Coat of arms of Jersey
ArmigerCharles III, Duke of Normandy
Adopted1907
BlazonGules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure

The coat of arms of Jersey is the heraldic device consisting of a shield charged with three gold leopards on a red field. Utilised unofficially before the 20th century, its status as the coat of arms of the Bailiwick of Jersey was formalized in 1907. The escutcheon is featured on the flag of the dependency.

History

The Channel Islands were part of the Duchy of Normandy until 1204, when the Kingdom of England lost sovereignty over the duchy but retained control of the islands. These were subsequently split into the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey later that century. They have been governed by the English Crown ever since, save for five years during World War II.[1][2]

The widespread usage of the royal arms of England on the islands led many residents to consider the arms a symbol of Jersey.[3] The claimed usage by the island of the arms was sanctioned by Edward VII in 1907.[4] During the German occupation in the Second World War, the dependency was allowed to print its own postage stamps for the first time given its inability to access supplies from mainland Britain.[5] However, it was barred from utilising the image of the monarch or any reference of Jersey's connection to the United Kingdom. One inhabitant, N. V. L. Rybot, suggested employing the island's coat of arms instead. This design was approved – with the Germans apparently unaware that it was also the royal arms of the monarch – and the stamps were first issued on 1 April 1941.[5]

A Royal Warrant was issued on 10 December 1980, appending the coat of arms to the flag of the dependency and topping it with a Plantagenet crown. This was approved by the States Assembly on 7 April of the following year:[3]

Jersey Flag

The Bailiff informed the House that H. M. Queen had now approved the new design of the Jersey Flag in accordance with the request of the House. The official description of the new flag was as follows –

"Argent a Saltire Gules in the honour point an Escutcheon also Gules thereon three Lions passant guardant Or (being the Royal Arms as used and borne by Our Island of Jersey) ensigned by an Ancient Crown (such as has been attributed unto Our Royal Predecessors being of the House of Plantagenet) of Gold"

The new flag was operative from now but the Bailiff added that it was not an Ensign and should not therefore be worn on the ensign staff of Jersey yachts which would continue to use the Red Ensign or Blue or White in the case of members of certain yacht clubs.

— Minutes of the States Assembly, 7 April 1981

Design

Symbolism

The colours and objects on the coat of arms carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The three gold lions (lions passant guardant)[6] are identical to the royal arms of England. Coupled with the dynastic crown on the flag, this represents the loyalty of the people of Jersey to the House of Plantagenet.[3]

Uses

The shield from the arms features on the flag of Jersey,[7] and on the flag of the dependency's lieutenant governor.[6] It was added to the former in 1980,[3] in order to distinguish the banner from Saint Patrick's Saltire.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jersey". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Channel Islands profile – Overview". BBC News. BBC. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Whitney (19 July 2013). "Flag of Jersey". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  4. ↑ The Bailiwick of Jersey, G.R. Balleine, London 1951
  5. 1 2 Sama, Dominic (19 May 1991). "When the German-occupied Isle of Jersey had to issue its own stamps". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 Carr, Harold Gresham (1961). Flags of the World. Frederick Warne & Co. p. 68. The Lieutenant-Governor flies the Union Flag with a badge superimposed on the centre of the St. George's Cross. This badge consists of a red Jersey shield charged with three lions (sometimes referred to as leopards) passant guardant in gold (taken from the Seal), on a white circular background encircled by a garland.
  7. ↑ Kindersley Ltd., Dorling (6 January 2009). Complete Flags of the World. Penguin. p. 127. ISBN 9780756654863.
  8. ↑ "Jersey – Details". The World Factbook. CIA. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
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