Västergötland (Sweden)

Last modified: 2005-06-03 by phil nelson
Keywords: sweden | vastergotland | lion (yellow and black) | stars: 2 | mullets: 2 |
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• About the flag
• Blazon

See also:

• County of Western Gotaland (Västra Götalands län)
• West Sweden
• Götaland
• Regional flags (Sweden)
• Clickable map of Sweden (landskap/provinces)
• Sweden

The flag is a banner of arms.

Like the rest of the provinces in Sweden of that time, Västergötland got its arms in 1560, at the funeral of King Gustav I. Västergötland was considered to be the second most important province in Sweden, and was therefore carried as number 2 of the arms in the funeral procession, in rank only superseded by Upland.

Lions in shields parted per bend sinister were borne by Tyrgils Knutsson and his relative Knut Magnusson. Both of them were important Swedish men in the middle ages, and they lived in Västergötland. This was perhaps the reason for giving Västergötland arms like this.
Elias Granqvist, 18 February 2001

Official blazon in Swedish: "I av svart och guld ginstyckat fält ett lejon av motsatta tinkturer med röd beväpning, därest dylik skall komma till användning, i övre vänstra och i nedre hörnet av fältets svarta del åtföljt av en stjärna av silver."

Blazoned in English: "Per bend sinister Sable and Or, a Lion rampant counterchanged langued and armed Gules between two Mullets Argent in the Sable field."
English blazon by Željko Heimer, 5 October 2000