰历史上的九个省。
芬兰也很命苦，先被瑞典奴役，后来又差点没被俄国改造成东欧式的国家，不过他们人还是心属北欧的。
法国
法国没有正式国徽（堂堂法兰西啊!)，但传统上采用大革命时期的纹章作为国家的标志。纹章为椭圆形，上绘有大革命时期流行的标志之一——束棒，这是古罗马高级执法官用的权标，是权威的象征。束棒两侧饰有橄榄枝和橡树枝叶，其间缠绕的饰带上用法文写着“自由、平等、博爱”。整个图案由带有古罗马军团勋章的绶带环饰。
法国很让我无语，还弄个法西斯，其实法西斯这东西原本名声不臭，都是墨索里尼搞坏的。这虽然是近代的产物，可还是反映出了法国对于拉丁文化圈的自我认同。
英国
就是英王徽。中心图案为一枚盾徽，盾面上左上角和右下角为红地上三只金狮，象征英格兰；右上角为金地上半站立的红狮，象征苏格兰；左下角为蓝地上金黄色竖琴，象征爱尔兰。盾徽两侧各由一只头戴王冠、代表英格兰的狮子和一只代表苏格兰的独角兽支扶着。盾徽周围用法文写着一句格言，意为“恶有恶报”；下端悬挂着嘉德勋章，饰带上写着“天有上帝，我有权利”。盾徽上端为镶有珠宝的金银色头盔、帝国王冠和头戴王冠的狮子。
希腊
为由橄榄枝环抱的盾徽。近似方形的蓝色盾面上镶嵌着一个白色十字，白十字象征东正教的宗教信仰。
反映了国家的物产和宗教，就是找不到古代希腊的影子了！
冰岛
中心图案为绘有国旗图案的盾徽。盾徽上端有一只红舌金爪的白隼和一只白齿红舌金爪的龙，左侧是一头黑牛，右侧站着一位身披斗篷的白衣老人。隼、龙、牛和老人都是传说中的守护神。盾徽下端的石块代表冰岛多岩石的漫长海岸。
要说有民族特色，那个也比不上冰岛的，还真有点古代北欧神话的味道 。
荷兰
即奥伦治·拿骚王室的王徽。为斗篷式。顶端带王冠的斗篷中有一盾徽，蓝色盾面上有一只头戴三叶状王冠的狮子，一爪握着银色罗马剑，一爪抓着一捆箭，象征团结就是力量。盾徽上面有一顶王冠，两侧各有一只狮子，下边的蓝色饰带上写着威廉大公的一句格言“坚持不懈”。
挪威
为盾徽，红色的盾面上直立着一只金色狮子，头戴王冠，持金柄银斧。金狮是力量的象征，银斧是挪威自由的保护者圣奥拉夫的武器。盾徽上端是一顶镶嵌着圆球和十字的金色王冠。
波兰
为盾徽。红色的盾面上绘有一只头戴金冠、舒展双翼的白鹰。红、白两色是波兰人民喜爱的传统颜色，也是国旗之颜色。白鹰象征波兰人民不屈的爱国精神。
瑞典
国徽：大国徽为斗篷式，饰有王冠的蓝盾被黄十字一分为四：左上和右下部绘有３顶王冠；右上和左下部绘有戴王冠的金狮。大盾中有一小盾，左面由蓝、银白、红三色斜纹和一个金瓶组成；右面绘有一个城堡式的钟楼和一只金鹰。蓝盾两旁是金狮，下端为勋章。小国徽为一带王冠的蓝盾，盾面上３顶金冠是瑞典王国的象征，也象征着当年组成卡尔马联盟的丹麦、瑞典和挪威。
瑞典人一直在北欧事事争先，听说哥本哈根的市政厅尖塔很高，就把没完工的斯德哥尔摩市市政厅的尖塔蹿了几米，成了北欧第一高塔。从这里也找到了他们的一点对过去的怀念：当年我在北欧多风光啊，不过，现在瑞典也可以啊。
这个似乎是狮子徽最早的来源吧 。
安道尔
为盾徽。图案描绘了安道尔和法国及西班牙的关系：安道尔于1278年成为公国，根据法国和西班牙签订的和约规定，两国对安道尔都有宗主权，法国总统和西班牙乌盖尔地方主教同为安道尔现在的国家元首。徽盾面上有四组图案：左上为红地上一顶主教冠和一柄主教权杖，代表西班牙乌盖尔地方主教；右上和右下方为黄地上三道红色竖条和两头牛，分别代表福伊克斯伯爵和贝尔恩伯爵，他们曾先后为法国国家元首委派对安道尔公国行使宗主权的代表；左下方为黄地上四道垂直条纹，代表西班牙的历史地区——加泰罗尼亚。盾徽上端有一顶王冠，下端的绶带上写着一句格言，意为“团结增强力量”。
其实这个国家当年的存在作用就是给法国做缓冲。从这里也看得出来，不过那个牛的标志还是反映了它与西班牙千丝万缕的关系。
奥地利
为一只鹰。黑色的雄鹰头戴金冠，两爪分别握着金色的锤子和镰刀，胸前的盾面上为国旗图案，鹰爪上还套有被打断的锁链。鹰是奥地利的标志，璧形金冠象征市民，镰刀和锤子象征农工，锁链被打断象征奥地利人民获得自由、解放。
这个哈布斯堡家的老鹰和德国的一样难看，又结合了苏联特色（也是，当年二战后奥地利绝大部分领土都是苏占区），真有点……不伦不类。
比利时
为斗篷式。整个图案中心为盾面上一只直立的狮子，其后为交叉的君王节杖，象征王权。盾形图案由利奥波德勋章饰带环绕，两侧各有一只举着国旗的狮子，上端为一顶王冠，饰环之下悬挂着一枚利奥波德（比利时第一代君主）勋章，底部的饰带上写着“团结就是力量”。斗篷上端装饰着王冠和代表比利时九个省的九面旗帜。
类似荷兰，其传达精神差不多，不过真是繁琐得要命。
西班牙
中心图案为盾徽。盾面上有六组图案：左上角是红地上黄色城堡，右上角为白地上头戴王冠的红狮，城堡和狮子是古老西班牙的标志，分别象征卡斯蒂利亚和莱昂；左下角为黄、红相间的竖条，象征东北部的阿拉贡；右下角为红地上金色链网，象征位于北部的纳瓦拉；底部是白地上绿叶红石榴，象征南部的格拉纳达；盾面中心的蓝色椭圆形中有三朵百合花，象征国家富强、人民幸福、民族团结。盾徽上端有一顶大王冠，这是国家权力的象征。盾徽两旁各有一根海格立斯柱子。亦称大力神银柱，左、右柱顶端分别是王冠和帝国冠冕，缠绕着立柱的饰带上写着“海外还有大陆”。
西班牙人唯一可以自豪的事情似乎只存在于大航海时代了。
意大利
呈圆形。中心图案是一个带红边的五角星，象征意大利共和国；五角星背后是一个大齿轮，象征劳动者；齿轮周围由橄榄枝叶和橡树叶环绕，象征和平与强盛。底部的红色绶带上用意大利文写着“意大利共和国”。
还真像社会主义国家的国徽，能看出来意大利对于粉碎法西斯余孽下了不少力气，也看出来这个国家左派力量很强。
卢森堡
为斗篷式。在顶部有一金色王冠的金、红、白三色斗篷内，有一枚盾徽。盾面由白、蓝相间的平行条纹组成，其上绘有一只头戴王冠的直立着的红狮，红、白、蓝三色为国旗颜色。盾徽上方有一顶公爵金冠，两侧各有一只金狮，周围饰有绶带，下端悬垂着一枚奥康勋章。国徽图案象征卢森堡是一个大公国。
很抱歉又没有大图。
低地国家搞得都是一个风格啊，全是啰嗦的要命的斗篷徽！
摩纳哥
即亲王徽。为斗篷式。斗篷上是一顶王冠，斗篷内的盾形由红、白两色构成，底色为白色，上有15块红色的菱形图案。盾形两侧各有一位手持长剑的摩纳哥修道士，盾周由绶带装饰，下方悬挂着一枚圣查尔斯勋章，勋章两侧的绶带上写着“上帝恩助我治理”。
马耳他
为盾徽。盾面为马耳他国旗图案。盾形上端是一顶王冠，两侧为橄榄枝和棕榈枝，底部的饰带上写着“马耳他共和国”。
左上角有一镶着红边的银灰色乔治十字勋章图案。白色象征纯洁，红色象征勇士的鲜血。乔治十字勋章图案的来历：马耳他人民在二战期间英勇作战，配合盟军粉碎了德、意法西斯的进攻，于1942年被英王乔治六世授予十字勋章。1964年马耳他独立时，又在勋章图案四周加上红边。
葡萄牙
主体部分是一个金色的浑天仪，这是古老的航海仪器，代表葡萄牙人的航海成就。浑天仪中央为一面白盾，盾面上五个蓝色小盾组成十字形，每个小蓝盾上有五个白色圆堡。五个小蓝盾是纪念阿尔丰沙一世在奥利基战役中击败摩尔人的五个君主所取得的胜利；白色圆堡是葡萄牙古老的标志，也象征耶稣基督打败异教徒的力量。白色盾形重叠于大红盾中，红盾周边有七个城堡，纪念葡萄牙从摩尔人手中收复的省份。浑天仪周围饰橄榄枝。
与西班牙一样，同样有缅怀大航海时代的味道。
爱尔兰
为盾徽。天蓝色的盾面上绘有金黄色的竖琴。蓝色象征大海和天空，竖琴为爱尔兰人民喜爱的“天使之琴”。
希腊的没有了古代希腊的味道，可却在爱尔兰体现了出来！
马其顿
呈圆形。圆面中央为升起的太阳，顶端带黄边的红五角星两侧各有一束麦穗。
保留了社会主义时代的特色，类似白俄罗斯。两个国家的命也同样不好，一个不被普遍承认，一个被西方国家封锁。希腊人也真是心胸狭窄，封锁也就算了，还害得人家以一个不伦不类的名字“前南斯拉夫马其顿共和国”“暂时”加入联合国。不就是因为一个亚历山大吗？至于这样？
立陶宛
为盾徽。红色盾面上一位身着银装的骑士跨在一匹白色的骏马上，右手挥一把银剑，左手持蓝地镶金黄色双十字的盾牌。
问题出来了，这个国家和波兰合并过，才出了这个东东，其实波兰也用过。
乌克兰
为盾徽。蓝色盾面上的金色三叉戟是国徽的主体，它是弗拉基米尔大公时代基辅国家的标志，象征乌克兰民族悠久的历史及其发展的连续性，也是乌克兰国家观念复兴和为民族独立而战的标志。
历史上只独立了两次的国家，基辅罗斯不算，那是三个国家的老祖宗。
梵蒂冈
即教皇徽，是梵蒂冈城国的标志。为盾徽。盾面为红色，其上有两把交叉着的钥匙和一顶罗马教皇的三重冠冕。红色在历史上曾是天主教教堂的颜色；金黄色和银白色的两把钥匙传说是基督给圣彼得（《圣经》中耶稣十二门徒之一）的，象征把天上和地上的一切权力都交给他；三重冠是主教冠和人间的皇冠结合产生的。罗马教皇自称是基督在世上的代表，教皇又是梵蒂冈的首脑，有最高的立法、司法和行政权，所以皇冠为三重。
我最讨厌的欧洲国家，总是见硬就腿软，真是没一点宗教的普世精神，天主教的自作神圣和没骨头可见一斑。
匈牙利
为盾徽。盾面垂直分为两部分：左边为平行、红白相间的宽条；右边下方是绿色的山峰，峰顶上有一顶王冠，王冠上面是白色双十字图案，这是主教标志。盾徽上面是一个圣斯提芬大王冠，王冠之上有一倾斜的十字架，传说十字架是王冠被窃时让小偷压斜的。
俄罗斯
盾徽。1993年11月30日，俄决定采用十月革命前伊凡雷帝时代的、以双头鹰为图案的国徽：红色盾面上有一只金色的双头鹰，鹰头上是彼得大帝的三顶皇冠，鹰爪抓着象征皇权的权杖和金球。鹰胸前是一个小盾形，上面是一名骑士和一匹白马。双头鹰由来可追溯到公元15世纪。双头鹰原是拜占庭帝国君士坦丁一世的徽记。拜占庭帝国曾横跨欧亚两个大陆，它一头望着西方，另一头望着东方，象征着两块大陆间的统一以及各民族的联合。1453年，曾辉煌一时的拜占庭帝国被奥斯曼土耳其帝国灭亡，拜占庭皇帝君士坦丁十一世英勇战死。他的两个弟弟，一个臣服于奥斯曼帝国，另一个带着两个儿子和女儿索菲亚·帕列奥洛格逃到罗马。后来，这两儿一女在其父死后被罗马教皇抚养成人。当时的罗马政治家们为了借助俄罗斯的军事力量抵御土耳其人，便用联姻的方式将索菲亚许配给了莫斯科大公伊凡三世。索菲娅由此佩戴着拜占庭帝国威严的双头鹰徽记来到了俄罗斯。索菲娅协助夫君伊凡三世把俄罗斯的土地基本上联合到一起，形成了一个疆域辽阔的统一的国家。1497年，双头鹰作为国家徽记首次出现在俄罗斯的国玺上，直至1918年。1993年11月30日，这只象征俄罗斯国家团结和统一的双头鹰又“飞”回到俄罗斯的国徽上。二十世纪末，国家杜马从法律上确定了双头鹰是俄罗斯的国家象征。
白俄罗斯
呈圆形。两束由国旗颜色的彩带环绕的麦穗等围成圆形，中间自下而上依次为地球、光芒四射的旭日和白俄罗斯的国土轮廓。圆形顶部是一颗红色五角星，底部的饰带上写着“白俄罗斯共和国”。
保留了苏联遗迹最多的前苏联加盟共和国，从国徽上也看得出来。
保加利亚
一只金狮直立在深红色背景的盾牌上，另两只金狮分立于盾牌两侧，盾牌上是一顶画有五个十字架的皇冠，国徽的底部写有“联合就是力量”的字样。
罗马尼亚
为盾徽。蓝色大盾面上有一只红嘴红爪的金鹰，鹰嘴啄着一个东正教十字架，两爪分别握着一把银剑和银色权杖。鹰胸前有一面小盾，盾面分五部分：左上角为蓝地上一只金鹰，鹰头两侧为金色的太阳和月亮，这个图案是罗马尼亚公国国徽；右上角为红地上灰色的公牛头，牛角之间是一颗金色五角星，牛头两侧为银色玫瑰花和月牙，这是摩尔多瓦公国的国徽图案；左下角为红地上金色双孔桥和前爪紧握银色大刀的金狮，此为巴纳特及奥尔泰尼亚的国徽；右下角的图案被一红条分为上下两部分，上半部为蓝地上一只金嘴灰鹰和金色太阳及银色月亮，下半部为金地上七个红色雉堞，这是特兰西瓦尼亚、马拉穆列什及克里沙纳的国徽；下方的楔形部分为蓝地上两条尾部朝上的金色海豚，象征黑海地区。整个国徽图案是主权独立、统一、不可分割的罗马尼亚民族国家的象征。
斯洛伐克
为盾徽。盾面为红色，周围镶有白边，盾面下部是三个蓝色的山峰图案，其上为白色的双十字标志。蓝色山峰代表斯洛伐克的最高峰——塔特拉山主峰，海拔2655米的格尔拉赫峰。双十字符号是信奉天主教的象征，表明了斯洛伐克人民的宗教信仰。
双十字是天主教的东东，在立陶宛和匈牙利的国徽上面也有。
译文:
A Brife Analysis of The National Emblems of European Countries
Recently, after finding many common-sense articles here, I also want to share something with you.
Although the Middle Age has gone so far away, some distinct traces of it is still leaving in many European countries now. In this age, the formation of the European nations laid a good foundation for building modern states. Therefore, analyzing these national emblems briefly is very interesting.
In my opinion, national emblems contain far more historical information than flags, because flags mainly focus on “nations” while national emblems contain more information, including the knowledge of history, culture and religion.
Albania
Albania is known by reputation as “the country of eagle”，eagles is considered as the symbol of Sk nderbeu who is the national hero of the country., the eagle in this emblem has two heads, which show that Albanian regard Byzantium as orthodoxy, although Albania is a Christian country.
Switzerland
Similar to what the national flag conveys: in the national emblem, white symbolizes peace, justice and bright; red symbolizes people’s victory, happy and enthusiasm. The different is that the national emblem is a general coat of arms.
Czech
There are two different national emblems. One is big and the other is small. The big one is a square coat of arms with four parts on the surface. There is a white double-tail lion standing on the red land at the upper left and the lower right respectively. With golden paws, the lions raise the front paws and wear gold crowns. This part represents Bohemia. At the upper right, there is an eagle which is red and white on the blue land, which represents Moravia. At the lower left, there is a black eagle, with red claws, which wears a gold crown and has a white crescent on the chest on the yellow land. Besides, there is a cross-shaped and trefoil trapping on the center and both ends of the crescent respectively. All the lower left represents Silesia. In the history, bohemia, Moravia and Silesia belonged to Czech. And this coat of arms reveals the historical origin of Czech vividly.
Fortunately, the reunification of Czech has been realized. Actually, Czech use to be a country with miserable destiny. In those years, Hitler only recognized that bohemia and Moravia belong to Czech, so he torn apart the country and occupied its territorial. Meanwhile, what Hitler said isn’t wrong at all, because some German have settled in Czech long before. Alas, it’s the flout of knightage.
Germany
It is a golden yellow Shield. A black eagle with red talon, red mouth, and opening wings is on the Shield. The black eagle symbolizes power and courage.
The national emblem adopted the West Germany national emblem. It is also a traditional sign of Germany.
Denmark
The national emblem is a Shield. Three blue lions with crowns are on the golden Shield and they are surrounded by nine devoted hearts. Lions and devoted hearts symbolize bravery, devotion, and kindness. At the top of the Shield is a gorgeous royal crown, which symbolizes that Denmark was an ancient kingdom.
The national emblem looks a little like that of Britain, because Northern Europe pirates conquer Britain in those years. It seems that although the British hated the people of Northern Europe in the history, they cannot shake off the relationship with them.
Finland
The national emblem is a red Shield. On the Shield, a golden lion with royal crown which holds a sword on the front paws, and tramps a bend knife under the hind paws. The lion symbolizing the bravery and power of Finns is surrounded by nine white roses. The nine roses symbolize the nine provinces in the history of Finland.
The destiny of Finland was also misfortune. Finland was enslaved by Sweden, and then nearly reformed to country with the style of Eastern Europe by Russia, but the hearts of Finns are still lie in the Northern Europe.
France
There is no formal national emblem in France (you should know that it is France). However, traditionally, the heraldry in the France revolution is the symbol of the country. There is one of the most popular symbols, a fascis, during the revolution on the oval-shape heraldry. The fascis is the high-ranking lawman’s mace in the ancient Rome and it is the symbol of authority. The both ends of the fascis are decorated by olive branches and oak leaves. And the words “liberte、egalite、fraternite” are written in French on the sash which intertwines with those branches and leaves. The whole pattern is decorated surround by a ribbon which contains medals of the legion.
I don’t know how to evaluate France, because it created fascist. Actually, fascism was not a notorious thing at the beginning. It is the flout of Mussolini. Although fascism is the product of the modern times, it can reflect that Frenchmen are seeking their own identity in the aspect of Latin culture circle.
Britain
This is the national emblem of Britain. There is a coat of arms in the centre. At the upper left and the lower right of the coat of arms, there are three gold lions with red background, which represents England. At the upper right, there is a red lion with its raising forpaws standing on the golden land, which represents Scotland. At the lower left, there is a gold harp on the blue land, which represents Ireland. The coat of arms is held by a lion, at the left side, which wears a crown and represents England and a unicorn, at the right side, which represents Scotland. Surrounding the coat of arms, there is a sentence which means those sow the wind and reap the whirlwind written in French. At the lower end, there is a badge of the order of the garter and“DIEU ET MON DROIT” was marked on the sash. At the upper end, there is a golden and silvery helm encrusted with jewels, a crown of the British Empire and a lion with a crown on the head.
Greece
The national emblem is a Shield embraced by olive branches. The blue Shield mounted a white cross is something like a square. The white cross symbolizes the religion believe of Orthodox Eastern Church.
The national emblem reflects the country’s products and religion, but no trace of ancient Greece can be found from it.
Iceland
The central design is a shield with the national flag. There is a white falcon with red tongue and golden claws and a dragon with white teeth and red tongue in the upper side of the shield. There is a black cow on the left of the shield and an old man wearing white clothe and draping amantle on the right. The white falcon, the dragon, the cow and the old man all are the patron god in the fable.The stone, in the lower end of the shield, represents the long seacoast which is full of rocks. When it comes to the national feature, there are no places can be superior to Iceland which has a flavor of ancient Nordic fable.
Holland
It is the national emblem of Orange Nassau Royal. It looks like a cloak.
There is a coat of arms in the cloak which has a crown on the top and there is a lion wearing a trifoliate crown on the blue coat of arms. The lion has a silver roman sword in one hand and a bundle of arrows in the other hand, symbolizing that unity is strength. On the top of the shield, there is a crown with a lion standing on both sides of it. There is a blue lace under the coat of arms and Archduke Leopold William’s proverb which means Never tiring is written on it.
Norway
It’s a coat of arms. The surface of the red shield stands a golden lion, wearing q crown and holding a silver axe with a golden handle. The golden lion is the symbol of power, and the silver axe is the weapon of Saint Olav who is the guardian of Norse freedom. At the upper side of the shield, there is a golden crown enchasing a round ball and a cross.
Poland
It’s a coat of arms. On the red shield is a white eagle wearing a golden crown and stretching its wings. According to the culture of Poland, the white eagle symbolizes patriotism of polish. Red and white are not only the traditional color warmly welcomed among polish people but also the color of their national flag.
Sweden
The big national emblem: the big one is like a cape. The blue shield decorated by a crown is divided into four parts by a yellow cross: there are three crowns drawn at the upper left and the lower right of the shield; at the upper right and the lower left of the blue shield, there are gold lions wearing a crown. There is a small shield in the big one: the left side is made up of a gold glass and twills which are blue, silver and red. In the right side, there is a bastion bell tower and a gold eagle. Two gold lions stand on each side of the blue shield respectively. And at the low end of the blue shield, a medal is hung there. The small national emblem is a blue coat of arms with a crown. Three gold crowns on the surface of the small shield represent the Kingdom of Sweden as well as the Kalmar Union which was formed by Denmark, Sweden and Norway in those years.
Swedes always strive for first place in Scandinavia. It is said that the spire of Copenhagen’s city hall is very high. It, higher than that of Stockholm’s city hall, is the highest tower in Scandinavia. Here we can find what they are missing about their motherland in the old time: in those years, what a strong position I made! But now, Sweden is not a weak country. It seems that it is the earliest origin of the shield of lion.
Andorra
The national emblem of Andorra is a coat of arms. The pattern of the emblem conveys the information of the relationship of the three countries, namely Andorra, France and Spain. In 1278, Andorra became a dukedom. According to peace treaty signed by France and Spain, the two countries can exercise suzerainty to Andorra. Nowadays, the president of France and the bishop of Urgell in Spain are both the heads of state of Andorra. There are four patterns on the surface of the shield: at the upper left, there is a mitre and a crosier of bishop having a background of red, which represents the bishop of Urgell in Spain. At the upper right and the lower right, respectively, there are three red column bars and two heads of cows against the yellow background, which represents the two counts, Fuyikesi and Beier En, who used to be the representatives assigned by France head of state to exercise suzerainty to Andorra; at the lower left, there are four vertical stripes against the yellow background, which represents Catalonian that is a historical area of Spain. One crown exists at the upper end and there is a maxim which means union is strength written on the ribbon at the lower end.
Actually, Andorra is a buffer country of France in those years. And we can see that the cows in the emblem reflect that the country has a closed relationship with Spain.
Austria
The pattern of the national emblem is a eagle。The black male eagle, holding golden sinker and sickle in the two claws, wears a golden crown and has a design of the national flag in front of the chest. And there is a broken ball and chain harnessing the claws. Eagle is the symbol of Austria; the golden crown symbolizes the citizen; sinker and sickle symbolize the worker, and the broken ball and chain symbolizes the freedom and liberation of Austria people.
This eagle, as ugly as Germany’s, shares the feature of Soviet Union (That makes some sense, most of Austria’s territory were occupied by Soviet Union after WW II) It’s kind of weird.
Belgium
Its national emblem is in a cloak style. There is a standing lion on the shield which is at the center of the emblem. Behind it is a crossed king scepter symbolizing the royally power. Not only the Leopold medal sash, but also a lot of other things surround the shield: A lion lifting national flag on each side, a crown standing on the top, a Leopold medal (Leopold, the first monarch of Belgium) under the circlet, and a wording of “Unity is strength” written on the circlet on the bottom. Now let’s look up. The hanging fiery-red cloak is headed with a crown and 9 flags which represent the 9 provinces of Belgium.
In the way of conveying the spirit, Belgium’s emblem is similar to the one of Netherland, but why the emblem designed in such an awfully tedious way is hard to understand.
Spain
The central design is the coat of arms.
There are six groups of designs: a yellow castle with red background on the top left corner, and a red lion wearing a crown with white background on the top right corner. The castle and the lion symbolize Castile and Leon respectively; the red-and-yellow bars on the lower left corner represent the northeastern Aragon; a net made from golden chains on the lower right corner symbolizes the northern Navarra; a Pomegranate with green leaves in the white background at the bottom symbolizes the southern Granada;
Three lilies in a blue oval circle in the central of the shield represent the prosperity of the country, the happiness of the people, and the unification of the nationality. A big crown on the top of thecoat of arms is a symbol of power of the country. On each side of the coat of arms are two Heracles pillar with a crown on the top of the left side, a royal crown on the top of the right side and ribbons around the pillars saying “there are continents overseas”.
It seems that the only thing which can make Spanish feel proud happened in the KOEI Games of Sailing.
Italy
The national emblem is circular. The pattern in the center is a five-pointed star with red edge. It symbolizes the Republic of Italy. Behind the five-pointed star is a big gear wheel, which symbolizes the laborers. The gear wheel is surrounded by a olive branch and oak leaves, which symbolizes peaceful, powerful and prosperous. And “The Republic of Italy” is written on the red silk ribbon at the bottom in Italian.
It is like the national emblem of socialism nations. We can see that Italy has made a great effort to smash the fascist dregs. And we can also see the strong power of leftists in this country.
Luxembourg
The coat of arms of Luxembourg is like a cloak which has three colors: golden, red, and white. Inside the cloak is a shield and on the top of the cloak is a golden crown. The surface of the shield is composed of white and blue stripes and there stands a red lion with a crown on the head. Red, white and blue, the colors of the shield, is also the colors of the national flag. On the top of the shield, there is a ducal gold crown with a gold lion on each side of the shield; surrounding the shield is a ribbon and there is an Aucom medal at the lower end of the shield. The pattern of the national emblem represents that Luxembourg is an archduchy. I am sorry for having no big pattern to show you here.
The national emblems of Low Countries have the similar style------ a cloak-shaped emblem whose pattern is too complicated.
Monaco
The national emblem, a cloak style, is a emblem of prince. At the top of the cloak is a crown. Inside the cloak is a shield which consists of red and white. The bottom is white. 15 red diamond patterns exist on the shield. Both sides of the shield stand a Monaco monk with long sword. Around the shield are silk ribbons. Under the shield dangles a St. Charles medal. There are silk ribbons on which “God help to harness” is written at the both sides of the medal.
Malta
It’s a coat of arms. The surface of the shield is the pattern of the national flag. Above the coat of arms is a crown. An olive branch is on one side of the shield and a lulab is on the other side. And “The Republic of Malta” is written on the sash which is at the lower end of the emblem. At the upper left, there is a silver grey pattern of George Cross surrounded by red edge. White represents purity and red represents the blood of warriors. The origin of the pattern of George Cross: during the World War II, Maltese fought the enemies bravely which had coordinated well with the allies to smash the attacks of German and Italian fascists. Therefore, in 1942, Malta was awarded the George Cross by the King George VI. By the time of the independence of Malta, in 1964, the red edge was embedded in the cross.
Portugal
The main part of the emblem is an armillary sphere which is a kind of navigation instrument in the ancient time representing the Portuguese’s great achievements in navigation. There is a white shield in the centre of the armillary sphere and five blue small shields with five white roundels on each one exist on the white shield. The five small shields are used to revere the memory of the victory of beating the Moorish five monarchs by Alphonse XI in the Aulikki battle. The white roundels are the symbol of the ancient Portugal representing Jesus Christ’s power of defeating the heretics. The white shield exists in the red big shield. And there are seven castles which are the relics of the provinces of Portugal recaptured from Moorish control on the edge of the red big shield. The armillary sphere is decorated with olive branches.
Similar to Spanish national emblem, a sense of recalling the KOEL Games of Sailing is embodied in the national emblem of Portugal.
Ireland
Its emblem is a coat of arms. On the sky blue surface, there is a golden harp. Blue represents the Ocean and the sky, and harp is welcomed and known as “angel’s instrument” to all Irish people.
It is worthwhile to mention that Ireland’s emblem embodies the flavor of Ancient Greece as strong as Greece’s loses it.
Macedonia
It is a round with a rising sun in the middle. On the top, there is a red pentagram with yellow edge and a bundle of wheat exists on both sides of the pentagram. Similar to Belarus, the characteristics of the socialist era is remained in this pattern. The two countries have the same miserable destiny---one didn’t get wide acceptance, and the other was blockaded by western countries. The Greeks were so narrow-hearted that they forced Macedon to join U.N. temporarily with the weird name “Macedonia Rep of For.” Virtually, there was no need to do this only for Alexander.
Lithuania
Its national emblem is a coat of arms. On the red surface, there is a knight riding on a white steed with a silver sword on his right hand and a blue ground shield with a golden double cross on his left.
Here comes a problem. This emblem was born at the period when Lithuania was merged with Poland. In fact, Poland had also used it as national emblem.
Ukraine
It’s also a coat of arms. The golden trident exists in the blue surface is the main part of the national emblem. It’s the national symbol of Kiev in the time of Vladimir archduke as wall as the sign of restoring the consciousness of the state and fighting for national independence.
And the trident also represents the long history of Ukraine and its continuous development.
In the history, Ukraine only realized the national independence for two times. The age of Kievan Rus can not be taken into account, because it was shared by three countries at the same time.
Vatican
The national emblem of Vatican is a shield, also a papal emblem, which is the symbol of Vatican City State. With the red surface, there are two crisscross keys and papal triple crowns. In the history, red used to be the color of Catholic Churches; the two keys, golden and silver, are said to be the present of St Peter (one of the twelve disciples of Jesus in Bible) given by Jesus. It means that Jesus have given him the power of both the heaven and the world. The Triple Crown is the result of the combination of miter and the crown of king. Popes call themselves the representatives of Christianity in the world and they are also Vaticanheads of state having the supreme legislative power, judicial power and executive power. Therefore, the crown is a triple crown.
The European countries I hate most are those which will choose holding back when they face might. There is no universal spirit of religious for there countries. So we can also see that Catholic is hallowed by itself but has no guts.
Hungary
Its national emblem is a coat of arms. The shield is divided vertically down the middle into two parts: wide, collateral, red and white straps on the left; on the other side, a green hill stands below. There is a crown on its top. The white double cross which is over the crown is the symbol of bishop. Above the shield is the Saint Steven Crown. We can find that there is a tilted cross on the tip of the big crown. Legend has it that the cross was tilted by a thief who was tried to steal it.
Russia
It’s a coat of arms. On November 30th, 1993, Russia decided to use the pattern of double-headed eagle created in the ages of Ivan the Terrible before the October revolution as the national emblem. On the red surface is a golden double-headed eagle with the three crowns of Peter the Great on the heads. There is a scepter and a gold ball in the claws. A little shield with a knight and a white hose exists on the chest of the double-headed eagle. The origin of double-headed eagle can be traced back to the 15th century. It’s the insignia of Constantine I of Byzantine Empire which had ever occupied across Eurasia. The double-headed eagle’ heads facing west and east represent the unification of the two continents and the unity of people in Eurasia. In 1453, once flourishing Byzantine Empire was exterminated by Ottoman-Turkish Empire. The king, Constantine XI of Byzantine Empire, died fighting bravely on the battle. He had two younger brothers. One of them gave in to the Ottoman Empire and the other fled to Rome with his two son and the daughter whose name is Sophia. Afterward, the three children were brought up by the pope after their father died. In those years, the Cincinnatus used the policy of marrying Sophia to Moscow Ivan III to resist Turks with the help of Russia. From then on, the insignia of double-headed eagle with the dignity of Byzantine Empire was carried to Russia by Sophia. She helped his husband, Ivan III; accomplish the great task of unifying Russia basically. From then on, Russia became a large country. From 1497 to 1918, the double-headed eagle as a national insignia appeared on the Great Seal of Russia for the first time. On November 30th, 1993, this eagle representing solidarity and unity of Russia transferred to the national emblem. In the end of 20th century, the State Duma made the double-headed eagle as the symbol of Russia legally.
Belarus
The national emblem has a circular form. The circular emblem is composed of two bunches of wheat which have the colors of the national flag and are encircled by color stripes. In the centre of the emblem, there is a globe, a splendid rising sun and the contour of Belarus from bottom to top. There is a red pentagram on the top end of the emblem and a sentence which means the Republic of Belarus is written on the sashes which are at the lower end of the emblem.
From the national emblem of Belarus, we can see that it is one of the members of the former Soviet Union to maintain the most characteristic of the former Soviet Union.
Bulgaria
With one golden lion standing in the middle and one on each side, the shield with red background has a crown which is surrounded by 5 crosses on the top. Besides, a wording of "Unity is strength" was marked on the bottom.
Romania
It’s a coat of arms. There is a gold eagle with red olecranon and claw in the big shield against blue background. It clenches a cross of orthodox with its olecranon and holds a silver bolt and silver scepter in the right claw and left claw respectively. On its chest is a small shield divided into five parts: at the upper left, there is a gold eagle, on the blue land, with a golden sun and moon on the two sides of the head. And this pattern is the national emblem of principality of Romania; at the upper right, there is a bull’s head, on the red land, with a golden pentagram between the two ox horns. There is a silver rose on the right side of the head and a silver crescent on the left. And this is the pattern of the national emblem of Moldova. At the lower left, against the red background, there is a golden bridge with two arches and a gold lion holding a silver broadsword tightly in the forepaws. And this is the national emblem of Banat and Oltenia; at the lower right, there are two parts divided by a red stripe. At the upper part, there is a gray hawk with a gold olecranon, a golden sun and a silver moon against the blue background. At the lower part, there are seven red small battlements. And this is the national emblem of Transylvania, Maramures and Crisana. There is a blue wedge-based pattern at the lower end of the shield and two golden dolphins with the tails at the top exist on the wedge-based part. And this pattern represents the Black Sea region. The whole pattern of the emblem is the symbol of nation-state of Romania which has independent sovereignty that is unified and indiscerptible.
Slovakia
It’s a coat of arms. The surface with a white border is red and there are three blue patterns of peak at the lower part. And a double cruciform sign stands on the top of the peak in the middle. Blue peaks represent Slovakia’s highest peak, namely the main peak of High Tatras with 2655 meters above the see level. The double cruciform sign which is the symbol of converting to Catholicism reflects the religious beliefs of Slovaks.
Double cruciform is peculiar to Catholicism. It also exists in the national emblems of Lithuania and Hungary.
