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{{Victorian Royal Arms}}
The '''Royal Coat of Arms of the Victorian Empire''' was the official coat of arms of the [[Monarchy of Victoria|Victorian monarch]], [[Victoria II]], used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the [[Victorian Empire]], and were officially known as her Arms of Dominion. Variants of the Royal Arms were used by other members of the Royal Family; and by the Governments in [[Victoria]] in connection with the administration and government of the Kingdom. In Amokolia, Lovely and Valencia the Queen had a separate version of the Royal Arms, variants of which were used by the [[Amokolia Office (Victoria)|Amokolia Office]], [[Lovely Office (Victoria)|Lovely Office]] and the [[Valencia Office (Victoria)|Valencia Office]].

The shield is quartered, depicting in the first quarter the three passant guardant lions of [[Abbervale]]; in the second quarter, the three passant guardant lions of [[Dundas]]; in the third quater, the rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of [[Moncrieff]]; and in the fourth, the lion rampant of [[Strathalmond]]. Over all this is a pale, broad vertical strip, with three black eagles representing the importance and history of [[Adraisia (Victoria)|Adraisia]]. This heraldic design traces its history back to the [[Declaration of Alnwick]], which brought these five former Kingdoms into a unified Victoria in 1450.

The crest has a royal helmet upon the crown of Victoria wearing the imperial crown, representing the importance and authority of the [[Monarchy of Victoria|Victorian monarchy]] above all else.

The dexter supporter is an imperial lion wearing the imperial crown; the sinister, a Victorian lion is wearing the crown of Victoria, denoting the mother country. Both are holding a lance Argent, point Or, flying therefrom to the dexter and sinister the [[Flag of Victoria#Unification Flag (1469–1583)|former flag of the Kingdom of Victoria]].

The coat features the [[Order of Saint Andrew]] behind the shield.

The compartment depicts a wreath of white lillies, the national flower of the kingdom.

The shield design formed the [[Royal Standards of the Victorian Empire|Royal Standard of Victoria]]. Variations were also used on the Standards of other members of the Victorian Royal Family.

==Uses==
The Royal Arms as shown above were be used by the Queen herself. They also appeared in court rooms, since the monarch was the fount of justice in the Empire and the High Court wass part of the Court of the monarch. Judges were officially representatives of the crown, demonstrated by the Queen's Coat of Arms which sat behind the judge on the wall of every court in the land.

The Victorian Government also used the Royal Coat of Arms as a national symbol of the [[Victoria|Kingdom of Victoria]], and, in that capacity, the Coat of Arms could be seen on several government documents and forms, passports, in the entrance to embassies and consulates, etc. However, when used by the government and not by the sovereign herself, the coat of arms were often represented without the helm. This is also the case with the sovereign's Amokolian, Lovelian and Valencian arms, versions of which were used by the various dominion offices.

The Queen awarded Royal Warrants to various businesses that supply the Royal Household. This allowed the business to display the Royal Arms on their packaging and stationery.

A banner of the arms, the Royal Standard was flown from the Royal Palaces when the Queen was in residence; and from public buildings only when the Queen was present. At royal residences such as [[Riego Palace]], the Queen's main residence, the Royal Standard was flown to indicate when the monarch was in residence. This protocol equally applied to the monarch's principal residences in Amokolia, Lovely and Valencia, where the Royal Standard was used in these countries is flown. When the monarch was not in residence the State Flag of Victoria was flown, regardless of which country it may have be in.

==Royal variations==
===Amokolia===
The shield is tierced in fesse the first division containing the quarterly coat following, namely, three passant guardant lions of [[Abbervale]] and the rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of [[Moncrieff]]. The second division is a pale, broad vertical strip, with three black eagles of [[Adraisia (Victoria)|Adraisia]]. The third division contains the three passant guardant lions of [[Dundas]] and the lion rampant of [[Strathalmond]]. The fourth division depicts three oak leaves conjoined on one stem proper, this represents the national tree of [[Amokolia]], the oak tree. 

The crest is a royal helmet upon the crown of Amokolia wearing the Imperial crown, representing the importance and authority of the Victorian Empire above all else.

The dexter supporter is an Imperial lion, crowned with the Imperial crown, holding a lance Argent, point Or, flying therefrom to the dexter the State Flag of Victoria; the sinister, a Canadian Goose, wearing the crown of Amokolia and holding a lance Argent, point Or, flying therefrom to the dexter the historical Flag of Amokolia. According to officials within Victoria a free Amokolia is considered a very unstable entity; therefore the heraldic goose is chained.

The coat features a banner, representing the Order of Saint Andrew behind the shield with the words ''The Victorian Dominion of Amokolia''.

The compartment depicts a wreath of Oak Leaves, depicting the national tree of Amokolia and the vast natural lands upon which Amokolia is based.

The motto ''Fortitudo et Virtus'' meaning ''Courage and Virtue'' is shown upon a white banner of peace with the font in blue representing the stretch of sea that splits the province of Automatica with the rest of the country.

The shield design formed the [[Royal Standards of the Victorian Empire|Royal Standard of Amokolia]]. 

===Lovely===
The shield is tierced in fesse the first division containing the quarterly coat following, namely, three passant guardant lions of [[Abbervale]] and the rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of [[Moncrieff]]. The second division is a pale, broad vertical strip, with three black eagles of [[Adraisia (Victoria)|Adraisia]]. The third division contains the three passant guardant lions of [[Dundas]] and the lion rampant of [[Strathalmond]]. The fourth division depicts the historical coat of arms of the Kingdom of Lovely upon a white background. 

The crest is a royal helmet upon the crown of Lovely wearing the Imperial crown, representing the importance and authority of the Victorian Empire above all else.

The dexter supporter is an Imperial lion, crowned with the Imperial crown, holding a lance Argent, point Or, flying therefrom to the dexter the State Flag of Victoria; the sinister, a Lovelian Dragon, wearing the crown of Lovely and holding a lance Argent, point Or, flying therefrom to the dexter the historical Flag of Lovely. According to officials within Victoria a free Lovely is considered a very unstable entity; therefore the heraldic dragon is chained.

The coat features a banner, representing the Order of Saint Andrew behind the shield with the words ''The Victorian Dominion of Lovely''.

The motto ''Die Dulci Freure'' meaning ''Have a Nice Day'' is shown upon a metal banner.

The shield design formed the [[Royal Standards of the Victorian Empire|Royal Standard of Lovely]]. 

===Valencia===
The shield is tierced in fesse the first division containing the quarterly coat following, namely, three passant guardant lions of [[Abbervale]] and the rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of [[Moncrieff]]. The second division is a pale, broad vertical strip, with three black eagles of [[Adraisia (Victoria)|Adraisia]]. The third division contains the three passant guardant lions of [[Dundas]] and the lion rampant of [[Strathalmond]]. The fourth division the quarterly coat containing in the first and fourth quarters three yellow fleur-de-lies on a blue background; the second and third quarters the red rampant lion on a yellow background.   

The crest is a royal helmet upon the crown of Valencia wearing the Imperial crown, representing the importance and authority of the Victorian Empire above all else.

The dexter supporter is an Imperial lion, crowned with the Imperial crown, holding a lance Argent, point Or, flying therefrom to the dexter the State Flag of Victoria; the sinister, a white Valencian Lion, wearing the crown of Valencia and holding a lance Argent, point Or, flying therefrom to the dexter the historical Flag of Valencia. According to officials within Victoria a free Valencia is considered a very unstable entity; therefore the heraldic white lion is chained.

The coat features the [[Order of the Valencian Star]] behind the shield.

The compartment is that of fresh, untouched lands, this depicts the hope that Valencia is given by a fresh start under the Empire.

The motto ''Scientia et Misericordia'' meaning ''Knowledge and Compassion'' is shown upon a Victorian blue banner, denoting its status within the Empire.

The shield design formed the [[Royal Standards of the Victorian Empire|Royal Standard of Valencia]].

==History==
The Royal Arms were a combination of the arms of the former kingdoms that made up the Kingdom, and can be traced back to the first arms of the Kings of [[Kingdom of Abberdyffryn|Abberdyffryn]], [[Kingdom of the Adraks|Ardaks]], [[Kingdom of Dundahl|Dundahl]], [[Kingdom of Moncrieff|Moncrieff]] and [[Kingdom of Strathalmond|Strathalmond]], all of which were known as the [[Founding Kingdoms]] of [[Victoria]]. Below are the Royal Arms of those Kingdoms prior to 1450.

{|class="toccolours" cellpadding="10" align=center rules="cols"
!colspan="5" bgcolor="#336699" |Arms of the Founding Kingdoms 1449
|-
![[Kingdom of Abberdyffryn|Abberdyffryn]]!! [[Kingdom of the Adraks|Ardaks]]!! [[Kingdom of Dundahl|Dundahl]]!! [[Kingdom of Moncrieff|Moncrieff]]!! [[Kingdom of Strathalmond|Strathalmond]]
|-
|
[[File:Abberdyffryn.png|70px]]<br>
|
[[File:Adraks.png|100px]]<br>
|
[[File:Coadundahl.png|100px]]<br>
|
[[File:Coamoncrieff.png|60px]]<br>
|
[[File:Coastrathalmond.png|90px]]<br>
|}

From the above arms and with the [[Declaration of Alnwick]] in 1450 came the earliest version of the Royal Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Victoria, which was known then as the [[Unified Kingdoms of Victoria]] and used by [[Victoria I|Queen Victoria I]] from 1450 until the [[Act of Unification]] in 1469. This brought about the [[Victorian Empire|Kingdom of Victoria]] as we knew it with the addition of the Duchies of [[Buthnock]], [[Glenmaye]], [[Middleton]] and [[Orgyle]]. Below are the two versions of the Royal Coat of Arms that were used between 1450 and {{AN|1583}}.

{|class="toccolours" cellpadding="10" align=center rules="cols"
!colspan="2" bgcolor="#336699" |Royal Coat of Arms used 1450 - 1583
|-
!1450-1469!! 1469-1583
|-
|
[[File:Arms of the Unified Kingdoms.png|150px]]<br>
|
[[File:State Coat of Arms.png|150px]]<br>
|}

==Other variations==
===Royal Family===
Members of the Victorian Royal Family received their own personalised arms which were based on the Royal Arms. Only children and grandchildren of the monarch were entitled to receive their own arms in this fashion. The arms of children of the monarch were differentiated by a three point label; grandchildren of the monarch were differentiated by a five point label. An exception was made for the eldest child of the Princess of Amokolia, who received a three point label. Since {{AN|1559}}, the arms of the Princess of Amokolia also had an inescutcheon of the arms of Amokolia.

Queens consort and the wives of sons of the monarch also received their own personalised coat of arms. Typically this was the arms of their husband impaled with their own personal arms or those of their father. However, the consorts of a Queen regnant were not entitled to use the Royal Arms. Thus Prince Alfred, Duke of Home used his own personal arms.

The following members of the Royal Family had their own arms based on the Royal Arms:

{| class="vatop" style="border: solid 1px #808080; background-color:#EFEFEF;" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2"
|- bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
! <small>Coat of Arms</small>
! <small>Shield</small>
! <small>Bearer<small>
! <small>Difference<small>
|- bgcolor="#F9F9F9"
| [[File:Coat_of_Arms1.png|100px]]
| [[File:Shield1.png|100px]]
| [[Princess Anika|Anika, Princess of Amokolia]]
| Three-point label,the centre point bearing a red heart, and an inescutcheon of the coat of arms of Amokolia.
|- bgcolor="#F9F9F9"
| [[File:Coapr.png|100px]]
| [[File:Coat.png|100px]]
| [[Princess Phillipa|Phillipa, Princess Royal]]
| Three-point label,each bearing a red Fourrure héraldique Hermine.
|}

The following Consorts of the Royal Family had their own arms below:

{| class="vatop" style="border: solid 1px #808080; background-color:#EFEFEF;" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="1100px"
|- bgcolor="#EFEFEF"
! <small>Coat of Arms</small>
! <small>Shield</small>
! <small>Bearer<small>
! <small>Difference<small>
|- bgcolor="#F9F9F9"
| [[File:Alfred.png|100px]]
| [[File:Shield_2.png|100px]]
| [[Prince Alfred|Prince Alfred, Duke of Home]]
| Prince Alfred was granted arms of his own in {{AN|1568}}, because men are not entitled to bear the arms of their wives. His arms were quarterly first and fourth rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of Home, representing his dukedom; second and third, Fleur-de-lis, representing his valencian roots.
|}

==Government==

Her Majesty's Government used a version of the Royal Arms but without the helm or crest, as a result of which the crown sits atop the shield. In relation to [[Amokolia]], the Amokolia Office used the Amokolian version, again without the helm or crest. In relation to [[Lovely]], the Lovely Office used the Lovelian version, again without the helm or crest. In relation to [[Valencia]], the Valencia Office used the Valencia version, again without the helm or crest.

The Arms featured on

* All Acts of Law;
* The cover of all Imperial passports; and
* As an inescutcheon on the Diplomatic flags for a Victorian Ambassador
* The High Court

It was also used by the following government departments

* The Amokolia Office (Amokolian version)
* The [[Foreign Office (Victoria)|Foreign Office]];
* The [[Home Office (Victoria)|Home Office]];
* The Lovely Office (Lovelian version)
* The Valencia Office (Valencian version)
* The [[War Office (Victoria)|War Office]];
* The Office of the Prime Minister
* The shield of the Royal Arms is used by the Public Records Office;
* The shield of the Royal Arms of Amokolia is used by the Assembly of Amokolia and the Amokolian Public Records Office.
* The shield of the Royal Arms of Lovely is used by the Lovelian Public Records Office.
* The shield of the Royal Arms of Amokolia is used by the Valencian Public Records Office.

==See also==
*[[Arms of His Majesty The King in Right of Victoria]]
*[[Arms of Victoria]]

[[Category:Victorian Empire]]
[[Category:Coats of arms]]