Coat of Arms Sardinia - Meppel NL - Coats of Arms on Waymarking.com

The Four Moors Emblem:

"The four Moors’ heads divided by a red cross on a white background are a distinctive symbol of the Sardinian identity, recognised worldwide.

Surrounded by mystery and legend, the origin of the emblem is not yet clear. According to some, it was inspired by the victories of the Sardinians over the Moorish, probably with the help of the republics of Genoa and Pisa. Another theory is that it may have originated from the Knights Templar, but the most accredited theory is that the emblem is derived from the Aragonese. The four Moors’ heads, in fact, would represent important Spanish victories over the Moorish invasions of the Iberian Peninsula, the most notable being the victory of Peter I of Aragon in the battle of Alcoraz (1096), where it is said that St. George appeared dressed in white with a red cross on his chest and that he left the heads of the four defeated Moorish kings on the battlefield.

Later on, the emblem was abandoned by the Crown of Aragon, and, following the Spanish conquest of the island, it became the symbol of the new Kingdom of Sardinia and continued to be used by the Savoys, appearing in the centre of their coat of arms. In that period, the Moorish previously represented with headbands around their foreheads started to be depicted blindfolded, perhaps because of a printing error, and that, according to some interpretations, made the four Moorish kings lose their regal appearance. The four Moors are also featured in the arms of the mighty Grenadiers of Sardinia.

Having fallen into disuse after Italy’s unification, the emblem became firstly the symbol of the ‘‘Partito Sardo d’Azione’’ (Sardinian Action Party) and then, following the establishment of the Italian Republic, the official flag of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia in 1952.

After careful studies, in 1999 a regional law changed the emblem by depicting the Moors’ heads facing right and wearing headbands around their foreheads, to signify that the Sardinians must not look back at the past and cry but forward to a better future. Finally, in March 2009, a Regional Resolution decided to re-establish the old emblem adopted in 1952."
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Bearer of Coat of Arms: County / Region Full name of the bearer: Sardinia, Italy. Where is Coat of Arms installed (short description) ?: At the front of Ristorante Sardinia in Meppel, The Netherlands. Material / Design: Painting (enamel) on metal Blazon (heraldic description): Four blindfolded Moors’ heads divided by a red cross on a white background Address: Kerkplein 7 Meppel, Drenthe The Netherlands 7941 BE Web page about the structure where is Coat of Arms installed (if exists): [Web Link] Web page about the bearer of Coat of Arms (if exists): [Web Link]

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