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Latvijas Pilsetu Gerboni
Latvian Civic Heraldry

National Coat of arms of LATVIA

Origin/meaning:
Latvia is a relatively new country, and its national coat of arms is new too. Artists Vilis Kruminš and Rihards Zarinš created the National Arms in 1921. It was adopted in the same year.
But elements of the arms have longer history.
In 1581 the part of former Livonia state, including the whole territory of Latvia, fell to the Poland-Lithuania Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita). It was divided to two dukedoms.
The dukedom of Curonia and Semigallia included traditional regions Kurzeme (Latin forms: Curonia, Couronia), Zemgale (Semigallia) and Selija (Selonia). Its arms were divided quarterly, a lion in first and third fields, a deer in second and fourth fields. The lion was a symbol of Kurzeme, and the deer was a symbol of Zemgale.
The dukedom of Inflantia included traditional regions Vidzeme and Latgale (Lettigallia). It got the arms: a griffin with sword.
These symbols became traditional for Latvian regions.
In 1918 the newly created Republic of Latvia confirmed its first coat of arms. It was the rising sun with letter "L" and three stars. The rising sun symbolized the birth of new nation, "L" meant Latvia and three stars symbolized three historical regions of Latvia: Kurzeme (with Zemgale and Selija), Vidzeme and Latgale.
In 1921 all historical and new symbols were united to the new coat of arms. Also the wreath of oak leaves was added as a symbol of strength.


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