Coat of arms of Alabama Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Coat of arms of the State of Alabama

Versions
The coat of arms is often used in the form of a seal
Historical coat of arms (illustrated, 1876)

Armiger	State of Alabama
Adopted	March 14, 1939
Crest	A full rigged ship proper
Blazon	Quarterly, the first azure three fleur de lis or (for France); second quarterly first and fourth gules a tower tripple towered or, second and third argent a lion rampant gules (for Spain); third azure a saltire argent and gules over all a cross of the last fimbriated of the second (for Great Britain); fourth gules of a saltire azure, fimbriated argent 13 mullets of the last (for the Confederacy); at center in escutcheon chief azure paly argent and gules 13 (for United States)
Supporters	Two American eagles displayed
Motto	Audemus jura nostra defendere (Latin: "We dare defend our rights")

The coat of arms of Alabama is a special symbol for the state of Alabama. It shows a shield with symbols from five different countries that once had control over parts of Alabama. These countries are France, Spain, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. The top part of the coat of arms has a ship called the "Badine." This ship brought the first French settlers to the area. Below the shield, you'll find Alabama's state motto: Audemus jura nostra defendere. This Latin phrase means "We dare defend our rights."

What the Symbols Mean
- Symbols of Past Rulers
- The Ship and Motto
How the Coat of Arms Was Created
- Designing the Coat of Arms
- Becoming Official
Where the Coat of Arms Is Used
See also

What the Symbols Mean

The shield on Alabama's coat of arms tells a story of its history. It shows symbols from different countries that once ruled parts of the land that is now Alabama.

Symbols of Past Rulers

France: The first part of the shield shows three golden fleurs-de-lis on a blue background. This represents France, which was the first European country to settle in Alabama.
Spain: The next part shows symbols for Spain. It has a golden castle on a red background and a red lion on a white background. These represent the old kingdoms of Castile and León in Spain.
Great Britain: The third part shows a flag that stands for Great Britain. This flag represents the time when British rule covered parts of Alabama. It's important to know that the exact flag shown on the coat of arms was created later, in 1801. But it still symbolizes the British period before the United States became independent.
Confederacy: The fourth part shows a blue cross with white edges and 13 stars on a red background. This represents the battle flag of the Confederate States of America.
United States: In the very center of the shield, there is a smaller shield. This small shield has red and white stripes and a blue top part, just like the shield found on the Great Seal of the United States. This represents the United States of America.

The British flag that would have been used in what is now Alabama before the United States became independent.

The Ship and Motto

Above the shield, there is a picture of a full-sized ship. This ship is called the "Badine." It was the ship that brought the first French colonists to Alabama, helping to start the first lasting European settlements in the area.

Below the shield, the state motto is written in Latin: Audemus jura nostra defendere. This powerful phrase means "We dare defend our rights." It shows the spirit of the people of Alabama.

How the Coat of Arms Was Created

The idea to create an official coat of arms for Alabama began many years before it was finally adopted.

Designing the Coat of Arms

The original design for Alabama's coat of arms was made in 1923 by a person named B.J. Tieman from New York. He was an expert in heraldry, which is the study of coats of arms. He created the design at the request of Marie Bankhead Owen, who was the Director of the Department of Archives and History.

A few years later, Naomi Rabb Winston, an artist from Washington, D.C., painted the complete design in oil. Mrs. Owen also chose the state motto. Professor W.B. Saffold from the University of Alabama then translated the motto into Latin.

Becoming Official

It was thanks to Juliet Perry Dixon, who was the wife of Governor Dixon, that the Alabama Legislature officially approved the coat of arms. The bill to adopt it was introduced in 1939 by James Simpson. Both parts of the legislature voted for it without anyone disagreeing. This made the design the official coat of arms for the state of Alabama on March 14, 1939.

Where the Coat of Arms Is Used

The coat of arms is a very important symbol for Alabama. You can see it in many places.

It is used by itself as a symbol of the state. It also appears on many official seals used by different government offices in Alabama. For example, it is featured on the flag of the Governor of Alabama.