Coat of arms of Bratislava
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms
of Bratislava
(Pressburg), (Pozsony) has been used since 1436, when Sigismund of Luxembourg
granted the town the right to use its own coat of arms. The coat of arms depicts, on a red late Gothic
background, a silver, three-tower fortification with a gate in the centre. There are two golden spheres atop of each tower and a golden, half-raised portcullis
in the gate. It is a common misconception that the coat of arms represents the Bratislava Castle
or any of the city's four medieval gates (Michael's Gate
, Laurinc Gate
, Fish(ermen's) Gate or Vydrica Gate). In reality, it simply shows a general depiction of a medieval town.
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(Pressburg), (Pozsony) has been used since 1436, when Sigismund of Luxembourg
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
granted the town the right to use its own coat of arms. The coat of arms depicts, on a red late Gothic
Gothic art
Gothic art was a Medieval art movement that developed in France out of Romanesque art in the mid-12th century, led by the concurrent development of Gothic architecture. It spread to all of Western Europe, but took over art more completely north of the Alps, never quite effacing more classical...
background, a silver, three-tower fortification with a gate in the centre. There are two golden spheres atop of each tower and a golden, half-raised portcullis
Portcullis
A portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
in the gate. It is a common misconception that the coat of arms represents the Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is the main castle of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.The massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands on a quite isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians directly above the Danube river in the middle of Bratislava...
or any of the city's four medieval gates (Michael's Gate
Michael's Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the...
, Laurinc Gate
Laurinc Gate
Laurinc Gate was a medieval town gate in the historical Old Town of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It was built in the 14th century and demolished by the order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in the 18th century together with most of the city walls, because the inner walls were limiting...
, Fish(ermen's) Gate or Vydrica Gate). In reality, it simply shows a general depiction of a medieval town.