Denmark The unmodified arms of Schleswig is represented in the
coat of arms of Denmark's royal family. The symbol has been located in the top-right corner since 1819 as specified by royal
decree. The current version was specified by royal decree in December 2024. A modified form of the symbol was used by the
South Jutland County from 1980 until the
county was dissolved effective January 1, 2007. The county originally wished to use the historic arms, but official authorisation was withheld to avoid confusion with both the royal coat of arms and the
arms of the German Bundesland Schleswig-Holstein. This modified version showed the two lions jointly holding a Danish
pennant. This was inspired by the
medieval seal of
Eric of Pomerania in which the three lions jointly hold the
Danish flag.
Germany The
coat of arms of Schleswig-Holstein is a combination of the historic insignia of
Holstein and a slightly modified version of the Schleswig arms. This symbol was used by the secessionist German administration of the two duchies during the
First War of Schleswig (1848–51) and depicted on the currency issued by this administration. At this time, the lions faced left. The area became a
Prussian
province following the
Second War of Schleswig (1864) and the symbol was restored. The lions have faced right since the 1880s. According to legend, this change was ordered by
Otto von Bismarck who noted that it was "impolite" of the Schleswig lions to turn their backs on Holstein. The official insignia is reserved for the government of Schleswig-Holstein, but a slightly modified version is allowed for use by the general public. The lions also appear in the coats of arms of the city of
Flensburg, and the
Kreise Schleswig-Flensburg and
Rendsburg-Eckernförde. Many municipal arms in the German part of Schleswig also use insignia featuring either the two lions or the Schleswig colours, blue and yellow. ==Gallery==