Coat of arms of Schleswig

The coat of arms of Schleswig or Southern Jutland (Danish: Sønderjylland or Slesvig ) depicts two blue lions in a golden shield.

The blazon in heraldic terms is: Or, two lions passant in pale Azure armed Or langued Gules.

This was inspired by the medieval seal of Eric of Pomerania in which the three lions jointly hold the Danish flag.

According to legend, this change was ordered by Otto von Bismarck who noted that it was "impolite" of the Schleswig lions to turn their backs on Holstein.

The official insignia is reserved for the government of Schleswig-Holstein, but a slightly modified version is allowed for use by the general public.

The first known example of the insignia: the seal of Erik Abelsøn, Duke of Schleswig (d. 1272)