The current Lugo coat of arms was promulgated through a decree of the Junta de Galicia in 1986. The design of this coat of arms is a variation of the official banner of the provincial capital.
The province of Lugo was created by a Royal Decree on November 30, 1833. This is the largest province of the four that make up Galicia.
For its part, the city of Lugo is considered one of the oldest and most historical provincial capitals. It was founded under the name of Lucus Augusti (Sacred Forest of Augustus) by the Roman magistrate Paulus Fabius. Its foundation is located around the 14th century BC.
History of the Lugo shield
The history of the shield of Lugo, the province, and the shield of the homonymous city are related. The blazon of the first takes elements of old versions of shields of the second.
It should be noted that the banner of this ancient city has had various representations since the seventeenth century. However, since the end of the 19th century you can see some symbols that have remained: the holy chalice, the castle and the two lions.
On the other hand, there have been certain changes with respect to other elements. The worshiping angels that appear on the sides of the Holy Grail belong to more recent versions, for example.
It is thought that its introduction was due to the need to fill in the empty space. In this way, there were several representations of Lugo's shield that were used unofficially.
In 1985, the provincial council initiated the file for the official recognition of its insignia, and with advice it made the proposal for the shield.
Finally, a decree of April 3, 1986 approves the official version of the Lugo coat of arms. The letter of the decree of the Junta de Galicia reads as follows:
"Shield cut off. 1st, of azure, a chalice with a ring, added to the Sacred Form of silver, radiant with gold, and lying with two angels in adoration facing each other, of silver, on paths of the same metal clouds; 2 °, made of gules, a one-piece donjonada tower, made of silver, lightened with azure, and lying with two lions facing and rampant against the tower, made of gold. At the buzzer, royal crown closed ".
Meaning
In relation to the symbolism of the Lugo coat of arms, the hoop chalice and the silver Sagrada Forma refer to the privilege of the Lugo cathedral. In it the Blessed Sacrament has been permanently exposed for at least six centuries.
On the other hand, there is no consensus on the part of the heraldists regarding the meaning of the tower and the lions. As for the tower there are three versions.
Some think it represents the old castle of Lugo, others the Augusta tower. Several heraldists even consider that it symbolizes the wall that surrounds the city of Lugo.
For their part, the lions would represent the courage of Catholics (lions) facing wolves (heretics). However, there are those who argue that both the tower and the lions refer to a medieval character whose personal coat of arms had these elements.
References
- Villaamil and Castro, J. (2002). Chronicle of the province of Lugo. Valladolid: Editorial MAXTOR.
- Vásquez Dovale, H. (2013). Lucus Augusti. The Sacred City of Augustus. Retrieved on December 23, 2017, from academia.edu.
- Bandeira Galega. (s / f). The Coat of Arms of Lugo. Retrieved on December 23, 2017, from bandeiragalega.com.
- López Pombo, L. (2005, June 07). Official shields in public buildings and monuments of the city of Lugo. Retrieved on December 23, 2017, from galiciadigital.com.
- Regulation of Honors and Distinctions of the Provincial Council of Lugo. Official Gazette, No. 285, December 19, 2006.
- Royal Academy of History. (1986). Bulletin of the Royal Academy of History. Volume CLXXXIII. Number II.
- López Pombo, L. (2003-2004). Shields in the Provincial Museum of Lugo. In Bulletin do Museo Provincial de Lugo, Nº. 11, Vol. 2, pp. 177-206.
- Xunta de Galicia. (s / f). The only cathedral with a permanent exhibition of the Blessed Sacrament. Retrieved on December 23, 2017, from emigracion.xunta.gal.