Essay

The arms of Luxemburg are barry of ten pieces Argent and Azure, with a double-queued lion rampant Gules, crowned, langued and unguled  Or.

Origin of the arms [1]

At the end of the twelfth century, the county of Luxembourg was owned by Henry the Blind, Count of Namur. Henry had no male offspring and his belongings were split up after his death in 1196. Ermesinde, his only child, got Luxembourg. She first ran the county together with her husband, Thibaut of Bar, until his death in 1214. In the same year she remarried Walram III of Limburg. She got a son with him named Henry and later nicknamed 'the Fair'.

As the youngest son of Henry III of Limburg, Walram bore the  lion of Limburg known from 1208 with, being a successor, a crown on his head. [2] He succeeded his father after his death in 1221 in Limburg and left off the crown  the following year. Possibly in connection with the rule over the two areas of Limburg and Luxembourg he doubled the tail of the lion.

After the death of Walram III in 1226, Limburg fell to a son from his first marriage and Luxembourg to Henry the Fair. Ermesinde acted as regent for her underage son. bore his congenital coat of arms,  which was the same as that of his father before 1222, until  his marriage in 1240. After the birth of his son Henry (VI) he could consider himself the founder of a new dynasty, the Limburg-Luxembourg dynasty, and possibly for that reason he changed his innate coat of arms by adding bars to the field. The added pieces were tinctured blue, the color by which also earlier descendants from the House of Limburg  distinguished their coats of arms from that of their fathers.  [3]

The oldest image we have of the coat of arms of Luxembourg is on the counterseal of Henry the Fair  on an act dated 2 May 1242. [4] The shield, triangular in shape, is here barry of ten pieces, the lion, now crowned again, is reversed (that is looking to the right, heraldic sinister) On the corresponding equestrian seal the count is depicted on horseback with the arms of Limburg on his arm. [5]

A decade later the coat of arms is described in the Bigot Roll of Arms (1254) as: 'Li sires de Luselborc, l'escu burelé d'argent and d'azur a un lion de gules rampant coroné d'or, (The lords of Luxembourg , the shield is barry of silver and blue with a red , gold crowned lion rampant). [6]

In the course of the centuries the coat of arms only underwent changes in details. Soon the lion was represented in the usual way, that is, looking to the left (dexter). He is reversed for the last time on the counterseal of Henry the Fair from 1262. [7]

The first blazon (description of arms) leaves the number of bars of the shield uncounted where it only speaks of  'burelé' (barry). The number of bars, was never taken so serious over the centuries anyhow. It ranges from sixteen under Henry VI to four under Philip the Fair. Often the shield is not divided into pieces of the same height and / or is of an odd  number, so that in heraldry one should speak of  'bars' instead of  ‘barry', a distinction of which there has been  made a problem especially in the nineteenth century.

From the beginning of the fifteenth century, the number gradually began to stabilize to ten in words and writings. In an armed diplom this number was recorded by the French herald of arms d'Hozier, who on 4 November 1697 granted the city of Luxembourg a coat of arms. [8] In later descriptions the number of bars is always the same.[9]

The pledgees and the Burgundians.

Duke Wenceslas II, as Wenceslas IV king of Bohemia and Roman king, in 1388 enfeoffed his cousin Josse of Moravia with the Duchy. Josse decided to cash out the poverty-stricken area by exploiting its strategic position. He gave it in pledge to the highest bidder: first to Philip the Bold of Burgundy and in 1402 to Louis of Orléans, a brother of the French king. Wenceslas was very upset about the possible political consequences of the last pledge, where it was possible that a German fief would accrue to the French royal family. In 1407 he therefore withdrew his gift and enfeoffed his niece Elisabeth of Görlitz with the area. She in turn gave it back to different pledges until 1425. Afterwards she administrated the duchy herself.

On 4 November 1441 Elisabeth sold her rights to Philip the Good. He only could submit the Luxembourgers  with great difficulty in 1443. In 1461 he bought what remained of rights to the duchy, including the title, of the heirs of Emperor Sigismund. From this time on the Burgundians bore the coat of arms of Luxembourg, with this distinction that the tail of the lion was doubled, as Henry VI had done. After all, the ideal of Henry VI had been realized because Limburg and Luxembourg were now in one hand. After that, the lion with double tail first appeared in 1468 on a woodcut with the arms of Charles the Bold. [10] After this, the lion often had a double tail. [11]

The Crest

On the seal of Henry the Fair from 1262, on the helmet of the rider is something resembling a fan-shaped pleated cloth. It is possible that this has been blue and white striped. No crest is known from Henry VI. A red dragon was introduced by Henry VII (1288-1309) and this remained the crest of the counts of Luxembourg until the upgrading of the county to a duchy and the reign of Wenceslas I (1354-'83). He and his successors used a pair of black wings strewn with golden lime leaves, the crest of the Przemysls of Bohemia.

After the death of Wenceslas II in 1419, the crest  was abandoned. Neither the pledges nor the Burgundians and their successors wore a crest on the arms. The shield is covered in the following centuries by a ducal crown.

Province and Grand Duchy

For nearly four centuries, Luxembourg was governed together with the Netherlands, after 1581 with the Southern Netherlands. A French occupation from 1678 to 1698 was only a brief interruption. The break-up of the administrative association was announced by the decision of the Vienna Congress in 1815 to raise Luxembourg to a Grand Duchy in personal union with the Kingdom of the Netherlands. King William I, however, actually controlled the Grand Duchy as a province of the Netherlands. He therefore did not have a separate Grand Ducal coat of arms. Luxembourg had to be content to be confirmed in the use of the traditional coat of arms granted by letter dated 18 November 1818, albeit with the official addition of a ducal crown. [12] This consisted of a diadem of a high purple hat with a scalloped ermine brim, closed with two arches.

In 1830, Luxembourg joined the Belgian Revolt. Nine years later, the great powers decided to split the Grand Duchy. The Walloon part was incorporated into Belgium as the province of  Luxembourg. A coat of arms for this part had already been adopted by the decree of the king of Belgium regarding the Great Seal of the State dated. 17 May 1837. In it it is described as

3° Luxembourg, d'argent, à cinq fasces d'azur, au lion de gueules, à la queue fourchue, couronné d'or, brochant sur le tout. ('of silver, with five bars of azure, with a lion of gules with a split tail, crowned with gold over all'.)

The eastern part remained in personnel union with the Netherlands but with a separate status. For this part, the coat of arms of 1818 was used , although the crown now had five leaves, four pearls and five arches. Presumably by Prince Henry, who ruled the Grand Duchy as a stadholder in the name of his brother, King William III, from 5 February 1850, two crowned lions were added to the coat of arms to make an achievement.[13]

The Grand Duchy since 1890

Because there was still the Salian right of succession in the Grand Duchy, in which women were excluded in principle, Wilhelmina, the daughter of William III, was not allowed to succeed him in Luxembourg. The Grand Duchy was placed under the rule of Adolf van Nassau, the head of the Walram line of the Nassau family. He could be seen as the male heir of William III, although the relationship went back to the brothers Walram and Otto of Nassau who had agreed in 1255 to divide the inheritance of their father. The appointment can better be seen as a gesture of the King of Prussia who had driven Adolf away from his Nassau-Weilburg heritage in 1866.

Before his inauguration on 8 November 1890, Adolf adopted a Grand Ducal coat of arms. It was the ancient coat of arms of Luxembourg with the arms of Nassau in the middle. On the shield there is a grand ducal crown that distinguished itself from the crown of 1850 by the addition of a low purple cap.  Show pieces as customary in German heraldry were added to the coat of arms.  Around the shield are the ribbon and cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (Netherlands, 28.12.1841). The supporters did not change, but the whole was placed on a crowned royal mantle with baldachin.

In 1898 the arms were changed. There were now three categories of the Grand Ducal arms. The smaller arms consisted of a shield quarterly of Nassau and Luxembourg with a grand ducal crown, this time without a cap. The medial achievement was made up by the same crowned arms but with two lions as supporters.

Finally, the larger achievement consisted of a shield divided into sixteen fields, of which the four central ones were occupied by the smaller arms. On the shield there are six helmets with crests, and it is surrounded by supporters and a royal mantle. Actually, the shield also had to be surrounded with the adornments of the Order of the Oak Crown and the Order of Adolf of Nassau (founded 08.05.1858), but in this form the achievement was never executed. Incidentally, the arms of the grand-duchy remained the simple traditional arms with the lion and the bars. [14]

Under Grand Duke John, who succeeded his mother Charlotte in 1964, the greater  achievement was canceled. [15] Arms of state were adopted by Grand-Ducal Order of 23 June 1972. There are three categories that differ from one another only in their showpieces. The smaller one is crowned only, the medial has a crown and supporters and the larger one crown, ribbon with cross, supporters and crowned coat of arms. [16]

At the accession of Grand Duke Henry in 2000 the heraldic symbols of the Grand Duchy were refashioned.

Heraldry

County

House of Namur

Conrad

-1086

William

1086-1130

Equestrian Seal 1123

Munster Abbey. Archives de l'Etat, Luxembourg.

Arms: Non /ornamented fess.

Legend: SIGILLVM WILLELMI COMITIS DE LVCEL­EMBVRGH X.

Henry the Blind

1136-1196

Ermesinde

Thibaut of Bar

Walram of Limburg

Henry the Fair

1196-1240

1196-1214

1214-1221

1236-1240

Denier of Ermesinde with lion rampant

House of Luxemburg

Henry V, the Fair

1240-1281

 Equestrian seal 2. May1242

Arms: Lion.

Legend: SIGIL...........DE L......ORCH X. .

Counterseal  2. May 1242.

Archives de l'Etat de Liège. Fonds St. Lambert, A.

Arms: Barry of ten [Argent and Azure] a crowned lion reversed [Gules] 

Legend.: SIGILL.... TI X.

1254 Bigot Roll BA 17: Li sires de Luselborc, l'escu burelé d'argent et d'azur a un lion de geules rampant coroné d'or. Alemans.

 Equestrian seal 5.11.1262

Arms: Barry and a crowned lion.

Crest: Fan.

Legend.: ?

Counterseal 5.11.1262

(Archives de l'Etat Luxembourg)

Arms: Barry. of 10, a lion reversed

Legend: SIGILLVM SECRETI .

1275 Walford’s Roll C 59: Le countee de Lucemburg, burulee d'argent et d'azure un leon rampant gulez coronné d'or. 

1281+ Tomb of Henry V the Fair in Clairefontaine Abbey. [17]

Arms: Barry Argent and Azure of 12 pieces, a lion Gules, crowned Or.

Henry VI

1281-1288

 le conte de lucenbourg: Barry of 14 pieces Argent and Azure a lion Gules crowned Or. [18]

Henry VII

*1274-† 14.08.1313

Count of Luxemburg 1288 - 1309

Roman King 1308

Crowned Aachen 06.01.1309

King of Italy, crowned Milan1311

Roman Emperor 1312

crowned Rome 26.06.1312

1289 Wijnbergen 629: le Conte de lutcenbourc: as 524 but of 16 pieces.

Equestrian Seal

Arms: Barry, a lion

Crest: Dragon

Arms and crest repeated on the horse clothes

Legend: SIGILLVM : HENRICI : COMITIS DE LVCEMBOURG. (Vredius) 

John the Blind

  *1296-†1346

Count of Luxemburg 1309-1346

¥ Elizabeth, dau. of. Wenceslas II 1310

King of Bohemia 1310-1346

1310 + Equestrian seal

Arms:  ¼ of Bohemia and Luxemburg.

Crest: Bohemia (Przemysl).

Horse clothes of the arms

Legend: IOHANNES . DEI GRATIA . REX . BOEMIE . AC . LVCEMPVRG­ENSIS . COMES. [19]

Charles  IV

1346-1354

Arms: ¼: 1 Bohemia; 2&3: Luxemburg; 4 Moravia.  (1443)

Supporters: A standing man and two lions

Legend: X SECRETV KAROLI PMOGITI REGIS BOEMIE MARChIONIS MORAUIE  [20]

*Baldwin of Luxemburg

regent 1349-1353

Seal of Baldwin of Luxemburg, Archbishop Elector of Treves

The archbishop seated with mitre and crozier, between the arms of Treves and Luxemburg in the field.

Wenceslaus I    

Count 1353-1354

Duchy

3 march 1354

Wenceslaus I

*1337-†1383

¥ 1354 Joan of Brabant 

Duke 1354-1383

On the seals of Wenceslaus I and Joan there are their coats of arms: a quarterly of Bohemia and Luxemburg and a quarterly of Brabant and Limburg respectively. In an other instance these coats of arms are combined in a single shield.

Seal and counterseal of Wenceslaus II and Joan of Brabant, 1357

Posse Band 2, Taf. 9  n°s 3 & 5

The seal of WSenceslas as an Imperial Vicar dated 1367-03-07

Posse, Band 2, Taf. 5, n°5

Arms: ¼ 1 & 4 Bohemia; 2 & 3. Luxemburg.

Crest:  Przemysl.

Legend:  X WENCESLAY DE BOEMIA LVCEB’G LOThR BRABAN LYMB’G DVCIS

Armorial Bellenville» (ou) «Armorial Beaulaincourt», 1386 [BNF Ms Fr 5230] fol 38r

Arms:  ¼ 1. Bohemia; 2. Brabant; 3. Luxemburg; 4. Limburg.

Crest: Přemysl   

Seal of Joan of Brabant, 1372

Posse Band 2, Taf. 9. N°4

Wenceslas II

1383-1419

Arms: Luxemburg (Loutsch p. 39)

Pledgees: (*)

*Josse of Moravia (1388-1402)

Arms: ¼ of Luxemburg and Brandenburg.

Crest:  Przemysl  [21]

*Louis of Orleans (1402-1407)

Arms:  France ancient and a label of three Argent

Crest: A 3-dimensional fleur-de-lis Or

Supporters: Two eagels wings spread Twee adelaars met geopende vleugels.

*Josse of Moravia (1407-1411)

*Elizabeth of Görlitz  (1411-1443)

Sigismund

1419-1437

1 Arms: Barry of ten Argent and Azure, a lion Gules langued and unguled Or.:

Crest:  an a helmet lambrequined Argent: Przemysl.

Bergshammer fol 15r , n° 98: Lutsenborch.

2 Arms: As before, the lion crowned Or and the lambrequines ermine.

Bergshammer. fol. 118 v , n  1687.

fol 15r

Elisabeth of Görlitz Luxemburg

1437-1442

Elisabeth was the only daughter and heiress of John of Görlitz, the third son of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor. He was Duke of Lusatia and Görlitz, and also Elector of Brandenburg for a brief period. Her mother, Richardis Catherine of Sweden, was the daughter of King Albert of Sweden.

The Duchy of Luxembourg was mortgaged to Elisabeth by her uncle the King Sigismund of Hungary, who later also became King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor. He was unable to repay the loan, and subsequently left Elisabeth in control of the duchy.

Her first marriage took place in Brussels on 16 July 1409, to Antoine, Duke of Brabant. He defended her against three uprisings of the Luxembourg nobility, until his death in 1415. They had two children: William (2 June 1410 – 10 July 1410, Brussels) and unknown (1412)     

John of Bavaria was her second husband. He died in 1425, and they did not have any children. After his death, she became heavily indebted.

In 1441, she made a treaty with Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, allowing him to immediately assume the administrative duties of Luxembourg and inherit the duchy upon her death. He agreed to this, but chose to launch a night attack on the territory two years later, taking immediate control. Elisabeth was subsequently expelled from Luxembourg by Philip's forces.

Epitaph for Elisabeth of Görlitz, duchess of Luxemburg and Bavaria (1390-1451)

Sandstone. Ascribed to Peter von Wederath, sculptor. 1465/1470.

Arms: 1|2: 1. ¼ of Wittelsbach and Holland: ¼ of Flanders and Holland ; 2. ¼: Bohemia, Brandenburg, Lower Lusatia, Görlitz and an inescutcheon of Luxemburg

Supporter: Angel

The inscription reads (in translation):

Here rests the illustrious Lady Elisabeth of Görlitz, Duchess of Bavaria and Luxemburg, Countess of Chiny, daughter of the Illustrious Lord John, Duke of Görlitz and Margrave of Brandenburg, brother of the glorious Prince Sigismund, Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia etc., deceased Anno Domini 1451 at the third day before noon of August (5 August), may her soul rest in peace, Amen.

Location: Trier, Monastery Church, former Jesuite Church of the Holy Trinity

Bibliography: Eichler, Trier, 1952 Abb. 67

Ladislaus Posthumus

1442-1457

Ladislaus was the posthumous son of Albert of Habsburg and Elizabeth of Luxembourg. Albert was the hereditary Duke of Austria while Elizabeth was the only child of the Holy Roman EmperorSigismund, who was also King of Bohemia and Hungary. Sigismund was also Duke of Luxemburg, but he had mortgaged Luxembourg to his niece, Elizabeth of Görlitz.

Seal of Ladislas Posthumus

Arms: Clockwise: Bohemia, Luxemburg, Upper Austria; Moravia, Stiria, Arpad-Hungary. In the middle: Babenberg-Austria supported by a lion.

Crown: A crown of five leaves and three arches supported by two angels

Legend: L.: S. MAIESTATIS LADICLAI DEI. GRA HUNGARIE  BOHEMIE DALMACIE CROACIE. RAME CERVIE GALLICIE LODOMERIE CAMANIE BULGARIEQS REGIS DUCIS AUSTR STIRIE LUCEMBUGE KARINTHIE + CANIOLE MARCHIOIS MOAVIE BGOUREDM MACHIE SCLAVOIE + PORTUSNAOIS COITIS HABSPGE TIROLIS FERRETIS KIBGENEIV LANTGUI ALS.

*Philip the Good of Burgundy

Lord Pledgee 1443-1462

Mannequin of Luxembourg as in the Armorial de l'Europe et de la Toison d'or -

William III the Brave of Saxony

*1425-†1482

1457-1462

Arms on the gravestone of William of Saxony

Herderkirche Weimar

Arms: ¼ Saxony, Thüringen, Meissen, Landsberg.

House of Burgundy

Philip the Good

Duke 1462-1467

Charles the Bold

1467-1477

Woodcut of Meester W.A. 1468

Mary the Rich

1477-1482

House of Habsburg

1482-1678

Philip the Fair

Charles V

Philip II

Albrecht and Isabella

Philip IV

1482-1500

Duke of Luxemburg 1500-1555

1555-1598

1598-1621

1621-1665

By Albrecht Dürer 1517

 By Jan van Battel 1519

Under the House of Habsburg a crown appears on the arms

In 1517 it is a crown with a purple cap and a scalloped ermine brim

In 1519 it is a crown with eight pearls and one leaf  .

At the end of the 16th century a crown of  5 x 3 pearls.

In the 17th century a purple cap with a scalloped ermine brim and three arches

By Albrecht Dürer, 1512

On his portrait of emperor Sigismund

From the early Habsburg era dates the seal of the Council of Luxemburg (1444-1795): 

Arms: Luxemburg the lion crowned and with double tail 

The field strewn with flints

Legend: S. CΘSILLI DvCaT LVXEMBVRG  ET COMI T DE CHINI. [22]

Uncrowned arms of Luxemburg are on compilations of the arms of the provinces of the Netherlands throughout the 17th-18th century

Charles II

1621-1678

House of  Bourbon

1678-1688

Louis XIV

House of Habsburg

1688-1700

Charles II

Restored 1688-1700

The arms of the city of Luxemburg in the ‘Armorial de France’ of D’Hozier, 1697 [23]

House of  Bourbon

1700-1711

Philip V

1700-1711

House of  Wittelsbach

1711-1714

Maximilian Emanuel

1711-1714

By  Maximiliaan Emanuel the arms of Luxemburg were incorporated in his arms for the Southern Netherlands.

House of Habsburg

1714-1795

Arms of Brabant, Limburg, Luxemburg, Gelre, Flanders, Hainaut, Artois and Namur in the larger achievement of Jozef II for the Netherlands. In the middle the personal arms of Jozef II.

Imitating Maximilian Emanuel also Jozef II and Leopold incorporated the arms of Luxemburg in their greater achievement for the Southern Netherlands.

Departement des Forêts       

1795-1814

We may suppose that in the time of the Empire the seal of the department showed the imperial arms of France surrounded by the name of the department.

Grand Duchy

House of  Orange-Nassau

1815-1890

William I

1813-1840

Under dutch rule the decree of 20 February 1816 of the King Grand duke provided that the provinces, cities etc of the Netherlands should register their ancient coats of arms or their newly adopted arms. The decree n° 62 of 5 October 1817 informed the Supreme Council of Nobility that His Majesty “trouvait bon que les armoiries et la couronne telles qu’elles avaient toujours ci-devant été portées par le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, demeurent ses armes provinciales...”  (agreed that the coat of arms and crown as borne until now by the Grand-Duchy of Luxemburg remained their provincial coat of arms...)

The Supreme Council of Nobility informed the gentlemen deputies of state of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg by letter dated The Hague, 7 October 1817, adding “un dessin des armoiries susnommées” (a drawing of the coat of arms named below) (Archives of State). On 22 October 1817, a letter of the Ministry of the Interior in the Hague added “que la Couronne qui couvrira les Armes du Grand-Duché sera la même portée jadis par la Province” (that the crown on the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy will be the same as formerly used by the Province) (Archives of State).

The confirmation of the coat of arms followed on 18 November 1818:

De par le Roi

Le Conseil Suprême de la Noblesse, se référant aux pouvoirs lui accordés par le décret du 20 février 1816, confirme par les mêmes Le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg sur la demande de ce dernier dans la possession des armoiries suivantes:

“Un écu d’argent chargé de cinq fasces d’azur, sur le tout un lion rampant de gueules couronné d’or. L’écu sommé d’une couronne ducale.”

Fait et donné à La Haye le 18 novembre 1818

(signé) M.L. d’Yvois van Wijck,  Président

Par ordonnance du Conseil Suprême.

(signé) J.W.H. van Westreenen van Tiellandt, Sécrétaire.

(Archives de l’Etat).

William II

1840-1849

Arms: The same

William III

1849-1890

Arms; Argent five bars Azure and a lion Gules crowned Or.

Crown: A crown with five leaves and arches (Grand-ducal crown)

Supporters: Two lions guardamt grand-ducally crowned. [24]

10 centimes, bronze, 1860

Arms of Luxemburg with grand ducal hat

The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg had still the statute of an autonomous duchy within the German League. It became independent when the League was abolished in 1867. The Luxemburg issue almost caused a war between France and Prussia. The second Treaty of London recognized Luxemburg as an independent, neutral state ruled by the House of Orange-Nassau.

Großherzogthum Luxemburg

House of  Nassau-Weilburg

Adolph

*1817-†1905

Grand duke of  Luxemburg 1890-1905

Duke Adolph of Nassau was Regent from 08.04.1889 to 03.05.1889 and from 04.11.1890 to 23.11.  1890, during the terminal illness of Grand Duke William III.

10 centimes, bronze, 1889

Arms of Luxemburg with grand ducal hat,. On the reverse the legend:

Regence du duc Adolphe de Nassau

Arms:  Luxemburg with inescutcheon Nassau.

Crown: Of five leaves and hoops, lined with a low purple cap.

Order: Of the Crown of Oak. (Nederland, 1841)

Supporters: Two lions croned

Mantle: Purple, lined ermine, fringed and tasseled Or and vaulted purple crowned.

From: 1. Heyer von Rosenfeld, Friedrich: Die Staatswappen der bekanntesten Länder der Erde. Frankfurt a/Main, 1895 2. Ströhl, H.G. Heraldischer Atlas 1899. This achievement is not supported by any decree or warrant.

Grand ducal decree of  29 July 1898.

Wir Adolph, von Gottes Gnaden Großherzog von Luxemburg Herzog von Nassau &a &a

haben Uns aus Veranlassung des Anfalls des Großherzogtums Luxemburg an den Nassau Walram'schen Stamm bewogen gefunden

1. anzuordnen daß das bis hierher geführte Nassauische Hauswappen in der Weise eine Umgestaltung erfahre, wie sie aus der hier angeschlos­senen Abbildung im Zusammenhange mit der ebenwohl beigefügten Be­schreibung des Wappens ersichtlich ist, und

2. in Unserer Eigenschaft als derzeitiger Chef des Nassauischen Hauses hiermit zu verfügen daß fortan das so umgestaltete Wappen an Stelle des seitherigen von allen dazu berechtigten Mitgliedern Meines Hauses geführt wurde.

       Mit dem weiteren Vollzüge dieses Meines Erlasses beauftragen Wir andurch Unseren Oberkammer­herrn und Wirklichen Geheimrath Heinrich Freiherrn von Hadeln.

       Urkundlich Unserer Allerhöchsteigenhändigen Unterschrift und das beigedrückten Siegels

             gegeben zu Schloß Hohenburg den 29 Juli 1898.

ADOLPH

BESCHREIBUNG

DES NASSAUISCHEN HAUSWAPPENS

____________________________________________

Der Schild ist durch dreimalige Theilung und dreimalige Spaltung in sechzehn Felder getheilt von denen die vier innern /: 6.7.10.11:/ den Mittelschild bilden. Dieser ist geviert:

1 und 4 das Stammwappen Nassau: In blauen mit gelben Schindeln be­streuten Felde ein gelb gekrönter gelber Löwe.

2 und 3 das Wappen des Großhertzogthums Luxemburg. In einen von weiß und blau neunmal gehteilten Schilde ein gelb gekrönter rother Löwe.

Im Hauptschild sind vier Gruppen angeordnet und zwar

       a. zur Erinnerung an die ältere Weilburger Linie die drei Felder:

1. Saarbrücken: In blauen, mit gelben unten zugespitzten Kleeblatt­kreuzchen bestreuten Felde ein gelb gekrönter weißer Löwe

2. Merenberg: In Grün ein von je drei gelben Kreuzchen bewinkelter gelber Schragen.

3. Weilnau: In Gelb zwei rothe schreitende Leoparden übereinander.

       b. zur Erinnerung an die ältere Saarbrücker Linie die vier Felder:

4. Moers: In Gelb ein schwarzer Balken.

8. Saarwerden: In Schwarz ein gelb bewehrter weißer Doppeladler.

12. Lahr: In Gelb ein rother Balken.

16. Mahlberg: In Gelb ein roth gekrönter schwarzer Löwe.

       c. zur Erinnerung an den Ottonischen Stamm die drei Felder:

5. Catzenelnbogen: In Gelb ein rother Leopard.

9. Dietz: In Roth zwei gelbe schreitende Leoparden übereinander.

13. Vianden: In Roth ein weißer Balken

d. zur Erinnerung an die durch die letzte Burggräfin zu Kirchberg, Luisa Gemahlin des Fürsten Friedrich Wilhelm zu Nassau Weilburg an das Haus gefallene Grafschaft Hachen­burg die zwei Felder:

14. Kirchberg: In Weiß drei schwarze Pfähle.

15. Sayn: In Roth ein gelber Leopard.

Helme: In der Mitte rechts der Helm von Nassau (Walramischen Stammes), links der von Luxemburg. Nach rechts schließen sich die Helme von Saarbrücken und Moers, nach links die von Dietz und Sayn an, entspre­chend den vier Gruppen im Hauptschilde. Wir folgen mithin von rechts nach links.

1. Moers: Gekrönt. Gelber Windspielerkopf mit schwarzem, weiß einge­faßtem Halsband mit weißem Ring - Decken: schwarz-gelb.

2. Saarbrücken: Weiß und schwarz getheilter Flug. Decken: schwarz-weiß.

3. Nassau: Roth gekrönter, gelber, sitzender Löwe zwischen zwei blauen, mit gelben Schindeln bestreuten Hörnern. - Decken: blau-gelb.

4. Luxemburg: Schwarzer Flug. Decken: blau-weiß.

5. Dietz: Schwa­rzer Flug belegt mit einer runden Sch­eibe, auf welcher in Roth den gel­ben Leoparden des Schildes - Decken: gelb-roth.

6. Sayn: Gekrönt. Gelber orientalischer Spitzhut. Decken: roth-gelb. 

Schildhalter: Zwei auf gelben Ranken stehende, rückwärts schauende gelbe Löwen mit heraldischen Kronen.

       Das Ganze umgibt ein mit hermelin gefüttertes, mit gelben Fransen und Schnüren verziertes, purpurrothes Wappenzelt mit der Königskrone.

___________________________________

Petites Armoiries

Moyennes Armoiries

Armoiries Grand Ducales

Wilhelm

1905-1912

Lesser, Medial and Larger achievement: The same

Marie Adelheid         

1912-1919

Lesser, Medial and Larger  achievement: The same

Charlotte

1919-1964

Lesser, Medial and Larger  achievement: The same

German Occupation 1940-1944

Gau Moselland

On 10 May 1940 Luxemburg was occupied by Germany and came under German rule. This was effecuated by Gustav Simon from Koblenz-Trier (NSDAP-) district, later Moselland, who was appointed chief of the civil administration of Luxemburg on 21.07.1940.

Jean

Grand Duke of Luxemburg 1964-2000

Grandes Armoiries

GRAND DUCHÉ DE LUXEMBOURG

LOI SUR LES EMBLEMES NATIONAUX

Mémorial A-N°  5116 aôut 1972

Adopté à l'unanimité par la Chambre des Députés dans sa séance du 18 mai 1972.

NOUS JEAN, PAR LA GRACE DE DIEU, GRAND DUC DE LUXEMBOURG, DUC DE NASSAU, ETC., ETC., ETC.;

Notre Conseil d'État entendu

De l'assentiment de la Chambre des Députés;

Vu la décision de la Chambre des Députés du 18 mai 1972 et celle du Conseil d'État du 8 juin 1972 portant qu'il n'y a pas lieu à second vôte;

Avons ordonné et ordonnons:

Art. 1er. Les armoiries du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg sont à trois échelons:

a) petites armoiries,

b) moyennes armoiries,

c) grandes armoiries.

Art.2. Les armoiries désignées à l'article 1er ci dessus se composent des éléments héraldiques suivants:

a) petites armoiries:

Burelé d'argent et d'azur de dix pièces au lion rampant de gueules, couronné, armé et lampassé d'or, la queue fourchue et passé en sau­toir.

Timbre: La couronne grand-ducale non doublée.

b. moyennes armoiries:

Les petites armoiries augmentées des supports: Deux lions d'or et couronnées du même, la tête contournée (regardants), armés et lam­passés de gueules, la queue fourchue et passé en sautoir.

c) grandes armoiries:

Les moyennes armoiries augmentées du ruban et de la croix de l'Ordre national de la couronne de chêne passés autour de l'écu; le tout posé sur un manteau: de gueules doublé d'ermine, bordé, frangé, cordonné et houppé d'or, sommé de la couronne grand-ducale non doublée.

Art. 3. Le drapeau national se compose d'une laize de tissus aux proportions de 5 à 3 ou de 2 à 1, comportant trois bandes égales de couleurs rouge, blanche, bleue disposées horizontalement.

Art. 4. Le pavillon de la batellerie et de l'aviation se compose d'une laize de tissus aux proportions de 7 à 5 comportant un burelé d'argent et d'azur de dix pièces au lion rampant de gueules, orienté vers la hampe, couronné, armé et lampassé d'or, la queue fourchue et passé en sautoir. La description du revers correspond à celle de l'avers.

Art. 5. Les originaux des planches, tant en couleur qu'en noir et blanc, des armoiries de l'État, et, en couleur, du drapeau national et du pavillon de la batellerie et de l'aviation, sont déposés aux archives de l'État.

Art. 6. Le livre II, titre III, chapitre VI du code pénal est complété par un article 232bis libellé comme suit:

((Art. 232 bis. Seront punis d'un emprisonnement de huit jours à trois mois et d'une amende de cinq cent à dix mille francs, ou d'une de ces peines seulement, ceux qui auront fait usage à des fins non autorisés des armoiries de la Maison grand-ducale, de celles de l'État et des communes, du drapeau national, du pavillon de la batellerie et de l'aviation, ainsi que tous écussons, emblèmes et symboles utilisés par les autorités et par les établissements publics.

Il y a usage non autorisé des armoiries et symboles visés notamment lorsqu'il est fait

a) à des fins frauduleuses

b) à des fins commerciales, industrielles, professionelles ou publici­taires, sauf dans les cas prévus par les lois et règlements, ou autorisés par le Gouvernement.))

Art. 7. Les nouvelles armoiries à créer par des autorités publiques et la modification des armoiries existants devront être agréées et enregistrées par le ministre d'État, president du Gouvernement.

Art.8. Le ministre d'État pourra instituer une commission, apellée commission héraldique de l'État, dont il désignera les membres.

Mandons et ordonnons que la présente loi soit insérée au Mémorial pour être executée et observée par tous ceux que la chose concerne.

Château de Berg, le 23 juin 1972.

JEAN

Le Ministre d'État

Président du Gouvernement

Ministre des Finances

Pierre Werner

Le Ministre des Transports et de l'Energie

Marcel Mart

Le Ministre de la Justice

Eugèn Schaus.   

petites armoiries

moyennes armoiries

 Armoiries Grand Ducales

Henri

2000-

“Ee grousse Merci” Grand duke John has 6 October 2000 pronounced in Lëtzebuergisch before he  ‘d’Geschecker vun eiser Hemecht an d’Hänn vum Prënz Henri leën”.

His succession by Grand duke Henri then took place on 7 October 2000 in Luxemburg city

A few months later the arms of state and the grand ducal arms were changed.

Arrêté grand-ducal du 23 février 2001 fixant les petites et les moyennes armoiries de Son Altesse Royale le Grand-Duc.

- base juridique:

L du 27 juillet 1993 (Mém. A - 73 du 16 septembre 1993, p. 1416)

- citant:

L du 23 juin 1972 (Mém. A - 51 du 16 août 1972, p. 1288)

- cité par:

AGD du 23 juin 2001 (Mém. A - 114 du 14 septembre 2001, p. 2384)

Arrêté grand-ducal du 23 février 2001 fixant les petites et les moyennes armoiries de Son Altesse

Royale le Grand-Duc.

Nous Henri, Grand-Duc de Luxembourg, Duc de Nassau

Vu la loi du 27 juillet 1993 modifiant et complétant la loi du 23 juin 1972 sur les emblèmes nationaux

Vu l'avis de la Commission Héraldique de l'Etat instituée par arrêtés grand-ducaux des 12 mars 1998 et 17 avril 1998

Avons arrêté et arrêtons:

Art. 1er.

Nos petites armoiries sont fixées comme suit:

Ecartelé, aux I et IV de Luxembourg qui est un burelé d'argent et d'azur, au lion de gueules, la queue

fourchue et passée en sautoir, armé, lampassé et couronné d'or, aux II et III de Nassau qui est d'azur semé

de billettes d'or, au lion couronné d'or, armé et lampassé de gueules.

L'écu est timbré d'une couronne royale.

Art. 2.

Nos armoiries moyennes sont fixées comme suit:

Les petites armoiries augmentées de supports, à dextre un lion couronné d'or, la tête contournée, la queue

fourchue et passée en sautoir, armé et lampassé de gueules, à senestre un lion couronné d'or, la tête

contournée, armé et lampassé de gueules.

Art. 3.

Les armoiries portées par Son Altesse Royale le Grand-Duc Jean restent inchangées.

Palais de Luxembourg, le 23 février 2001.

Henri

Le Maréchal de la Cour,

Henri Ahlborn

Petites Armoiries

Moyennes Armoiries

Arrêté grand-ducal du 23 juin 2001 fixant les grandes armoiries de Son Altesse Royale le Grand-Duc.

Nous Henri, Grand-Duc de Luxembourg, Duc de Nassau

Vu la loi du 27 juillet 1993 modifiant et complétant la loi du 23 juin 1972 sur les emblèmes nationaux

Vu l'avis de la Commission Héraldique de l'Etat instituée par arrêtés grand-ducaux des 12 mars 1998 et 17 avril 1998

Vu notre arrêté du 23 février 2001 fixant nos petites armoiries et nos armoiries moyennes

Avons arrêté et arrêtons:

Art. unique.

Nos grandes armoiries sont fixées comme suit:

Ecartelé, aux I et IV de Luxembourg qui est burelé d'argent et d'azur, au lion de gueules, la queue fourchue et passée en sautoir, armé, lampassé et couronné d'or, aux II et III de Nassau qui est d'azur semé de billettes d'or, au lion couronné du même, armé et lampassé de gueules, sur le tout en coeur de Bourbon de Parme qui est d'azur à trois (deux, une) fleurs de lys d'or à la bordure de gueules chargée de huit coquilles d'argent posées en orle.

L'écu est timbré d'une couronne royale et entouré du ruban et de la croix de l'Ordre de la Couronne de Chêne.

Les supports sont à dextre un lion couronné d'or, la tête contournée, la queue fourchue et passée en sautoir, armé et lampassé de gueules, à senestre un lion couronné d'or, la tête contournée, armé et lampassé de gueules, chaque lion tenant un drapeau luxembourgeois frangé d'or.

Le tout est posé sur un manteau de pourpre, doublé d'hermine, bordé, frangé et lié d'or et sommé d'une couronne royale, les drapeaux dépassant le manteau.

Palais de Luxembourg, le 23 juin 2001.

Henri

Le Maréchal de la Cour,

Henri Ahlborn

 Armoiries Grand Ducales

Police

Armed Forces

The army is under civilian control, with the Grand Duke as Commander-in-Chief. The Minister for Defence, oversees army operations. The professional head of the army is the Chief of Defence, who answers to the minister. The Grand Duke and the Chief of Defence are the only generals, with colonels as Deputy Chief of Defence and head of the Military Training Centre.

Until 1999, the army was integrated into the Force Publique (Public Force), which included the Gendarmerie and the Police, until the Gendarmerie was merged with the Grand Ducal Police under a different minister in 2000. The army has been an all-volunteer force since 1967.

Army Emblem

Cap badge

Sleeve Patch

Air Force Roundel

On NATO Airborne Early Warning Force aircrafts

Province de Luxembourg

1839 - present

17 Mars 1837 Arrêté qui détermine le sceau de l'État

3° Luxembourg, d'argent, à cinq fasces d'azur, au lion de gueules, à la queue fourchue, couronné d'or, brochant sur le tout.