The coat of arms of Albania ( Albanian: Stema e Republikës së Shqipërisë) is an adaptation of the Flag of Albania and is based on the symbols of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg. It features the black

double-headed eagle In heraldry and vexillology, the double-headed eagle (or double-eagle) is a charge associated with the concept of Empire. Most modern uses of the symbol are directly or indirectly associated with its use by the late Byzantine Empire, origi ...

, documented in official use since 1458, as evidenced from a sealed document uncovered in the Vatican Secret Archive (fund: Miscellanea, vol. XXXIX, doc. 2398), addressed to

Pope Pius II Pope Pius II ( la, Pius PP. II, it, Pio II), born Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini ( la, Aeneas Silvius Bartholomeus, links=no; 18 October 1405 – 14 August 1464), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 Augu ...

and co-sealed by notary Johannes Borcius de Grillis. The stylized gold helmet is partially based on the model of crown-like rank that once belonged to Skanderbeg, currently on display at the

Kunsthistorisches Museum The Kunsthistorisches Museum ( "Museum of Art History", often referred to as the "Museum of Fine Arts") is an art museum in Vienna, Austria. Housed in its festive palatial building on the Vienna Ring Road, it is crowned with an octagonal d ...

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, first mentioned in 1593 in the Ambras armory inventory and depicted in 1601/03 in the "Armamentarium Heroicum" of Jakob Schrenck von Notzing. The ruler of Austria, Ferdinand II, acquired the helmet from the Duke of Urbino, as confirmed by a letter sent to him from the duke, dated 15 October 1578. The helmet as an integral component in the coat of arms was instituted for the first time by King Zog on 8 August 1929.

Official regulation

The coat of arms of the Republic is described in Article 14 of the

Constitution of Albania The present Constitution of the Republic of Albania ( sq, Kushtetuta e Republikës së Shqipërisë) was adopted by the Parliament of Albania on 21 October 1998 and certified by presidential decree on 28 November 1998, following a failed referen ...

: ''The color scheme laid out below, pertaining to the rules of heraldry, begins with the peripheral color followed by the nearest color.'' The design is further specified in articles VII and VIII of Law 8926:

Expanded usage

The expanded usage of the coat of arms of the Republic is explained by decision no. 474 of the

Council of Ministers A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/ shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or ...

, dated 10 July 2003. The usage of the coat of arms of the Republic, is later included in the Official Ceremonial (), approved by decision no. 229, dated 23 April 2004 which states:

Significance of the helmet

A technical description of the method and materials used to produce the helmet is provided by the official webpage of the Kunsthistorisches Museum: Projekt-stemë e Shtetit Shqiptar (1916–1918)

Projekt-stemë e Shtetit Shqiptar (1916–1918)

State coats of arms

References

{{Albania topics National symbols of Albania

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and share ...

Official regulation

Expanded usage

Significance of the helmet

State coats of arms

See also

References