The medieval Crest of Sweden, shown above in a mural of King Birger who reigned from 1290 to 1318 at a time of great rivalry with Norway before the Kalmar Union.
The Crest is, like Denmark's, based on two Horns each with five Flags attached to the outside in a fan arrangement. The Flags are blue with a gold Lion to represent the House of Bjelbo, to which Birger belonged. The Bjelbo Lion, set against wavy white stripes, still forms the second and third Quarterings of the Swedish Royal Arms.
The Seal shown here purports to be that of Erik (IX) Magnusson, Birger's great nephew. Erik was a rival king until 1359 and ruled jointly with his father, King Magnus IV, until his own death five years before his father was deposed in 1364. The Seal shows Erik in full Armour on horseback. His Shield, Flag and the horse's Caparison (ornamental covering) show the Bjelbo Lion. Erik's Helmet shows the same Crest of the Horns and the 10 Flags. Erik's brother Haakon then ruled jointly with their father until both were deposed in 1364 by a clique of exiled Swedish noblemen in favour of Magnus's nephew, Albert of Mecklenburg, who continued to use the Bjelbo Crest. Haakon's wife, Margaret of Denmark, then took over in 1389 having already been Queen of her native country and Norway for two years and thus creating the Kalmar Union of the three Scandinavian Kingdoms. |
This Union of Denmark, Norway and Sweden presumably precluded the use of individual Crests. Margaret was succeeded by her nephew, Eric of Pomerania as King of all three Scandinavian Kingdoms in the Kalmar Union. He was born in Rügenwalde, Pomerania, which is the present-day Darłowo in Poland and, when he died, he was returned there to be buried having eventually been deposed as King. His grave not only shows his Pomeranian Coat of Arms of a Griffin with a Crest of a whole sheaf of peacock's feathers growing out of a Coronet, but also the three Shields of Sweden, Denmark and Norway as illustrated here. At this stage the Coats of Arms of the three Scandinavian Kingdoms are 'united' under one Crown. |