Frisian eagle

This article is about the heraldic charge. For the painter nicknamed "the Frisian Eagle", see Wybrand de Geest.

A Frisian eagle is a specific kind of eagle in Dutch heraldry, consisting of half of a black double-headed eagle on the dexter side of a shield parted per pale.

A Frisian eagle sable

It originated as a mark of favour granted to certain Frisian noblemen by the Holy Roman Emperor, and is still borne in the arms of a number of Frisian families. The correct blazon in Dutch is: Gedeeld: I in goud een zwarte Friese adelaar komende uit de deellijn [Per pale: Or, a Frisian eagle sable rising from the line of partition.]

Examples

• 
  Arms of the town of Sneek
• 
  Arms of the Súdwest-Fryslân municipality
• 
  Historical arms of North Frisia with its motto Lever duad as Slav (Better dead than a Slave) where the eagle actually appears in the sinister half. The North Frisian coat of arms is not identical with that of modern Nordfriesland district.

See also

• Karelsprivilege
• Magnus Forteman
• Hessel Hermana
• Grietman
• Reichsadler

References

• Gonggrijp, G. F. E. (1943). Friesche eigenerfdenwapens (in Dutch). Naarden. Blazon 60-67.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)