COAT OF ARMS OF VENEZUELA: HISTORY AND MEANING - HISTORY - 2025

The shield of Venezuela, officially called the Coat of Arms of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is one of the main patriotic symbols that represent that country, together with the national anthem and the national flag.

The shield is a visual emblem of the state of major official importance both nationally and internationally. It mainly represents state sovereignty achieved thanks to its independence.

This emblem is used in official documents issued by the state, such as the passport and other identification documents.

It is part of the national seal of state, with which national legislation and international treaties are formalized.

Like any national coat of arms, it follows the rules of heraldry in the design and use of graphic symbols.

The design contains the traditional heraldic elements: the blazon in the center, figures on the bell or upper part, two supports on each side and flags at the bottom. These flags display dates, decorations, and the official name of the nation.

Description and meaning

Blazon

It is the main, central and most visual part of the coat of arms. The shape of its support is that of a traditional quadrilateral banner.

However, the top corner angles are long and the bottom corner angles are rounded. The latter join at a point in the center.

His field is divided into three sections: an upper left, an upper right, and one in the entire lower half.

Each section shows a color of the national flag and a series of symbolic elements.

The left quarter is red field, which symbolizes the blood shed by the heroes in the independence struggles.

On the red one appears the figure of a golden bundle of 23 harvested ears, tied below but unfolded. These represent the union of the 23 states of the country and symbolize the fraternity and wealth of the nation.

The right quarter is yellow in color, and symbolizes the gold and fertile lands of the country. On this field there is a sword, a spear, a machete, a bow and arrow in a quiver, and two national flags.

All these elements are intertwined by a laurel wreath and symbolize victory in war.

The lower barracks or base occupies almost the entire half of the shield: it covers the middle of both flanks plus the center and the entire tip of the banner.

This field is blue, which symbolizes the sea that surrounds the Venezuelan coasts. There is shown a white horse galloping to the left and looking ahead. This represents independence and freedom.

Doorbell

In the upper part of the shield there are two white cornucopias arranged horizontally.

They are intertwined in the middle and have the horns facing up and towards the center. This composition is known as "horns of plenty."

The cornucopias are presented crowning the blazon and packed with scattered fruits and flowers, symbolizing the innumerable Venezuelan riches.

Stands and decorations

On the left side of the shield there is an olive branch and on the right side a palm branch, both are joined at the bottom with a ribbon that shows the three colors of the Venezuelan flag.

The tricolor ribbon is arranged to show four sections of decorations on the sides, and one below and in the center. The following inscriptions can be read in gold on the blue strip of the ribbon:

- On the left side: «April 19, 1810» and «Independencia». This indicates the date of Venezuela's declaration of independence.

- On the right side: "February 20, 1959" and "Federation". This indicates the date of the taking of Coro, the battle that started the Federal war.

- Below and in the center: "Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela", which is the official name of the nation.

History

The shapes, colors and symbols known in the design of the current shield of Venezuela were approved by Congress on April 18, 1836.

Prior to this, the shield underwent several design and symbol changes, due to the many political changes that Venezuela suffered from the colonial era to the first decades after independence.

Colony and independence struggles

The first coat of arms was ordered to be designed by King Felipe II of Spain at the end of the 16th century, when the territory was still a Spanish colony and was called the Captaincy General of Venezuela.

This shield was conferred on the main city with the name of Santiago de León de Caracas. It showed the characteristic lion in its coat of arms and other symbols that are still preserved without changes in the coat of arms of the city of Caracas, capital of Venezuela.

In 1811 the first drastic change in the shield occurs due to the signing of the Act of Independence and the creation of the first Republic.

This shield was circular in shape and had seven stars around the center. On yellow rays a motto in Latin was read at the top.

For the second Republic, in 1812, the same circle with stars was placed on a condor that was shown taking in both legs a bunch of arrows and a caduceus of Mercury.

During the process of creation and establishment of Gran Colombia, in the third Republic (1914-1919), the previous design was abandoned for that of an angled coat of arms at the lower point, with three points at the upper part and without supports.

It showed an indigenous seated carrying a bow and arrows, watching the sea and the sun on the horizon.

In 1919 lances, laurels and olive trees were added to the sides and on the bell. Three white stars were also added in the sky above the sun. This design officially belonged to Gran Colombia.

In 1921, when the Republic of Colombia was established, the previous designs were abandoned again and a new one was adopted: an oval that shows two cornucopies facing upwards, filled with food and with weapons in the center.

After independence

In 1930, when the State of Venezuela was formed, the previous design was used but the cornucopias were turned down, leaving the horns up. The background of the oval changes from white to yellow.

In 1936 the design and symbols almost identical to the current coat of arms were adopted. By then, the cornucopias were already located on the bell and kept the previous yellow color.

The white horse in the blue background was shown galloping to the right side on a green ground. The yellow barracks only had a saber, a sword and a spear.

The spikes were only 20, and the ribbons with the inscriptions at the bottom were white. The borders could read "April 19, 1810", "July 5, 1811", "Independence", "Freedom" and "God and Federation".

After the victory in the Federal war, the inscriptions on the borders are replaced by those that are currently read.

In 1959 and with the new Constitution after the fall of military dictatorships, the yellow cornucopias were changed for white ones and the horse looks to the left but continues walking to the right. The lower ribbons change from white to the current tricolor.

In 2006 the following changes were made: 23 spikes were defined, a machete and indigenous weapons were added in the yellow barracks, and the horse now gallops completely to the left side. The green soil is removed.

References

1. James L Migues (2008). The Shield - Coat of Arms. Venezuela Expats. Recovered from venezuelaexpats.net
2. Frederick Hogarth, Leslie Gilbert Pine (2015). Heraldry. Encyclopædia Britannica. Recovered from britannica.com
3. World Atlas. Venezuelan Symbols. Recovered from worldatlas.com
4. com. Coat of arms of Venezuela. Recovered from symbols.com
5. 123 Independence Day.com. National Symbols of Venezuela. Recovered from 123independenceday.com
6. Rod (2010). Coat of arms of Venezuela. Creative Roots. Recovered from creativeroots.org
7. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (2006). Official Gazette number 38,394 of March 9, 2006 - Chapter III, Article 8 Of the Coat of Arms. Autonomous National Printing Service and Official Gazette. Recovered from imprentanacional.gob.ve