Coat of Arms of Croatia facts for kids

The official coat of arms of Croatia

The coat of arms of Croatia is a special symbol for the country of Croatia. It has one main shield and five smaller shields. These smaller shields form a crown above the main shield. The main part of the coat of arms is a cool checkerboard pattern. It has 13 red squares and 12 silver (or white) squares. People in Croatia call this pattern šahovnica, which means "chessboard." The five smaller shields show symbols from five different historical regions of Croatia. This important symbol was officially chosen on December 21, 1990.

What the Croatian Coat of Arms Means

The Croatian coat of arms is more than just a picture. It tells a story about Croatia's history and its different parts. Each part of the shield has a special meaning.

The Checkerboard: A Symbol of Croatia

The main part of the coat of arms is the red and white checkerboard. This pattern is very old and has been used for hundreds of years. It is one of the most famous symbols of Croatia. It reminds people of a chessboard, which is why it's called šahovnica.

The Crown: Five Regions of Croatia

Above the main checkerboard shield, there is a crown made of five smaller shields. Each of these small shields represents a different historical region of Croatia. These regions are:

• Old Croatia: The first shield shows a golden six-pointed star over a silver (white) crescent moon. This is a very old symbol of Croatia.
• Dubrovnik: The second shield has two red stripes on a blue background. This represents the historic city-state of Dubrovnik, which was once a very important trading port.
• Dalmatia: The third shield shows three golden lion heads with crowns on a blue background. Dalmatia is a beautiful coastal region of Croatia.
• Istria: The fourth shield has a golden goat with red horns and hooves on a blue background. Istria is a large peninsula in the Adriatic Sea.
• Slavonia: The fifth shield shows a golden six-pointed star above a red stripe. Below the stripe is a marten (a small animal) running on a white background. This shield also has a blue stripe at the very bottom. Slavonia is a region in eastern Croatia.

History of the Croatian Coat of Arms

The symbols used in the Croatian coat of arms have a long history. They have been used for many centuries.

Early Symbols of Croatia

The red and white checkerboard pattern has been a symbol of Croatia since at least the 15th century. It appeared on coins, flags, and other important documents. The five smaller shields also come from very old regional symbols.

Modern Adoption

The current design of the coat of arms was officially adopted on December 21, 1990. This happened shortly before Croatia became an independent country. It was an important step in creating new national symbols for the country.

Images for kids

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  First known example of Croatian chequy as depicted in Innsbruck, Austria (1495)

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  Coat of arms of Croatia used in 1527 as part of a seal on the Cetingrad Charter

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  Coat of arms of Croatian Crown land (until 1868)

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  Patriotic badge from 1914

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  Common coat of arms of Austria-Hungary (1915–1918)

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  Austria-Hungary, lesser version (1916–1918)

See also

In Spanish: Escudo de Croacia para niños