The Bohemian lion is a crowned silver lion, rampant on its hind legs and bearing two tails, on a red field. In the 13th century, it became the principal emblem of the kings of Bohemia and has retained this position into the contemporary era. The Czech National Museum presents it as the oldest major symbol of the Czech state still in use, while the current coat of arms of the Czech Republic places it in two quarters of the greater shield.
| Form | White or silver two-tailed, crowned lion |
|---|---|
| Field | Red |
| Key reference point | Přemysl Otakar II, 13th century |
| Region | Bohemia |
| Current use | Coat of arms of the Czech Republic |
When does the lion appear in the Bohemian coat of arms?
The Czech government traces the royal heraldry back to the 12th century, when the eagle was still used as an emblem.
The two-tailed lion is firmly attested in Přemysl Otakar II's coat of arms in the mid-13th century.
Why does the animal have two tails?
Later chronicles recount that the second tail was granted as a reward for a military feat.
The Czech National Museum specifies that the motif's exact origin remains uncertain.
The presence of two tails nevertheless became the distinctive feature of the Bohemian lion.
What role does Přemysl Otakar II play?
Even before ascending the throne, Přemysl Otakar II used the lion on his seal as Margrave of Moravia.
After 1253, he retained this coat of arms as King of Bohemia, which helped establish the royal emblem.
How does it survive changes of state?
The lion becomes a symbol of the kingdom, then enters the Czechoslovak coat of arms in the 20th century.
Under the socialist regime, the crown and certain elements were modified; the historical form returned after 1990.
The Czech Embassy notes that today the lion alone can represent the Czech Republic.
Why should origin stories be distinguished from seals?
The legends link the lion to Vladislaus II, Frederick Barbarossa, or the hero Bruncvík.
These stories belong to the national memory but do not replace the heraldic evidence from the 13th and 14th centuries.
The article can therefore retain the stories without presenting them as contemporary records of the coat of arms's origin.
Historical sources and reference points
The Czech National Museum traces the history of the Bohemian lion from the 13th century. The Embassy of the Czech Republic presents its place in the current coat of arms.
