Royal coat of arms of Scotland

Royal coat of arms of Scotland
Versions
Coat of arms of James VI from 1603 as King James I of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland.
Details
Armiger	James VI, King of Scots, ultimate armiger of pre-1603 version
Adopted	Late Middle Ages
Crest	Upon the Royal helm the crown of Scotland Proper, thereon a lion sejant affronté Gules armed and langued Azure, Royally crowned Proper holding in his dexter paw a sword and in his sinister a sceptre, both Proper
Escutcheon	Or a lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory-counter-flory of the second
Supporters	Unicorns Argent Royally crowned Proper, armed, crined and unguled Or, gorged with a coronet of the second composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lis a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also of the second. Sinister holding the standard of Saint Andrew, dexter holding the banner of the Royal arms
Compartment	a compartment underneath from which issue thistles one towards each side of the escutcheon
Motto	Scots: In My Defens God Me Defend (abbr. In Defens)
Orders	The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. (Arms feature the collar of the order)

The royal coat of arms of Scotland was the official coat of arms of the King of Scots from its adoption in the 12th century until the end of the Kingdom of Scotland in 1707. Poetically described as "the ruddy lion ramping in his field of tressured gold", the arms are still widely used today as a symbol of Scotland, and are quartered in the royal arms of Queen Elizabeth II along with the arms of England and Ireland.

The arms feature a red rampant lion with blue tongue and claws situated within a red double border decorated with fleurs-de-lis (known as the royal tressure). The fleurs-de-lis in the royal tressure are traditionally said to represent the "auld alliance" with France, but this is unlikely, as this alliance did not come to exist until the late 13th century, when the royal tressure had been firmly established as part of the arms for many years. It was perhaps added merely to make the arms more distinctive, as the symbol of a rampant lion was already used by several lords and kings.

Atop the shield sits the helm and crest. The helm is full-faced of damasked gold with six bars and features gold mantling lined with ermine. Upon the helm sits the crest, depicting the red lion, forward facing and sitting atop the Crown of Scotland, displaying the Honours of Scotland. (The lion wears the Crown of Scotland and holds both the Sceptre and the Sword of State).

Above the crest is the motto "In Defens", a contraction of "In My Defens God Me Defend" ("defens" being an old Scots spelling of "defence"). Surrounding the shield is the collar of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.