The coat of arms of the

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

is nine gold stars superimposed on a red bordure, representing the nine islands of the archipelago. The bordure surrounds a silver shield on which a blue eagle is displayed with wings elevated and with red feet, beak, and tongue. The crest is a closed helm in gold lined with red, surmounted by a wreath and mantling of silver and blue, topped by another blue eagle on which are superimposed the same nine gold stars. The shield is supported by two chained black bulls, above a scroll containing the motto ''Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos'' ( en, Rather die free than in peace be subjugated). The supporters each hold a flagpole. Their collars, chains, and hooves are gold, their horns silver. The flags bear Christian symbols. The flag dexter, that is, on the viewer's left, is the red cross of the Portuguese Order of Christ on a white field. The flag sinister, that is, on the viewer's right, is a white dove superimposed on gold rays in the shape of a cross - the emblem of the Holy Spirit - on a red field, both flags bordered in gold. Early Portuguese visitors mistook the local variety of

buzzard Buzzard is the common name of several species of birds of prey. ''Buteo'' species * Archer's buzzard (''Buteo archeri'') * Augur buzzard (''Buteo augur'') * Broad-winged hawk (''Buteo platypterus'') * Common buzzard (''Buteo buteo'') * Eastern ...

, '' Buteo buteo rothschildi'', for

goshawk Goshawk may refer to several species of birds of prey, mainly in the genus ''Accipiter'': * Northern goshawk, ''Accipiter gentilis'', often referred to simply as the goshawk, since it is the only goshawk found in much of its range (in Europe and N ...

s (''Accipiter gentilis'') and the

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

word for "goshawk", ''açor'' (pl. ''açores''), is the root of the islands' name. Goshawks also remain a common motif in Azorean heraldry and

vexillology Vexillology ( ) is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general.Smith, Whitney. ''Flags Through the Ages and Across the World'' New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975. Print. The word is a synthe ...

Blazon

The coat of arms was officially adopted by the Regional Decree n.º 4/79/A, published in the Diary of the Republic n.º 84/1979. It is blazoned in the article 3 as follows: ''a'') Shield: Argent, a goshawk displayed azure, beaked, langued, taloned and armed gules, a bordure gules, charged with nine mullets of five points or; ''b'') Helm: affronté, or, lined gules; ''c'') Crest: a goshawk issuant azure, beaked and langued gules, charged with nine mullets of five points or; ''d'') Mantling: azure and argent; ''e'') Supporters: two bulls sable, collared and chained or, dexter sustaining a banner of the Order of Christ, with lance azure, tip and guard or, and sinister sustaining a banner gules, a dove displayed argent, with lance azure, tip and guard or; ''f'') Motto: "Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos".

References

External links

Açores: Heraldry of the World
includes a different rendering of the Coat of Arms

Government of the Azores

{{Heraldry-stub

Blazon

See also

References

External links