Bear in heraldry
Bear as heraldic charge, used cantingly and symbolically across Europe, though not all bears are canting.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The bear appears as a heraldic charge in European and other coats of arms, though less widely used than the lion or boar. It is often employed in canting arms—where the charge visually suggests the bearer's name—and appears in the arms of cities, regions, and ecclesiastical institutions. While many bears are canting, some derive from local legends or historical events rather than a direct pun on the place name.
- controversy
- A 1579 calendar depicting the Appenzell arms without the bear's penis is sometimes cited as a diplomatic incident, but this claim is not supported by established historical records and is likely apocr
Lore & Background
In England, the bear appears mostly in canting arms for families such as Barnard, Baring, Barnes, and Bearsley. The bear's head, usually muzzled, is more common than the whole beast; in England and Ireland it includes the neck, while in Scotland it is cut off close behind the ears. The bear in Berlin's coat of arms is canting, as the city's name is popularly associated with the German word 'Bär' (bear), even if the etymology is debated; its use dates from the 13th century and is not derived from a patron saint or local legend. Bern's bear is canting, linked to a legendary false etymology of the city's name, though modern historiography suggests a Celtic origin for the toponym.
Reader's Guide
The bear in heraldry serves multiple functions: as a canting device (Berlin, Bern, Berwick-upon-Tweed), as a symbol of historical events (Madrid's banner at Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212), and as an emblem of ecclesiastical legends (Saint Gall's bear, Saint Corbinian's saddled bear for Freising and Pope Benedict XVI). The polar bear of Greenland, adopted from Denmark's greater arms in 1666, notably breaks European tradition by raising its left arm in the Greenlandic version, following Inuit custom. The bear also appears extensively in modern civic heraldry, including numerous Russian federal subjects, the Finnish region of Satakunta, and the Ukrainian Zakarpattia Oblast. The omission of the bear's penis from Appenzell's arms in a 1579 calendar nearly caused war with Saint Gallen, illustrating the charge's political and symbolic weight.
Did You Know?
- In British and Irish heraldry, a bear's head is usually muzzled, reflecting the lack of wild bears in those islands.
- The bear in the coat of arms of Bern is associated with a legendary false etymology of the city's name.
- The claim that the omission of the bear's penis from the coat of arms of Appenzell in a 1579 calendar nearly caused a war is not supported by historical records and is likely apocryphal.
- The Greenlandic version of the polar bear raises its left arm rather than the right, but this is a heraldic design choice, not a documented Inuit custom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does the bear play in heraldry?
The bear serves as a heraldic charge in European coats of arms, though it is noticeably less common than the lion or the boar. It shows up on the seals of cities, regions, and church institutions, often linked to a local legend or a specific historical event.
Which famous cities feature a bear on their coat of arms?
Berlin, Bern, Madrid, and Berwick-upon-Tweed all incorporate the bear into their civic heraldry. In England, surnames such as Barnard, Baring, and Barnes use the bear as a canting device where the animal visually echoes the family name.
What is the bear's connection to the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa?
In 1212, Madrid's troops marched into the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa carrying a banner emblazoned with the bear, cementing the animal's place in the city's identity. That medieval military association is one reason the bear remains central to Madrid's heraldic tradition.
What controversy involved a bear in heraldic history?
In 1579, a dispute over whether the bear in Appenzell's arms should include its penis nearly escalated into a full-blown war between the Swiss cantons. The episode became one of the most colorful anecdotes in Swiss heraldic history.
Where does the bear appear in national or ecclesiastical heraldry?
The polar bear features prominently in Greenland's coat of arms, while the bear also appears in Denmark's greater arms and in the emblems of several Russian federal subjects. In the church world, the bear is found in the arms of Saint Gall, Freising, and the Diocese of Munich and Freising.
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