Why do both Denmark and Norway have lions in their national coats of arms?
And how did the lions appear in the kingdoms’ joint coats of arms in the centuries leading up to 1814, during the time when Denmark and Norway were in a union?
We will find the answers to this when two of the Nordic region’s leading experts on heraldry meet at Lysebu to share the fascinating history of Danish and Norwegian heraldry, with insights into cultural history. Through visual presentations, we will examine the heraldic details and historical changes in the coats of arms up close.
Historian Nils G. Bartholdy explains how the royal coat of arms functions as a living, heraldic archive of Danish history. The royal coat of arms was not merely a decorative symbol, but a legal and political expression of power that showed exactly which kingdoms and titles the King in Copenhagen claimed. This is the story of how power dynamics, wars, and alliances were painted into the kings’ shields. Bartholdy takes us on an exciting journey through four centuries where Denmark and Norway shared a king, a shield, and a destiny.
Historian Knut Johannessen tells the story of the Norwegian lion, from its origin as a royal coat of arms in the 13th century to the present day. He traces the long lines through centuries of unions, where the lion constantly had to find its place alongside Danish and Swedish symbols. The lion played a central role in the political power play around 1814 and 1905. The motif’s rich history is reflected in everything from coins, stamps, and church interiors to military uniforms, folk art, and modern digital design.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions following the two lectures.
About the speakers:
Nils G. Bartholdy is a Danish historian, archivist, and heraldist, and the author of, among other works, “Det danske kongevåben fra Valdemarerne til Frederik VI”. He is a former archivist at the Danish National Archives and is now retired.
Knut Johannessen is a Norwegian historian, archivist, and heraldist, and the author of “Historien om den norske løve”. He is the former assistant director of the National Archives of Norway and is now retired.
Free admission. Registration to: anne@dansk-norsk.no
The restaurant at Lysebu serves open sandwiches and Afternoon Tea from 1:00 PM. Table reservations can be made here.
