National Arms of Andorra
NATIONAL ARMS OF ANDORRA
| Catalan | Al primer quarter, de gules, una mitra d'or perfilada i embellida d'argent per damunt d'un bàcul de bisbe d'or posat en barra; al segon quarter, d'or, tres pals de gules; al tercer quarter, d'or, quatre pals de gules; al quart quarter, d'or, dues vaques passant de gules posades en pal, acornades, encollarades, clarinades i ungulades d'atzur. |
| French | Écartelé : au 1, de gueules à la mître perfilée et embellie d'argent sur une crosse posée en barre; au 2, d'or à trois pals de gueules; au 3, d'or à quatre pals de gueules; au 4, d'or aux deux vaches de gueules, accornées, colletées et clarinées d'azur, passant l'une sur l'autre. |
| English | Quarterly: first Gules, a crosier bendways sinister surmounted by a mitre Or lined Argent; second Or, three pallets Gules; third Or, four pallets Gules; fourth Or, two cows passant in pale Gules horned and collared Azure |
Origin/meaning
The above arms were adopted in 1969.
The first quarter shows a mitre and crosier, symbols of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Seu d'Urgell), who since 1278, together with the Counts of Foix originally ruled the State of Andorra as a condominium. Later the counts were succeeded by the Counts of Toulouse, the French Kings and finally the French President.
The pales in the arms are derived from the arms of the former County of Foix (three pales) and Catalonia (four pales).
The cows in the fourth quarter are derived from the French Region Béarn.
Since 1993 Andorra is an independent Republic, the bishop of Seu d'Urgell and the French president, however, are still jointly president.
The first arms of Andorra date from the 19th century and showed in the upper half the mitre and in the lower the cows and pales.
 The arms until 1931 |
In 1931 the quarters were changed and the mitre was separated from the crosier, which was placed in the third quarter. Two different versions of the arms existed; one with a crown (French version) and one without a crown (Spanish version). The motto Virtus Unita Fortior (Unity provides strength) was introduced.
 The arms from 1931-1949 (French version) |
In 1949 the arms were changed again, however, the different elements were the same, only the colours and composition changed. The two different versions remained.
 The arms from 1949-1969 (Spanish version) |
Since 1969 the arms are only used without the crown and agin with slightly changed composition.
Image gallery
The arms in the German Continentale Verlags-Anstalt album from around 1905
The arms in an German album from around 1905
The arms on a Dutch trade card, +/- 1910
The arms in the German Kurmark Wappenschau album from 1929
The arms in the Austrian Abadie albums
The arms in the Czech Rüger Heraldik album from 1931
The arms in the German Danziger Tabakmonopol album from 1932-1934
The arms in the Dutch Turmac album from 1932
The arms in the German EFFKA Margarinewerk album from 1930
The arms in the Spanish FHER album from 1949
The arms in the Dutch Wapens - Vlaggen Albums from 1947
The arms in the Spanish Fedora - Arms of countries from 1954
The arms in the French Café Sanka album albums +/- 1935
The arms on a French Barré Dayez Postcard
The arms on a 1873 coin
The arms on a 1988 coin
The arms on a 2003 coin
The arms on a car license plate (2023)
Andorra heraldry portal
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