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Wappen der Schweiz Armorial de la Suisse - Swiss Civic Heraldry

National arms of Switzerland

Origin/meaning:
The arms of Switzerland are in red a silver cross with the horizontal arms one sixth longer than the vertical ones. The arms were officially described and adopted on December 12, 1889, but are of much older origin.
Switzerland as a country did not exist until the 13^th century, when several semi-independent districts, the cantons, were united in a commonwealth (Union, Confederation). All cantons had their own arms and banners, and a common symbol for the new unity was needed. The new symbol should be used for example on the uniforms and banners of the military. The silver cross on a red field was first mentioned as a common symbol in the battle of Laupen in 1339. The arms at the time were a complete silver cross (i.e. until the borders of the shield) in a red field, see image below.

Image of the battle of Laupen. The unified cantons on the right with the silver cross.

The origin of the cross is not quite clear. It has been speculated that it is derived from the symbol of St. Mauritius and St. Ursus, who both often were shown with a silver cross in red. Both also were very popular saints in the region in the 12th and 13^th century. The cross may also have been derived from the banner of the city and canton of Bern. Bern was the strongest military force in the union at the time. A third explanation is that the cross is derived from the red Imperial war banner (the cantons were still part of the Holy Roman Empire).

Coat of arms of the Union as shown in a roll of arms by J. Stumpf from the mid 16^th century.

The cross remained unaltered on the banners and arms of the cantons until the mid 16^th century. The modern 'square' cross appeared for the first time on a medal struck to commemorate the protection over the 13 cantons by the French King in 1547.

The backside of the medal from 1547 with the square cross.

In the latter half of the 16^th century many more images are known with the present arms. The main reason for the new cross is most likely to distinguish the arms and banners for the Union from those from the Principality of Savoie, which were until then identical. Ever since the arms have not changed.

Literature : Mühlmann, L. : Wappen und Fahnen der Schweiz, Bühler Verlag, Lengnau, 1977 and 1997.

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