Three Crowns
Three Crowns, or
Tre Kronor, is a national emblem of
Sweden. Nominally they are three coronets ordered two above one which is present in the
Coat of Arms of the Realm of Sweden. The history of this symbol isn't entirely clear. Most historians believe it was brought from
Germany to Sweden by
Albrekt of Mecklenburg in the late
fourteenth century. The symbolism is in this theory believed to be a representation of the
three wise men, also known as the three
kings, that came to visit
Jesus at the epiphany.
Encyclopedia
Three Crowns, or
Tre Kronor, is a national emblem of
Sweden. Nominally they are three coronets ordered two above one which is present in the
Coat of Arms of the Realm of Sweden. The history of this symbol isn't entirely clear. Most historians believe it was brought from
Germany to Sweden by
Albrekt of Mecklenburg in the late
fourteenth century. The symbolism is in this theory believed to be a representation of the
three wise men, also known as the three
kings, that came to visit
Jesus at the epiphany. Another theory is that the three crowns simply represented the three
old kingdoms that joined to later form Sweden, Three crowns one kingdom. However, that theory is less widely accepted. Another theory is that the three crowns were leftovers after yet another failed attempt at creating a Scandinavian union and that the crowns represent the royal families of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
The crowns sat on top of the old royal palace in
Stockholm, which was hence called
Tre Kronor, and which burned down in 1697. Later, they were reinstated on top of the tower of
Stockholm's City Hall, and have come to symbolize Stockholm as well as Sweden as a whole.
The emblem is often used as a symbol of authority by the Swedish government, but other less formal examples exist such as the
Swedish national men's ice hockey team, who wear three crowns on their shirts and hence are called "Three Crowns".
Controversial alternative meaning
The three crowns are on the 1397 seal of
Margrete I, who united Denmark, Sweden and Norway against the German threat - which disturbed baltic sea traderoutes. The three crowns are also on the
University of Oxford seal which orginates from the same time. They are also on the first ]. The founding values of these three examples of the three separated crowns may also create a meaning of a royal symbol of protestantism against the coronation of the
Pope as the ruler of the world . The Popes
tiara also has three crows, but NOT separated.
Other three crown designs
Three crowns also form the logo of
Coutts & Co, the London based private bankers, but in this case the design comprises one crown at the top, with two below.
See also
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