Coat of arms of Haiti
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Armiger
| Republic of Haiti
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Adopted
| 1986
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Shield
| A palm tree surmounted by a
liberty cap
on a stake, proper
[1]
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Supporters
| A
trophy
of six rifles, six civil flags, two axes, two bugles, and a drum between two cannons pointing outwards on their gun-carriages, thereon two powder-bags, on the dexter one an infantry-hat, on the sinister one a cavalry-hat, between two piles of cannonballs and two anchors, all proper
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Compartment
| A grassy ground, marked by two pennons, proper
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Motto
| L'Union fait la force
(
French
for '
Unity makes strength
')
[2]
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The
coat of arms of Haiti
is the
national coat of arms
of the
Republic of Haiti
.
[2]
It was originally introduced in 1807, and it has appeared in its current form since 1986. Since this Haitian
national symbol
does not conform to the rules of
heraldry
for a traditional
coat of arms
, then it could be considered a
national emblem
instead (
national emblem of Haiti
).
Overview
[
edit
]
It has six draped flags of the country, three on each side, which are located behind a
palm tree
and
cannons
on a green
lawn
.
[1]
Upon the lawn are various items, including a
drum
,
bugles
,
cannonballs
and ship
anchors
. Above the palm tree, there is a
liberty cap
placed as a symbol of freedom.
The ribbon bears the motto
L'Union fait la force
(
French
for '
Unity makes strength
'), which is also the motto of several other countries. This should not be confused with the
national motto
of Haiti, which according to the
Constitution of Haiti
is
Liberte, egalite, fraternite
(French for 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity').
History
[
edit
]
The oldest use of a symbol for Haiti is known since 1807. The symbol shows several national flags, with two cannons and palm trees. The symbol indicates the battle for independence of the republic. The motto, in French, means 'Strength through unity'. The use of the symbol was interrupted twice; once was during the period of
Henri I
. The then president
Henri Christophe
declared himself as the King of Haiti and adopted a Royal Coat of Arms. On the yellow shield of the arm there was a phoenix rising from its flames with five-pointed stars around it, and the motto
Je renais de mes cendres
(I will rise in my ashes) inscribed on a ribbon outlining the shield. Two royally crowned lions supported both sides of the shield, and the motto
Dieu ma cause et mon epee
(God, my cause and my sword) was placed on another ribbon at the bottom. In 1814 Henri I slightly changed his Royal Arm, the lions were removed and the motto was changed to a Latin one:
Ex cineribus nascitur
(Reborn from the ashes).
[1]
Another change occurred in 1849, when President General
Faustin Soulouque
crowned himself as Emperor Faustin I. He adopted new Imperial arms, showing two cannons and a French imperial eagle. Two lions were again used as supporters and the whole was placed in a purple mantle, with a motto similar to the one Henri I used:
Dieu, ma patrie et mon epee
(God, my country and my sword). The emperor was forced to leave the country in 1859, and the old symbol was later restored. Ever since the composition has been the same, but the colors and items have changed somewhat.
[3]
The coat of arms is on the national
flag of Haiti
, but not on its
civil flag
.
Historical coats of arms
[
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]
Colonial period
[
edit
]
Independence period
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
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Sovereign states
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Dependencies and
other territories
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