Coat of arms of Anguilla

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Coat of arms of Anguilla
Coat of arms of Anguilla.svg
Adopted27 November 1990
Crest An Eel (Anguilla Anguilla) haurient proper crowned with an Ancient Crown Or
Shield Argent in base the Sea of Turquoise hue in chief three natural Dolphins embowed and leaping in a circle each tinctured Orange-Gold the Shield garnished of Gold
Supporters Dexter An Anguillan Fisherman proper wearing trousers rolled up to the knee Azure with a cloth waistband Or holding with his dexter hand a Strap Sable suspended therefrom by the mouth two pot fish namely a Jack Fish and a Red Snapper proper Sinister An Anguillan Woman vested in an ankle and wrist length Robe and Head Wrap Azure thereover an Apron Argent the lower hem and tied round the waist with an Orange-Gold band holding by the Stalk a Maize Plant leaved Vert fructed proper

The coat of arms of Anguilla is the heraldic device consisting of a shield charged with three orange dolphins leaping over the sea. Adopted in 1990, it has been the coat of arms of Anguilla since that year. The escutcheon is featured on the flag of the territory.

Contents

History

Anguilla became a colony of the Kingdom of England in 1650, when settlers from Saint Kitts moved to the island. A legislative union between the two islands was later established in 1825, despite vehement opposition from Anguillan freeholders over the arrangement of having Saint Kitts pass laws for both areas. Anguillans appealed to the British government in 1872 calling for an end to the union and direct rule, but this was disregarded. A decade later, a federal act resulted in the amalgamation of Saint Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla under the British Leeward Islands federation. [1]

Coat of arms of the Republic of Anguilla from 1967 to 1969. Coat of arms of Anguilla 1967-1980.svg
Coat of arms of the Republic of Anguilla from 1967 to 1969.

In 1956 the Leeward Islands federation was dissolved. Two years later a unitary political entity called the West Indies Federation was created; Saint Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla joined the federation upon its creation. [1] This new federation dissolved in 1962, but five years later the three islands became an Associated State. [1] [2] However, this was once more against the will of the Anguillan people. They consequently expelled the Saint Kitts police, seceded from the union, and declared the Republic of Anguilla. [1] During this time, a flag with three orange dolphins and a blue stripe at the bottom (dubbed the Three Dolphins flag) was unofficially adopted as the banner of the unrecognised state. [3] British rule was soon restored and the Anguilla Act 1971 placed the island under direct rule from London. Nine years later, Anguilla was accorded its own constitution and its union with Saint Kitts and Nevis officially ended. [1] [4]

The territory's constitution was amended in 1990, [1] and a new flag was first raised on 30 May that year. It consisted of Blue Ensign with a shield that incorporated the design of the Three Dolphins flag. [3] Later that same year, on 27 November, a Royal Warrant was issued granting Anguilla its own shield. [5] In the run-up to the fiftieth anniversary of the Anguillian Revolution in 2017, a proposal was drawn up to augment the coat of arms with a crest and two supporters, along with the territory's motto. [6] The design was submitted for approval in March of that year, with the College of Arms overseeing its technical aspects. [7] A crest and supporters were formally granted by Elizabeth II on 30 January 2020. [8]

Design

Official description

The official blazon granted by the British College of Arms is as follows: Argent in base the Sea of Turquoise hue in chief three natural Dolphins embowed and leaping in a circle each tinctured Orange-Gold the Shield garnished of Gold. [9]

The official description also includes a crest and supporters which are currently unused. The crest is An Eel (Anguilla Anguilla) haurient proper crowned with an Ancient Crown Or, while the supporters are Dexter An Anguillan Fisherman proper wearing trousers rolled up to the knee Azure with a cloth waistband Or holding with his dexter hand a Strap Sable suspended therefrom by the mouth two pot fish namely a Jack Fish and a Red Snapper proper Sinister An Anguillan Woman vested in an ankle and wrist length Robe and Head Wrap Azure thereover an Apron Argent the lower hem and tied round the waist with an Orange-Gold band holding by the Stalk a Maize Plant leaved Vert fructed proper. [9]

Symbolism

The colours and objects on the coat of arms carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The white background epitomises peace and tranquility. [3] [10] The blue at the bottom evokes the surrounding Caribbean Sea, [10] [11] as well as faith, youth and hope. [3] The three dolphins symbolise unity, strength and endurance. [3] [10] This is also the motto of the territory. [6] The circle they are arranged in represents continuity. [3]

Uses

The shield from the arms features on the flag of Anguilla and on the standard of the territory's governor. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anguilla</span> British Overseas Territory in the Leeward Islands

Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. The territory consists of the main island of Anguilla, approximately 16 miles long by 3 miles (5 km) wide at its widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands and cays with no permanent population. The territory's capital is The Valley. The total land area of the territory is 35 square miles (91 km2), with a population of approximately 15,753 (2021).

The history of Anguilla runs from the beginning of human habitation, probably via settlement from South America, through its colonization by the English in the early modern period, to the present day. Following a series of rebellions and a short-lived period as an independent republic during the 1960s, Anguilla has been a separate British overseas territory since 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Anguilla</span> National flag

The national flag of Anguilla, a British overseas territory, consists of a Blue Ensign with the British flag in the canton, charged with the coat of arms of Anguilla in the fly. The coat of arms consists of three dolphins in a circular formation, which were featured on the earlier Anguillan flag, and which stand for friendship, wisdom and strength. The white in the background stands for peace, and the light blue represents the sea, as well as faith, youth, and hope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Montserrat</span> British overseas territory flag

The flag of Montserrat consists of a Blue Ensign with the British overseas territory's coat of arms. Adopted in 1960 to supplement the Union Jack after the dissolution of the British Leeward Islands the year before, it has been the flag of Montserrat since the territory was granted self-government that year. The design of the present flag entailed enlarging the coat of arms and outlining it with a white trim. Montserrat's flag is similar to the flags of eight other British Overseas Territories, which are also Blue Ensigns with their respective coats of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla</span> 1882–1983 British colony in the Caribbean Sea

Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla was a British colony in the West Indies from 1882 to 1983, consisting of the islands of Anguilla, Nevis, and Saint Christopher. From 1882 to 1951, and again from 1980, the colony was known simply as Saint Christopher and Nevis. Saint Christopher and Nevis gained independence in 1983 as the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, while Anguilla would remain a British overseas territory.

Anguillan Creole is a dialect of Leeward Caribbean Creole English spoken in Anguilla, an island and British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. Although classified as a dialect of Leeward Caribbean Creole English spoken in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Montserrat due to a common British colonial history, it is actually closer to the British Virgin Islands and Saint Martin varieties of Virgin Islands Creole. The number of speakers of Anguillan Creole is below 10,000. Anguillan Creole does not have the status of an official language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands</span> National coat of arms of the Virgin Islands

The coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands consists of a green escutcheon (shield) charged with a woman in a white dress and gold-coloured sandals, holding a lit golden oil lamp and surrounded by eleven other golden lamps. Adopted shortly after the islands became a Crown colony, it has been the coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands since 1960. The escutcheon dates from the early 19th century and is featured on the flag of the territory. The woman and the lamps represent Saint Ursula and her companions, the namesake of the islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Montserrat</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands</span> Coat of arms

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James Ronald Webster (2 March 1926 – 9 December 2016) was a politician from Anguilla. After ending the Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla federation in 1967, he served as the island territory's first Chief Minister from 10 February 1976 to 1 February 1977 and again from May 1980 to 12 March 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Indies Associated States</span> 1967–1983 group of British-associated Caribbean island states

West Indies Associated States was the collective name for a number of islands in the Eastern Caribbean whose status changed from being British colonies to states in free association with the United Kingdom in 1967. These states were Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis</span> National coat of arms of the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

The coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis was adopted in 1983 and possesses the motto "Country Above Self". The previous coat of arms, adopted in 1967 by the colony of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, was nearly identical, except for coloration and the motto "Unity in Trinity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Leeward Islands</span> 1671–1816 and 1833–1958 British colony in the Caribbean

The British Leeward Islands was a British colony from 1671 to 1958, consisting of the English overseas possessions in the Leeward Islands. It ceased to exist from 1816 to 1833, during which time it was split into two separate colonies. It was dissolved in 1958 after the separation of the British Virgin Islands, and the remaining islands became parts of the West Indies Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of the British Leeward Islands</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postage stamps and postal history of Anguilla</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic of Anguilla</span> 1967–1969 unrecognised state in the Caribbean

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The Anguilla Amateur Athletic Federation (AAAF) is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Anguilla. Current president is Lorna Rogers.

Patricia J. Adams is an Anguillan writer and former teacher. An annual award which bears her name is given each year by Anguilla’s Department of Education to the primary students in grades 3, 5, and 6 who excel in creative writing. She was the recipient of the Queen's Certificate and a badge of honour in 2012 on Anguilla Day.

Operation Sheepskin was a British military operation in the Caribbean, aimed at restoring British rule to the island of Anguilla, after the island had declared itself as an independent Republic. The British government dispatched two Royal Navy ships and 300 soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment and 9 Independent Parachute Squadron RE alongside 22 officers of the London Metropolitan Police to restore order to the island. The operation was a success and British troops were met with no resistance by the islanders, as they had wanted the island to remain a British territory but with direct association with Great Britain, separate from Saint Kitts and Nevis, of which they were then a part.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Petty, Colville L. (30 December 2019). "Anguilla – History". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Anguilla profile". BBC News. BBC. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "National Flags". Government of Anguilla. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "St Kitts and Nevis profile – Timeline". BBC News. BBC. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Anguilla". Flags of the World. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 "A Full Coat of Arms for Anguilla". The Anguillian. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "Design Submitted for a Full Coat of Arms for Anguilla". The Anguillian. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  8. ↑ https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/newsletter/item/209-january-2023-newsletter-no-70 [ bare URL ]
  9. 1 2 "January 2023 Newsletter (no. 70) - College of Arms". www.college-of-arms.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  10. 1 2 3 "Anguilla – Details". The World Factbook. CIA. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  11. ↑ Kindersley Ltd., Dorling (6 January 2009). Complete Flags of the World. Penguin. p. 129. ISBN   9780756654863.
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