Coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

The coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth represented the union of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and Grand Duchy of Lithuania.<ref name="VleRimsa"/>

While the coat of arms remained mostly unchanged throughout the Commonwealth's tenure, as different kings were elected it would be defaced with their personal arms and other features, such as the Order of the Golden Fleece (when the armiger was a member) or the Order of the White Eagle for later kings.

Modern reconstruction

• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Sigismund I Augustus (1520–1572)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Sigismund I Augustus (1520–1572)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Sigismund I Augustus (1520–1572)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Sigismund I Augustus (1520–1572)
• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Henryk Walezy (1573–1575)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Henryk Walezy (1573–1575)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Henryk Walezy (1573–1575)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Henryk Walezy (1573–1575)
• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stephen Báthory (1576–1586)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stephen Báthory (1576–1586)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stephen Báthory (1576–1586)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stephen Báthory (1576–1586)
• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of the kings from the House of Vasa (1587–1668)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of the kings from the House of Vasa (1587–1668)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of the kings from the House of Vasa (1587–1668)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of the kings from the House of Vasa (1587–1668)
• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Micheal I Wiśniowiecki (1669–1673)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Micheal I Wiśniowiecki (1669–1673)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Micheal I Wiśniowiecki (1669–1673)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Micheal I Wiśniowiecki (1669–1673)
• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of John III Sobieski (1674–1696)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of John III Sobieski (1674–1696)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of John III Sobieski (1674–1696)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of John III Sobieski (1674–1696)
• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of the kings from the House of Wettin (1697–1704, 1709–1733, 1736–1763)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of the kings from the House of Wettin (1697–1704, 1709–1733, 1736–1763)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of the kings from the House of Wettin (1697–1704, 1709–1733, 1736–1763)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of the kings from the House of Wettin (1697–1704, 1709–1733, 1736–1763)
• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stanisław I Leszczyński (1704–1709, 1733–1736)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stanisław I Leszczyński (1704–1709, 1733–1736)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stanisław I Leszczyński (1704–1709, 1733–1736)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stanisław I Leszczyński (1704–1709, 1733–1736)
• Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stanisław II August Poniatowski (1764–1795)
  Greater coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stanisław II August Poniatowski (1764–1795)
• Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stanisław II August Poniatowski (1764–1795)
  Lesser coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Stanisław II August Poniatowski (1764–1795)

Background

The coat of arms of the Commonwealth combined the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which are depicted as follows:

• Coat of arms of Poland, the White Eagle
  Coat of arms of Poland, the White Eagle
• Coat of arms of Lithuania, the White Knight
  Coat of arms of Lithuania, the White Knight

During the Commonwealth, an inescutcheon contained the personal or family arms of the reigning monarch.

• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under King Henry
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under King Henry
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Vasa dynasty
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Vasa dynasty
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Vasa dynasty
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Vasa dynasty
• 15 ducats of King Sigismund III Vasa from 1617
  15 ducats of King Sigismund III Vasa from 1617
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Michael I. Korybut coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.Template:Fact
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Michael I. Korybut coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.Template:Fact
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under John III Sobieski. Janina coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.Template:Fact
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under John III Sobieski. Janina coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.Template:Fact
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under John III Sobieski. Janina coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under John III Sobieski. Janina coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Stanisław I. Wieniawa coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.Template:Fact
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Stanisław I. Wieniawa coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.Template:Fact
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Wettin dynasty
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Wettin dynasty
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Stanislaus II Augustus. Ciołek coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Stanislaus II Augustus. Ciołek coat of arms is placed in the escutcheon point.
• Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Stanislaus II Augustus, 1764–1795
  Polish–Lithuanian coat of arms under Stanislaus II Augustus, 1764–1795
• Coat of arms of Stanislaus II Augustus, 1780
  Coat of arms of Stanislaus II Augustus, 1780

Insurrections

During the January uprising a similar coat of arms was proposed for the restored Commonwealth, with Archangel Michael, the coat of arms of Ruthenia added as the third element. However, it was never officially introduced.

• Coat of arms for a proposed Polish– Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth
  Coat of arms for a proposed Polish–
  Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth

The coat of arms in various cities

• Malbork Castle, Malbork, 1590s
  Malbork Castle, Malbork, 1590s
• Wawel, Kraków
  Wawel, Kraków
• Royal Castle, Warsaw, 17th century
  Royal Castle, Warsaw, 17th century
• Royal Castle, Warsaw, 18th century
  Royal Castle, Warsaw, 18th century
• Royal Castle, Warsaw, 18th century
  Royal Castle, Warsaw, 18th century
• Łazienki Park, Warsaw, 18th century
  Łazienki Park, Warsaw, 18th century
• Henryk Sienkiewicz Monument, Łazienki Park, Warsaw, 20th century
  Henryk Sienkiewicz Monument, Łazienki Park, Warsaw, 20th century
• Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, 1633
  Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, 1633
• Wawel, Kraków
  Wawel, Kraków
• Royal Chapel, Gdańsk, 1681
  Royal Chapel, Gdańsk, 1681
• John III Sobieski Monument, Gdańsk (moved from Lviv), 1898
  John III Sobieski Monument, Gdańsk (moved from Lviv), 1898
• Zwinger, Dresden, 18th century
  Zwinger, Dresden, 18th century
• Dresden Cathedral, Dresden, 18th century
  Dresden Cathedral, Dresden, 18th century
• Bridge over Mulde, Grimma, 18th century
  Bridge over Mulde, Grimma, 18th century
• Post milestone, Pirna, 1722
  Post milestone, Pirna, 1722
• Freiberg Cathedral, Freiberg, 18th century
  Freiberg Cathedral, Freiberg, 18th century
• Post milestone, Lubań, 1725
  Post milestone, Lubań, 1725
• Moritzburg Castle, Moritzburg, 18th century
  Moritzburg Castle, Moritzburg, 18th century
• Town hall, Wilsdruff, 18th century
  Town hall, Wilsdruff, 18th century
• Catholic church, Nancy, 18th century
  Catholic church, Nancy, 18th century
• Church of the Holy Spirit, Vilnius, 18th century
  Church of the Holy Spirit, Vilnius, 18th century
• Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius, restored in late 2010s
  Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius, restored in late 2010s
• Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius
  Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius
• Albertina, Vienna, 18th century
  Albertina, Vienna, 18th century
• Theatine Church, Munich, 18th century
  Theatine Church, Munich, 18th century
• Walderdorff Palace, Trier, 18th century
  Walderdorff Palace, Trier, 18th century
• Guardhouse, Poznań, 1780s
  Guardhouse, Poznań, 1780s
• Adam Mickiewicz Monument, Lviv, 1904
  Adam Mickiewicz Monument, Lviv, 1904

See also

• Polish heraldry
• Template:Section link
• Coat of arms of Lithuania
• Coat of arms of Poland