SHIELD OF CUNDINAMARCA: HISTORY AND MEANING - HISTORY - 2024

The shield of Cundinamarca is the representative emblem of this Colombian department. It refers to the courage of the Cundinamarca people, and to freedom.

The design of this shield was entrusted to the then president of the Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca and hero of the independence of Colombia, Antonio Nariño y Álvarez.

The official use of this shield, approved on July 17, 1813, only lasted two years. Starting in 1815, at the end of the wars between centralists and federalists, he was replaced several times throughout the following decades of the 19th century.

The influence of patriotic thinking and the struggles for freedom and independence in Colombia is clearly reflected in the design of this medallion-shaped shield, which was adopted by the department of Cundinamarca.

You may also be interested in the history and meaning of the flag of Cundinamarca.

History

The coat of arms of Antonio Nariño

In 1813 the need arose to create a symbol that represented the Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca.

Then, the president of the state designed the coat of arms that would be used in the first years of Cundinamarca's history.

On July 17, 1813, an official decree was issued stating the characteristics of the state's coat of arms. Below is an excerpt from that decree:

“… An eagle with open wings, in the attitude of taking flight, with a sword in its right claw and a grenade in its left. On her head she has the Phrygian cap, on the upper part it bears the inscription "Die or Win" and on the lower part a legend with the name 'Cundinamarca'… ".

The shield bearing these characteristics was used until 1815, when the United Provinces of New Granada were created.

Coat of Arms of the United Provinces of New Granada

In 1815 the United Provinces of New Granada were formed. In that same year, a coat of arms was created to replace that of Nariño.

The new shield was also circular in shape. The design was of concentric stripes. This means that the center was a circle and this was surrounded by three circular stripes that moved away from the center.

The center was white, the first stripe was red, the second green, and the third yellow. In the green strip the inscription "United Provinces of New Granada" was read.

In the middle of the blazon was a coat of arms. The shape of this shield was Portuguese and it was divided into barracks.

In each barracks there was an image, the most outstanding being the one in the upper right, which showed the flying eagle of Nariño; and the one in the lower right, which showed the arrival of the Spanish to the American territory.

This shield was used until 1820, when Gran Colombia was created.

Shield of Cundinamarca at the time of Gran Colombia

In 1820, with the creation of Gran Colombia, a new shield was created. This one was of the Aragonese type with golden edges and a sky blue background.

It was surrounded by ribbons that were tied in a knot at the top of the crest. In the center of the shield was the eagle of Nariño, with her sword and her grenade.

Coat of arms of the Federal State of Cundinamarca

With the creation of the Granadina Confederation, the Federal State of Cundinamarca was created. Thus arose the need to create a new shield, which became the official symbol of the state in 1857.

The shield was oval in shape, with a white background surrounded by a red stripe. In this strip the inscriptions “Granadina Confederation” (in the upper part) and “Federal State of Cundinamarca” (in the lower part) were read.

In the center was a horizontally poured blazon. Each one of these divisions presented an image, the lower one being the one that stood out the most because it represented the moment in which the Spanish arrived on the American continent.

Behind the blazon was the flag of the confederation: red, blue and yellow. Above the blazon and the flag an eagle flew.

This shield was in force until 1861, when the United States of Colombia was created.

Coat of Arms of the Sovereign State of Cundinamarca

In 1861 the United States of Colombia was created and the Sovereign State of Cundinamarca was created. With this a new blazon was designed.

The new design was similar to that of the Federal State of Cundinamarca. The differences lay in three points:

- The position of the eagle, which no longer flew but settled on the coat of arms.

- The inscriptions. At the top, it read "United States of Colombia", while at the bottom, it read "Sovereign State of Cundinamarca." These inscriptions were separated by two white stars.

- The position of the flag, which now fell to the sides of the shield.

Current blazon

In 1886 the shield of Cundinamarca changed again. This design is the one that has been used to date.

The blazon recovered the characteristics of the one created by Nariño and a few modifications were added.

For example, around the eagle there is a chain broken into three pieces. At the top is the inscription "Free and Independent Government of Cundinamarca."

The background of the shield is white and is surrounded by two very thin stripes, one red and the other black.

This shield can be used on the state flag, official documents and brochures issued by the department of Cundinamarca, in buildings of the state administration and in vehicles belonging to the government.

Meaning

The decree of creation of the flag, the anthem and the shield of the Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca, describes the shield in the following terms:

«Legislative Act of July 17, 1813 an eagle with open wings, in the attitude of taking flight, with a sword in the right claw and a grenade in the left.

On his head he has the Phrygian cap; in the upper part it bears the inscription «Die or Vencer» and in the lower part a legend with the name «Cundinamarca».

The original shield of Cundinamarca contained the phrase "Free and Independent Government", forming a half circle at the top, according to the book "Don Antonio Villavicencio and the Revolution of Independence", cited in todacolombia.com.

The current shield preserves the image of the open-winged eagle in a defiant position, ready to take flight.

Around it appears a chain broken into four parts, symbolizing the achievement of freedom and the preparation of the flourishing sovereign province to assume its destiny. Similar elements appear in the original emblem.

On the other hand, the sword wielded by the eagle in its right claw and the grenade in the left, symbolize the courage and willingness of the Cundinamarca people to defend the sovereignty and independence of the newly created republic, called Nueva Granada, from the Spanish empire.

The red Phrygian cap on the head of the eagle is a Freemason symbol of freedom.

References

1. Coat of Arms - Cundinamarca. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from crwflags.com
2. Coat of arms of the Sovereign State of Cundinamarca. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from wikipedia.org
3. Colombia - Departments and Capital District. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from crwflags.com
4. Cundinamarca Department. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from wikipedia.org
5. Cundinamarca Independent State (1813-1814). Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from crwflags.com
6. Cundinamarca Flags. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from wikipedia.org
7. The 1813 Flag - Cundinamarca. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from crwflag.com