All the shields that Ecuador has had in its history

The current National Coat of Arms of Ecuador was officially adopted by the Congress on October 31, 1900achieving the presidential implementation of the General Eloy Alfaro on November 7, 1900. Days later, on December 5, the decree was published in the Official Gazette.

Its use is limited to official, public, educational, military and police entities. In educational institutions they can display it in a visible place in the classroom or offices, framed and with glass.

This is established by Resolution 24-047 of the National Congress, issued on March 13, 2003 and published in the Official Gazette 45 of March 21, 2003; as well as in the Regulation of Protocol and Military Ceremonial, Ministry of National Defense, Quito, Ecuador, August 2006.

The artistic design of the current shield belongs to Pedro Pablo Traversari, establishing itself until in 1916 it was approved by the Ministry of Public Instruction. But this, in turn, is an inspiration for what is attributed to Jose Joaquin de Olmedoin 1845, with the colors light blue and white.

Throughout its republican history, the country had several shields and even before the nation existed as such, the Guayaquil emblem was used as the shield of the first free territory of what would later be known as Ecuador.

Guayaquil emblem

“A five-pointed star inscribed in an oval, surrounded by two laurel branches intertwined by a red ribbon”, represent the memorable Coat of Arms of Guayaquil which, by tradition, is held to date from 1820, even though the expressive expression was later added legend By Guayaquil Independent.

It should be noted that José Joaquín de Olmedo, president of the Superior Government Board of Guayaquil in 1820, ordered that the official papers of the Cabildo have a seal that consisted of a star flanked by a crown of laurels and on one side inscribed the legend Por Guayaquil Independent.

Shield of 1821

These Weapons decreed by the law sanctioned on October 6, 1821 by the Congress of Cúcuta, whose article 1 we detail in the following lines, was the one that our territory adopted when it was officially incorporated into Greater Colombia on May 29, 1822. .

“From now on, instead of Weapons, two cornucopias full of fruits and flowers from cold, temperate and warm countries, and from Colombian fasces, will be used, which will be made up of a bundle of spears with the safety crossed, crossed bows and arrows , tied with tricolor ribbon at the bottom.

Let us remember that the Great Seal of the Republic, according to art. 2, had to bear the following inscription on the circumference: “República de Colombia”.

The Great Seal of the Republic, according to art. 2, should have the following inscription on the circumference: Republic of Colombia.

shield of 1830

There are many documents that prove that the first Ecuadorian Congress, during its session on September 17, 1830, analyzed the creation of the Coat of Arms.

José Fernández Salvador, president of the Constituent Congress, is credited with the idea of ​​setting up the emblem. It is also said that the same character suggested adding the legend State of Ecuador in Colombia, as well as a sun on the fasces of the Weapons of the Republic.

However, the law that designated the Arms of the State on September 19, 1830, shows quite a difference between what was approved by Congress and the content of the decree because the motto of the State of Ecuador in Colombia was changed to that of El Ecuador in Colombia.

The sentence a sun on the fasces became a sun on the equinoctial on the fasces.

In the same way, in article 2 of the aforementioned decree it is indicated that the representation of the first shield will have its graphic in the Great Seal of the State, printing applied to official documents to guarantee its absolute legitimacy.

These changes are cited in the minutes of the session of September 21, after the law was issued by Congress, while on September 27 of the same year the President of the Republic, Juan José Flores, sanctioned the decree:

First Authentic National Registry

No. 7–Year of 1830.

I READ

Designating State Arms

The Constituent Congress of the State of Ecuador in the Republic of Colombia

Considering:

1.- That it corresponds to designate the arms that distinguish Ecuador among the other states of the same Republic and,

2.- (…)

Decree:

Art. 1.- The arms of Colombia will be used from now on, in a light blue field with the addition of a sun in the equinoctial on the 2 faces, and a motto that says Ecuador in Colombia.

Art. 2.- The great seal of the State, and seals of the office will have encumbered (sic) this coat of arms.

Communicate to the Executive Power for its publication and observance.

Given in the hall of the Constituent Congress of Riobamba on September 19, 1830.- twentieth of independence.

The President of the Congress, José Fernández Salvador.- Pedro Manuel Quiñónez, Secretary.- Government Palace in Riobamba, on the twenty-seventh day of September of one thousand eight hundred and thirty.- Twentieth.-

Execute.- Juan José Flores.

Shield of 1833

This, according to some researchers, should be the second official coat of arms that Ecuador had if we follow the rigor of the respective documentation. Such a situation is suggested by the decree that the President of the Republic, Juan José Flores, sanctioned on January 12, 1833.

The interpretation that was made in accordance with the provision of the aforementioned decree is notorious in the coins that were minted at that time and also in the sealed papers, since they have a close historical relationship with the Shield of Quito, with the first Shield of the State and even with the tableware of General Juan José Flores.

This is corroborated when the decree is read ordering the stamping of gold shields, pesetas, etc., and setting the type of these coins: “First Authentic National Registry No. 45 (year 1833) Juan José Flores, President of the State of Ecuador.

Considering:

1.- That a mint has been established in the State Capital, etc….

decree

Art. 1.- (…)

Art.2- The type of Ecuadorian coins will be orbicular, with a cord on the edge and graphics around the planes; on the obverse the State Arms will be engraved, composed of two little hills that meet at their skirts, on each of them an eagle will appear perched; and the sun will fill the bottom of the plane… This nickname will be inscribed on the circumference: The Power in the Constitution; at the foot of the hills the thousandth of the year of minting.

…On the reverse will be taxed (sic) the Arms of Colombia; in its circumference these words: Ecuador in Colombia, and Quito, at the foot of the Weapons.

Given at the Government Palace in Quito on January 12, 1833.- Twenty-third.- Juan José Flores.- By order of HE- Minister of Finance, Juan García del Río”.

Shield of 1843

These Arms of the Republic, according to the resolution of the National Convention that met in Quito in 1843 were as follows:

“The shield will have a height twice its width, in the upper part it will be rectangular and in the lower part it will be elliptical. Its field will be divided into three quarters: in the upper one the sun will be placed on a blue background over a section of the zodiac; in the central quarter it will be subdivided into two: in the one on the right, on a gold background, an open book will be placed in the form of tables, on whose two planes the Roman numerals I, II, III and IV will be inscribed, indicating the first four articles of the Constitution; in the one on the left, on a sinople or green background, a horse will be placed.

In the lower quarter, which will be subdivided into two, a river will be placed on a blue background on whose waters, a ship will be represented; and in the one on the left, on a silver background, a volcano will be placed.

In the upper part of the shield, instead of a crest, will rest a condor whose open wings will extend over the two angles.

Flags and trophies will be placed on the outer border and on both sides.

Historians and researchers maintain that this shield established by decree of June 18, 1843, is the one that best suits the heraldry and the pertinent elements that express our history. They also note that the representation of the condor gives absolute uniformity to the emblematic set. President Juan José Flores signed the execution on June 19 and on July 2 of the same year, 1843, the decree was published in the Government Gazette.

Shield of 1845

By decree of November 6, 1845, the National Convention that met in Cuenca and was chaired by Pablo Merino Ortega, established the following regarding the Shield:

“The Arms of Ecuador will be: an oval shield that contains internally, in the upper part, the sun with those portions of the elliptical in which the signs corresponding to the memorable months of March, April, May and June are found.”

“In the lower part, to the right, Mount Chimborazo will be represented, from which a river will be born, and where it appears more abundant will be a steamship that has a caduceus for its mast as a symbol of navigation and commerce, which are the source of prosperity of Ecuador”.

“The shield will rest on a mess of consular bundles, as an insignia of republican dignity; It will be externally adorned with national flags and laurel and palm branches, and crowned by a condor with outstretched wings.”

The flags mentioned in the decree are those of the blue and white colors, in force in that year 1845.

shield of 1900

It is the same Coat of Arms adopted in 1845, with the only difference that instead of the light blue and white flags, the Gran Colombiano tricolor was placed, restored by Gabriel García Moreno in 1860.

The current and definitive coat of arms was officially adopted on October 31, 1900, achieving the presidential execution of General Eloy Alfaro on November 7 of the same. Days later, on December 5, the decree was published in the Official Gazette.

Various sources, including the didactic pamphlet Los Símbolos de la Patria, published by the Fundación Símbolos Patrios based in Guayaquil, indicate that the artistic design of the current shield belongs to the master Pedro Pablo Traversari, consolidating until it was approved by the Ministry in 1916. of Public Instruction. (F)