Coat of arms of Kashubia

Coat of arms of Kashubia
Versions
Armiger	None
Adopted	late 12th century
Crest	None
Blazon	Black griffin with a crown on a yellow background
Supporters	None
Use	By ethnic organisations and schools

The coat of arms of Kashubia (Kashubian: pòznaka Kaszëb) is the coat of arms representing Kashubians. It usually is a black griffin with a crown on a yellow background, which used to symbolise the House of Griffin.^[1]

Versions[]

Kaszëbskô Jednota version[]

Kaszëbskô Jednota, the only major Kashubian organisation, presented the coat of arms as a black grffin facing right on a yellow background, claws, beak and crown with a red tongue, a tail going behind the leg, and a black outline.^[1] It is used more often than any other versions.

Pomeranian Voivodeship version[]

The second version is the coat of arms of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, which is often used to represent Kashubia. It cotains a black griffin with a red tongue on a yellow background without a crown facing towards the top right corner with a tail that splits into two and creates a specific pattern.^[2]

Black crown version[]

This version differs from the others in many aspects; Its outlines are different from all others. Its crown, beak, tongue, and claws are all black. The tail is similar to the first version.^[3]

Red beak version[]

The last version is a black grffin with red claws and red beak (called an oręż) facing towards the front and the tail facing upwards, without a crown.^[2]

History[]

The first use of the coat of arms dates back to the late 12th century, when the House of Griffin, rulers of the Duchy of Pomerania, used it as a seal. The Griffins called themselves dux Cassubiae, which stated that they were, indeed, Kashubians.^[1] It is worth noting that a similar version of the griffin emblem was used on the flag of the Pomeranian Voivodeship during the Second Polish Republic that cotained a red griffin on a silver background.^[4] The first use of the red-silver flag was recorded in 1466 by the duke of Pomerelia.^[2]

The yellow-black emblem was used by the , a part of the Duchy of Pomerania. It is shown in the emblem itself, which included the emblems of all Pomeranian duchies under its domain.^[5][6]

In most cases, dukes used the version without the crown. Though, Aleksander Majkowski claimed to have seen a crowned griffin in Gryfia (currently Greifswald). The use of the crowned griffin was adapted into Kashubian culture overtime. Newspapers played a major role in its rise in popularity, as vignettes often depicted such image. The newspapers that used it were: Zrzesz Kaszëbskô, Kaszëbë, Pomerania, Tatczëzna and Kaszëbskô Òdroda.

Another mention of the coat of arms was in Jan Rompsczi's poem:^[1]

To nasz znak – ten czôrny juńc;

Jesz Kaszëbów nie je kùńc!

Òn to straszny juńc i lew,

Òn z Mòrlawë dobéł krew!

Hej, të Grifie w blónë lec,

Chcemë cebie w sercach miec!

References[]