European Capitals By Coats of Arms (City Emblems)

The map above shows Europe’s capital cities by coats of arms or emblems.

In case you’re wondering a Coat of Arms is defined as: “the distinctive heraldic bearings or shield of a person, family, corporation, or country.”

Whereas an Eblem is defined as: “a heraldic device or symbolic object as a distinctive badge of a nation, organisation, or family, etc.”

And before anyone from Cardiff or Belfast complains, we did not create the map, so we’re not sure why Edinburgh is included but the other two are not. However, you can see Cardiff’s coat of arms here and Belfast’s here.

If you’d like to read more on this topic have a look at the following books:

• The Illustrated Book of Heraldry: An International History of Heraldry and Its Contemporary Uses
• Story and Language of Heraldry: The development of coats of arms and heraldic symbols, with 575 illustrations
• Design Your Own Coat of Arms: An Introduction to Heraldry

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