Varsinais-Suomi

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VARSINAIS-SUOMI / EGENTLIGA FINLAND

Historical province until 1634 then part of Turku and Pori province until 1996. From 1997-2009 part of Länsi-Suomi. Re-established as a region in 2009.

Official blazon

(fi) Punaisessa kentässä ristikkäin kaksi kultaista peistä; kumpaankin peitseen on kiinnitetty kaksikielekkeinen sininen lippu, jossa reunoihin ulottuva kultainen risti; peitsien pääliikkeenä kruunullinen kultainen turnajaiskypärä. Kruunu: herttuakunnan kruunu.
(sv) I rött fält en krönt bygelhjälm överlagd två korslagda glavenstakar, allt av guld; vardera glavenstaken är försedd med en tvåtungad, blå flagga med kors av guld. Skölden krönes med hertigdömets krona.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on January 24, 1963.

The arms show a helmet, taken as a symbol of the Swedish Kings and two Swedish flags. This was the region first colonised by the Swedish Kings, who later conquered the rest of Finland from here.

The oldest seal of the province dates from 1326 and shows St. Mary with child.

The seal from 1326

The first arms of the province are known from 1560 and already show the helmet, but the Swedish flag is placed above the shield. These were designed for the burial of Gustav I Vasa. Only in the 19th century the current composition appeared.

File:Varsinais1.jpg

The arms in 1570