Dear Guys! Do you know what a coat of arms is? The coat of arms is the emblem of the state, city. The history of the Russian emblem is closely connected with the historical events of our state.
At the end of the XV century. the most important event in the life of the people took place - the Mongol-Tatar yoke fell. Russian lands became free. Now no one ruined them, people got rid of two hundred years of oppression.
At that time, the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Vasilyevich III ruled the country. It was bitter to see Ivan Vasilyevich how weak and devastated his native land was, there was neither peace nor harmony in it. So Ivan III decided to unite all Russian principalities into one state. The princes quarreled among themselves, fought with each other, one prince did not want to obey the other.
For almost 50 years, Ivan III collected Russian lands! He managed to humble the recalcitrant princes - some by force, some by grace. Finally, the impossible happened - from small and weak states one large and powerful one was formed. Ivan III ordered to call it a power, Russia, Russia.
The word "power" comes from the word "keep" and means - the state. This means that Ivan III held power in Russia in his hands. He ordered to call himself in a new way: not the Grand Duke of Moscow, but the Sovereign of All Russia.
Each state should have its own symbol - the coat of arms.
The coat of arms of Russia appeared in 1497. More than five hundred years have passed since then, but the coat of arms of Russia - the golden double-headed eagle - has not changed.
♦ Why did Ivan III choose the eagle as a symbol?
Right! The eagle is a powerful bird. In the view of the ancient Slavs, it is associated with the sun.
But the eagle on the coat of arms of Russia is extraordinary! He has not one head, but two, they were crowned with golden crowns, the eagle itself is also golden and was located on a red background.
The golden double-headed eagle is not only a symbol of the sun, but also an image of the solar chariot. In ancient times, the Slavs believed that the sun rides on a golden chariot drawn by two birds.
The sun comes out in the east and sets in the west. Therefore, one head of the eagle is turned to the east, and the other to the west.
Years passed, they formed into centuries. The coat of arms of Russia has changed. What does the modern coat of arms of our Fatherland look like? It is still a double-headed eagle - gold on a red background. The eagle is crowned with three crowns - a symbol of the unity of our country. In his paws he holds a scepter and an orb.
♦ What is a scepter?
This is a richly decorated wand - a symbol of power. The scepter in the modern sense is a sign of statehood. Power - a decorated ball, a sign of legality and law.
On the chest of the eagle there is a red shield, on it is a silver rider, striking a dragon with a spear. The rider is a sign of fearlessness, the triumph of good over evil, truth over lies.
The coat of arms of Russia is beautiful and majestic. Let us repeat, what does the image of a double-headed eagle on the coat of arms of Russia mean? Right! Unity and independence of the country.
♦ What does the image of the rider mean?
Correctly! Victory of good over evil!
♦ When is the coat of arms of Russia used?
Right! On state seals, official documents. There is such a thing - stamped paper. This is the paper on which government documents are written. The coat of arms of Russia is its identification mark. We can see it at the border, at the entrance to the territory of our country.
The coat of arms is depicted on the most important documents, for example, on the passport of a Russian citizen. The state emblem is depicted on the coins so that Russian coins can be distinguished from banknotes of other countries.
On the smallest coin - a penny - a rider with a spear is depicted. On other coins there is an image of a double-headed eagle. For example, on a coin of 10 rubles.
Coats of arms have not only countries, but also regions and cities. The capital of our Motherland, Moscow, also has its own coat of arms. It depicts St. George the Victorious.
♦ What does the coat of arms of Moscow look like?
Against a red background, a silver horse gallops swiftly, reared up, touching the ground with one hind legs. On the horse sits St. George the Victorious in silver armor and a silver helmet. An azure cloak curls behind his shoulders. With a powerful blow of the spear, the holy victorious aptly strikes the black dragon, which stands on four paws.
♦ The rider on the coat of arms of the capital and the coat of arms of Russia have differences. Which?
The rider on the coat of arms of Russia is a mighty warrior, but not Saint George. His horse stands firmly and confidently on the ground, only one front leg is raised. The dragon lies on its back.
And on the coat of arms of Moscow, the dragon stands on four legs. St. George the Victorious has long been considered the defender of Moscow and the patron of the Russian army.
Listen to the story of this saint's life.
Holy Victorious
George was born in Asia Minor near the city of Antalya in a noble and wealthy family that professed Christianity. The boy's parents raised him in the Christian faith.
After the death of her husband, George's mother moved with her son to her homeland, to Palestine, which at that time was part of the Roman Empire. The widow settled on an estate near the city of Lydda.
George at a young age entered the military service. The young man was distinguished by courage, strength, courage, and already at the age of twenty he became a military leader.
During the war with the Persians, George showed extraordinary courage and received a high military rank.
In those days, the Roman Empire was ruled by Emperor Diocletian, known for his brutal persecution of Christians. By his order, Christian churches were destroyed to the ground and sacred books were burned. Christians were thrown into prison, tortured and put to death.
At the council of senators, the emperor discussed how to intensify the fight against Christianity. Saint George, speaking in the Senate, tried to defend Christians, but no one listened to him.
Saint George resigned his military rank, and soon, by order of the emperor, he was arrested and subjected to the most severe tortures. The saint was tied to a spinning wheel with sharp knives, thrown into quicklime, but he remained unharmed.
Diocletian could not understand where George had such strength. The emperor ordered the saint to wear red-hot iron boots with nails driven into the soles. The martyr said: “Go, George, to the incorruptible crown,” and he went.
In the morning, when the young man was brought in for interrogation, he walked without a limp. Even the poison he was forced to drink could not harm the saint. Then the emperor decided that George was a sorcerer. But the saint cited the words of Jesus Christ: "He who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do."
- What kind of things can you do? the emperor asked.
Heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf.
Then Diocletian promised him that if George resurrects the dead, the emperor will believe in Jesus Christ. St. George called to Christ - thunder struck, and the dead rose from the tomb.
But the insidious and cruel emperor did not fulfill his promise, but, furious, ordered the execution of St. George.
St. George performed many miracles after his martyr's death. One of the most famous is the victory over a snake that devours people and the salvation of an innocent girl.
More than a thousand years ago, the Holy Great Martyr George appeared to people on Russian soil not far from the place where Sevastopol is now located. He saved fishermen drowning in the sea, and in memory of this miracle, a monastery was founded near Cape Fiolent, which still exists today.
St. George is revered in Russia as the patron of the Russian army. He was depicted on princely seals and coins. From the 14th century the image of St. George on a white horse became the coat of arms of Moscow, and later appeared on the State Emblem of the Russian Empire.
♦ Where was Saint George born?
♦ What qualities did he have already in his youth?
♦ Why did St. George resign his military rank?
♦ What torment did Saint George endure for his faith?
♦ What miracles did St. George perform during his lifetime and after his martyrdom?
♦ Why is St. George considered the patron saint of the Russian army?
Listen to the poem.
Coat of arms of Russia
Double-headed golden eagle
Symbol of strength, symbol of glory
And the power of the state.
Brave warrior on a shield -
He strikes the enemy with a spear,
He will protect the Fatherland
And help her in trouble!
Answer the questions
1. What is a coat of arms?
2. Do regions and cities have coats of arms?
3. What does the coat of arms of Russia look like?
4. What does the coat of arms of Moscow look like?
5. What are the differences between the emblems of Russia and Moscow?
6. What saint is depicted on the coat of arms of Moscow?
7. What does the double-headed eagle mean?
8. Why are his heads turned to the east and west?
9. What is he holding in his paws?
10. What does the scepter signify?
11. What does power mean?
12. Where can you see the coat of arms of Russia?
Complete tasks
1. Draw and color the coat of arms of Russia.
2. Draw and color the coat of arms of Moscow.
The coat of arms of Russia is the main attribute and stands on the same level as the flag and anthem. Without it, it is impossible to imagine any modern state, and our country is no exception. In order to know the history of your country, in order to understand what the state symbols are, you need to look at the coat of arms itself and give it a description that will be remembered even by a primary school student.
The coat of arms of our country is rectangular in shape, rounded to the bottom of its shape. A double-headed eagle is depicted on a red background, looking in two directions to the west and east. Both heads of the eagle are crowned with small crowns, and the eagle itself raised its wings high. The eagle is crowned with a large crown, with a ribbon that curls as if in the wind.
If you look at the paws of an eagle, then in one he has a scepter, and in the other a symbol of power. Right on the chest is a rider in a blue cloak. He sits on a silver horse.
You can also depict the coat of arms without a rider, only the main background and an eagle on it.
In the Russian Federation there is a law that says how the coat of arms should look like. This is the Federal Law "On the State Emblem". And even though it does not contain information about the color of the saddle under the rider, it is customary to depict it in red.
Why did you choose this coat of arms?
It is connected with the history of the country. In such a tone and with such a pattern, the coat of arms was depicted in the 15th-17th centuries;The eagle was depicted on the coat of arms back in the time of Peter I;
The uniform, which is contained in the paws of an eagle, means the unity of the state and state power.
Above the heads of the eagle there are beautiful three crowns that bear the history of our country. In particular, we are talking about Peter the Great. Since the situation in the country has changed, it is clear that all the symbols are not the same theme as many centuries ago.
If we talk about the rider, then we can say that this is a symbol of the struggle between good and evil, darkness and light, and most of all he speaks of protecting the Fatherland.
Now the double-headed eagle personifies the continuity and continuity of national history. Today's coat of arms of Russia is a new coat of arms, but all its components are deeply traditional; it reflects different stages of national history and continues them on the eve of the third millennium.
The most important and main symbols of the country are the coat of arms and the flag without it the state cannot exist.
Each country has its own symbols that speak of the strength and majesty of the country.
The history of the coat of arms of Russia from the time of the Dnieper Slavs to the present day. George the Victorious, double-headed eagle, Soviet coat of arms. Emblem changes. 22 images
In ancient Russia as such a coat of arms, of course, did not yet exist. The Slavs in the 6th-8th centuries AD had intricate ornaments that symbolized a particular territory. Scientists learned about this through the study of burials, in some of which fragments of women's and men's clothing with embroidery have been preserved.During the Kievan Rus the grand dukes had their own princely seals, on which images of an attacking falcon were placed - the ancestral sign of the Rurikovich.
In Vladimir Russia Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky has an image on his princely seal George the Victorious with a spear. Subsequently, this sign of the spearman appears on the front side of the coin (penny) and it can already be considered the first real full-fledged coat of arms of Russia.
In Muscovite Russia, under Ivan III, who was combined in a dynastic marriage with the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Sophia Paleolog, an image appears double-headed Byzantine eagle. On the royal seal of Ivan III, George the Victorious and the Double-Headed Eagle are depicted as equals. The Grand Duke seal of Ivan III, sealed in 1497 his "exchange and allotment" charter for the land holdings of specific princes. From that moment on, the Double-Headed Eagle becomes the state emblem of our country.
The reign of Grand Duke Ivan III (1462-1505) is the most important stage in the formation of a unified Russian state. Ivan III managed to finally eliminate dependence on the Golden Horde, repelling the campaign of the Mongol Khan against Moscow in 1480. The Grand Duchy of Moscow included Yaroslavl, Novgorod, Tver, Perm lands. The country began to actively develop ties with other European states, its foreign policy position strengthened. In 1497, the first all-Russian Sudebnik was adopted - a single code of laws of the country. At the same time, images of a gilded double-headed eagle on a red field appeared on the walls of the Pomegranate Chamber in the Kremlin.
Mid 16th century
Beginning in 1539, the type of eagle on the seal of the Grand Duke of Moscow changed. In the era of Ivan the Terrible, on the golden bull (state seal) of 1562, in the center of the double-headed eagle, an image of George the Victorious appeared - one of the oldest symbols of princely power in Russia. George the Victorious is placed in a shield on the chest of a double-headed eagle crowned with one or two crowns surmounted by a cross.
Late 16th - early 17th centuries
During the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, between the crowned heads of the double-headed eagle, a sign of the passion of Christ appears - the Calvary cross. The cross on the state seal was a symbol of Orthodoxy, giving a religious coloring to the coat of arms of the state. The appearance of the Calvary cross in the coat of arms of Russia coincides with the time of the establishment in 1589 of the patriarchate and church independence of Russia.
In the 17th century, the Orthodox cross was often depicted on Russian banners. The banners of foreign regiments that were part of the Russian army had their own emblems and inscriptions; however, an Orthodox cross was also placed on them, which indicated that the regiment fighting under this banner served the Orthodox sovereign. Until the middle of the 17th century, a seal was widely used, on which a two-headed eagle with George the Victorious on his chest was crowned with two crowns, and an Orthodox eight-pointed cross rises between the heads of the eagle.
XVII century.
The Time of Troubles ended, Russia repulsed the claims to the throne of the Polish and Swedish dynasties. Numerous impostors were defeated, the uprisings blazing in the country were suppressed. Since 1613, by decision of the Zemsky Sobor, the Romanov dynasty began to rule in Russia. Under the first tsar of this dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, the State Emblem changes somewhat. In 1625, for the first time, a double-headed eagle is depicted under three crowns. In 1645, under the second king of the dynasty, Alexei Mikhailovich, the first Great State Seal appeared, on which a two-headed eagle with George the Victorious on his chest was crowned with three crowns. Since that time, this type of image has been constantly used.
The next stage in the change of the State Emblem came after the Pereyaslav Rada, the entry of Ukraine into the Russian state. To the letter of commendation of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Bogdan Khmelnitsky dated March 27, 1654, a seal was attached, on which for the first time a two-headed eagle under three crowns is depicted holding symbols of power in its claws: scepter and orb.
From that moment on, the eagle began to be depicted with raised wings .
In 1654, a forged double-headed eagle was installed on the spire of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin.
In 1663, for the first time in Russian history, the Bible, the main book of Christianity, came out from under the printing press in Moscow. It is no coincidence that the State Emblem of Russia was depicted in it and its poetic "explanation" was given:
The eastern eagle shines with three crowns,
Faith, hope, love for God shows,
Wings outstretched, embraces all the worlds of the end,
North South, from east to sunset
Goodness covers with outstretched wings.
In 1667, after a long war between Russia and Poland over Ukraine, the Andrusovo truce was concluded. To seal this treaty, a Great Seal was made with a double-headed eagle under three crowns, with a shield with George on the chest, with a scepter and an orb in its paws.
Peter's time
During the reign of Peter I, a new emblem entered the state heraldry of Russia - the order chain of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. This order, approved by Peter in 1698, became the first in the system of the highest state awards in Russia. The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, one of the heavenly patrons of Peter Alekseevich, was declared the patron saint of Russia.
The blue oblique St. Andrew's Cross becomes the main element of the sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and the symbol of the Russian Navy. Since 1699, images of a double-headed eagle surrounded by a chain with the sign of the St. Andrew's Order have been found. And next year, the St. Andrew's Order is placed on an eagle, around a shield with a rider.
It should be noted that already from 1710 (a decade earlier than Peter I was proclaimed emperor (1721), and Russia - an empire) - they began to depict imperial crowns.
From the first quarter of the 18th century, the colors of the double-headed eagle were brown (natural) or black.
The era of palace coups, Catherine's time
By decree of Empress Catherine I of March 11, 1726, the description of the coat of arms was fixed: "A black eagle with outstretched wings, in a yellow field, on it is St. George the Victorious in a red field." Empress Anna Ioannovna in 1736 invited a Swiss engraver, who by 1740 had engraved the State Seal. The central part of the matrix of this seal with the image of a double-headed eagle was used until 1856. Thus, the type of double-headed eagle on the State Seal remained unchanged for more than a hundred years. Catherine the Great did not make changes to the state emblem, preferring to maintain continuity and traditionalism.
Pavel the First
Emperor Paul I, by decree of April 5, 1797, allowed members of the imperial family to use the image of a double-headed eagle as their coat of arms.
During the short reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801), Russia pursued an active foreign policy, faced with a new enemy for itself - Napoleonic France. After the French troops occupied the Mediterranean island of Malta, Paul I took the Order of Malta under his protection, becoming the grand master of the order. On August 10, 1799, Paul I signed a decree on the inclusion of the Maltese cross and crown in the state emblem. On the chest of the eagle, under the Maltese crown, there was a shield with St. George (Paul interpreted it as the "root coat of arms of Russia") superimposed on the Maltese cross.
Paul I made an attempt to introduce the full coat of arms of the Russian Empire. On December 16, 1800, he signed the Manifesto, which described this complex project. Forty-three coats of arms were placed in the multi-field shield and on nine small shields. In the center was the coat of arms described above in the form of a double-headed eagle with a Maltese cross, larger than the rest. The shield with coats of arms is superimposed on the Maltese cross, and under it the sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called again appeared. The supporters, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, support the imperial crown over the knight's helmet and mantle (cloak). The whole composition is placed against the background of a canopy with a dome - the heraldic symbol of sovereignty. Two standards with two-headed and one-headed eagles emerge from behind the shield with coats of arms. This project has not been finalized.
Shortly after accession to the throne, Emperor Alexander I, by decree of April 26, 1801, removed the Maltese cross and crown from the coat of arms of Russia.
First half of the 19th century
The images of the double-headed eagle at that time are very diverse: it could have one and three crowns; in the paws - not only the scepter and orb that have already become traditional, but also a wreath, lightning bolts (peruns), a torch. The wings of an eagle were depicted in different ways - raised, lowered, straightened. To a certain extent, the image of the eagle was influenced by the then European fashion, common to the Empire era.
Under Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich the First, the simultaneous existence of two types of state eagle was officially fixed.
The first type is an eagle with spread wings, under one crown, with the image of St. George on the chest and with a scepter and an orb in its paws. The second type was an eagle with raised wings, on which the title coats of arms were depicted: on the right - Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian, on the left - Polish, Tauride, Finland. For some time, another version also circulated - with the emblems of the three "main" ancient Russian Grand Duchies (Kyiv, Vladimir and Novgorod lands) and three kingdoms - Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberia. An eagle under three crowns, with St. George (as the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Moscow) in a shield on his chest, with a chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, with a scepter and orb in his paws.
Mid 19th century
In the years 1855-1857, during the heraldic reform, the type of the state eagle was changed under the influence of German designs. Then St. George on the chest of an eagle, in accordance with the rules of Western European heraldry, began to look to the left. The drawing of the Small Coat of Arms of Russia, executed by Alexander Fadeev, was approved by the highest on December 8, 1856. This version of the coat of arms differed from the previous ones not only in the image of an eagle, but also in the number of "title" coats of arms on the wings. On the right were shields with the emblems of Kazan, Poland, Tauric Chersonesos and the combined emblem of the Grand Duchies (Kyiv, Vladimir, Novgorod), on the left - shields with the emblems of Astrakhan, Siberia, Georgia, Finland.
On April 11, 1857, the Supreme approval of the entire set of state emblems followed. It included: Large, Medium and Small, coats of arms of members of the imperial family, as well as "titular" coats of arms. At the same time, drawings of the Large, Medium and Small state seals, arks (cases) for seals, as well as seals of the main and lower government places and persons were approved. In total, one act approved one hundred and ten drawings. On May 31, 1857, the Senate published a Decree describing the new emblems and the norms for their use.
Large State Emblem of 1882.
On July 24, 1882, Emperor Alexander III approved the drawing of the Great Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire, on which the composition was preserved, but the details were changed, in particular the figures of the archangels. In addition, the imperial crowns began to be depicted like real diamond crowns used during the coronation.
The final drawing of the Great Emblem of the Empire was approved on November 3, 1882, when the coat of arms of Turkestan was added to the title emblems.
Small State Emblem of 1883
On February 23, 1883, the Middle and two variants of the Small Coat of Arms were approved. In January 1895, the imperial order was given to leave unchanged the drawing of the state eagle, made by Academician A. Charlemagne.
The most recent act - "Basic Provisions of the State Structure of the Russian Empire" of 1906 - confirmed all previous legal provisions relating to the State Emblem.
State Emblem of the Provisional Government
After the February Revolution of 1917, Masonic organizations gained power in Russia, which formed their Provisional Government, including a commission to prepare a new coat of arms of Russia. One of the leading artists in the commission was N. K. Roerich (aka Sergei Makranovsky), a well-known freemason who later decorated the design of the American dollar with Masonic symbols. Masons plucked the coat of arms and deprived it of all sovereign attributes - a crown, a scepter, powers, the wings of an eagle were limply lowered down, which symbolized the obedience of the Russian state to Masonic plans. , adopted in February 1917, was to become the official coat of arms of Russia again. Masons even managed to place the image of their eagle on the obverse of modern Russian coins, where it can be seen to this day. The image of the eagle, the sample of February 1917, continued to be used as official after the October Revolution, until the adoption of the new Soviet coat of arms on July 24, 1918.
State Emblem of the RSFSR 1918-1993
In the summer of 1918, the Soviet government finally decided to break with the historical symbols of Russia, and the new Constitution adopted on July 10, 1918 proclaimed in the state emblem not ancient Byzantine, but political, party symbols: the double-headed eagle was replaced by a red shield, which depicted a crossed hammer and sickle and the rising sun as a sign of change. Since 1920, the abbreviated name of the state - the RSFSR - was placed at the top of the shield. The shield was bordered by ears of wheat, fastened with a red ribbon with the inscription "Proletarians of all countries, unite." Later, this image of the coat of arms was approved in the Constitution of the RSFSR.
60 years later, in the spring of 1978, the military star, which by that time had become part of the coat of arms of the USSR and most of the republics, entered the coat of arms of the RSFSR.
In 1992, the last change in the coat of arms came into force: the abbreviation above the hammer and sickle was replaced by the inscription "Russian Federation". But this decision was hardly implemented, because the Soviet coat of arms with its party symbols no longer corresponded to the political structure of Russia after the collapse of the one-party system of government, the ideology of which it embodied.
State Emblem of the USSR
After the formation of the USSR in 1924, the State Emblem of the USSR was adopted. The historical essence of Russia as a power passed precisely to the USSR, and not to the RSFSR, which played a subordinate role, therefore it is the coat of arms of the USSR that should be considered as the new coat of arms of Russia.
The Constitution of the USSR, adopted by the II Congress of Soviets on January 31, 1924, officially legalized the new coat of arms. At first, he had three turns of a red ribbon on each half of the wreath. On each turn was placed the motto "Proletarians of all countries, unite!" in Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Georgian, Armenian, Turko-Tatar languages. In the mid-1930s, a coil with a motto in Latinized Turkic was added, and the Russian version migrated to the central band.
In 1937, the number of mottos on the coat of arms reached 11. In 1946 - 16. In 1956, after the liquidation of the sixteenth republic within the USSR, Karelian-Finnish, the motto in Finnish was removed from the coat of arms, until the end of the existence of the USSR, 15 ribbons remained on the coat of arms with mottos (one of them - the Russian version - on the central sling).
State Emblem of the Russian Federation 1993.
On November 5, 1990, the Government of the RSFSR adopted a resolution on the creation of the State Emblem and the State Flag of the RSFSR. A government commission was created to organize this work. After a comprehensive discussion, the commission proposed to recommend to the Government a white-blue-red flag and a coat of arms - a golden double-headed eagle on a red field. The final restoration of these symbols took place in 1993, when, by Decrees of President B. Yeltsin, they were approved as the state flag and coat of arms.
On December 8, 2000, the State Duma adopted the Federal Constitutional Law "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation". Which was approved by the Federation Council and signed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on December 20, 2000.
The golden double-headed eagle on a red field retains historical continuity in the colors of the coats of arms of the late 15th-17th centuries. The drawing of the eagle goes back to the images on the monuments of the era of Peter the Great. Three historical crowns of Peter the Great are depicted above the heads of the eagle, symbolizing in the new conditions the sovereignty of both the entire Russian Federation and its parts, subjects of the Federation; in the paws - a scepter and an orb, personifying state power and a single state; on the chest is an image of a horseman slaying a dragon with a spear. This is one of the ancient symbols of the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, the defense of the Fatherland.
The restoration of the double-headed eagle as the State Emblem of Russia embodies the continuity and continuity of Russian history. Today's coat of arms of Russia is a new coat of arms, but its components are deeply traditional; it reflects different stages of national history and continues them in the third millennium.
Russian Civilization
Russian modern coat of arms
Probably, any of us wondered - what means double-headed eagle on the Russian coat of arms What is the history of the origin of the coat of arms?
The modern coat of arms of Russia was finally approved only by Decree of the President of Russia dated November 30, 1993 No. 2050 "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation." It was based on a drawing by the Russian artist Yevgeny Ukhnalev, which depicts a two-headed golden eagle on a red shield, holding a power orb and a scepter in its paws. Above the heads of the eagle are three crowns, on the body is the coat of arms of Moscow - the image of St. George the Victorious, trampling the serpent.
Federal constitutional law of December 25, 2000 No. 2 "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation" slightly changed the appearance of the coat of arms, but it is based on the same drawing.
Where did this coat of arms come from?
For the first time he arose even in the most ancient of the world civilizations - ancient Sumer, and was one of the deities.
However, the ancient Sumerian tradition was lost, and the origins symbol of the modern double-headed eagle date back to ancient Roman times. The eagle was a sacred animal of the Romans, the messenger of the supreme god Jupiter, to notice his flight promised good luck in battles. In the late Roman Republic, the standard of the legions also appeared, in the form of a silver or gold eagle placed on a pole (aquila). Losing aquila was considered the greatest shame, such a legion was disbanded, so the legionnaires preferred to die, but not to give the Eagle to the enemies.
Later, this symbol was transformed into a double-headed eagle in Byzantium, which considered itself the successor of the Roman Empire, and the inhabitants called themselves "Romans" (i.e. Romans).
The double-headed eagle was the coat of arms of one of the last Greek rulers of the era of the end of Byzantium, the Morean despots of the Palaiologos.
The Grand Duke of Moscow Russia, Ivan III, married Sophia Paleolog, the daughter of the Morean ruler, and after that he approved the double-headed eagle as the second symbol of the principality, after the “rider” (a horseman striking a serpent with a spear).
The image of the double-headed eagle finally becomes the coat of arms under the first Russian tsar - Ivan the Terrible. The double-headed eagle at that time was also the coat of arms of the mighty Holy Roman Empire, and thus Grozny showed the claims of Muscovite Russia to become a powerful Eurasian state.
During one of the following Moscow tsars, Alexei Mikhailovich, the eagle appears scepter and orb are symbols of power.
With minor modifications, this is eagle image lasted until the October Revolution and then became the basis of the modern coat of arms of the Russian Federation.
The coat of arms of Russia was approved on November 30, 1993.
Description of the coat of arms
Based on the Regulations on the State Emblem of the Russian Federation, clause 1:
"The State Emblem of the Russian Federation is an image of a golden double-headed eagle placed on a red heraldic shield; above the eagle - three historical crowns of Peter the Great (above the heads - two small ones and above them - one larger one); in the paws of an eagle - a scepter and orb; on the chest of the eagle on a red shield is a horseman slaying a dragon with a spear."
Symbolism
Three crowns mean the sovereignty of the country. The scepter and orb are a symbol of state power and the unity of the state. The author of the most common image of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation is the national artist Ukhnalev Evgeny Ilyich. For the first time, the symbol of the double-headed eagle appeared in the history of Russia in 1497, although it was found on Tver coins even earlier. The double-headed eagle is the symbol of the Byzantine Empire. The borrowing of this symbol, as well as from Serbia, Albania from Byzantium is explained by economic, diplomatic, and cultural proximity. The heraldic shield became red for the reason that the image of an eagle on red belongs to the Byzantine heraldic tradition, and the image of an eagle on yellow is closer to the Roman heraldic tradition (the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire).
Possible variants of the coat of arms
All of the above coats of arms are acceptable for use. Most often, the coat of arms is depicted in full color with a shield, as well as in black and white without a shield (on seals).
The history of the origin of the coat of arms of Russia
Coat of arms of Russia 1497
The process of uniting the disparate principalities began before John III. It was his father - Vasily II Vasilyevich (ruled from 1435 to 1462) who began the process of uniting the Russian lands.
Under John III of Moscow, the principality finally gained strength and subjugated Pskov, Novgorod, Ryazan. Tver during this period significantly weakened as a center for the unification of lands.
During the reign of John III, the traditions of government began to change. All the nobility in the subject lands lost their privileges. It was during the reign of John III that the veche bell of Novgorod was dismantled and brought to Moscow.
John III also built a new diplomatic policy. He took the title "Sovereign of All Russia".
During this period, John III marries the Byzantine queen Sophia (Zinaida) Fominichnaya Paleolog.
"John III wisely adopted for Russia the symbolic coat of arms of the Byzantine Empire: a black double-headed eagle on a yellow field and connected it with the Moscow coat of arms - a rider (St. George) in white clothes on a white horse, striking a snake. The state coat of arms, according to state law, is recognized as a symbol, a visible distinctive sign of the state itself, emblematically depicted on the state seal, on a coin, on a banner, etc. And as such a symbol, the coat of arms of the state expresses the distinctive idea and foundations to implement, which the state considers itself called upon.
Due to the use by Tsar John III of the Byzantine coat of arms together with Moscow on the seals of internal and external state acts that have been preserved since 1497, this year is considered to be the year of the adoption and merging of the coat of arms of the Byzantine Empire with the coat of arms of the Russian kingdom". / E.N. Voronets. Kharkov. 1912. /
Thus, the coat of arms appeared at the time of the emergence of the modern Russian state.
It is definitely impossible to say that the coat of arms appeared in 1497, since the matrices for printing coins served for 5-15 years. On a coin of 1497, a spearman was reflected on one side, and a double-headed eagle on the other. But we can definitely say that this period can be limited from 1490 to 1500.
Theories of the appearance in Russia of the double-headed eagle as an official symbol
There are several points of view on the appearance in Russia (Rus) of images of a double-headed eagle. Firstly, the eagle was originally used on the coins and seals of Tver and Moscow. Secondly, the eagle began to be used at about the same time - approximately the end of the 15th century, together with images of a spearman.
Currently, there are three theories explaining the appearance of a double-headed eagle on the seals of kings.
Byzantine theory
This theory was actively supported by the monarchists of Russia and many historians. In most sources, it remains the only one. According to this theory, the double-headed eagle began to be used after the marriage of John III with the Byzantine queen Sophia (Zinaida) Fominichnaya Paleolog.
This theory is also supported by the fact that the marriage of monarchs coincided with the appearance in Russia of coins combining the image of a spear-bearer on one side and a double-headed eagle on the other.
Symbol borrowing theory in the Holy Roman Empire
In the Holy Roman Empire, until 1440, an ordinary eagle is used. After this period, it changes to a double-headed eagle.
Some historians and heraldists note that in Muscovy the double-headed eagle could have been adopted for use under the influence of the Holy Roman Empire.
Theory of borrowing a symbol in the Balkan countries
The third version of the borrowing of the symbol is the borrowing of the double-headed eagle of a number of Balkan countries: Bulgaria, Serbia.
Each of the theories has its own right to exist.
You can read more about the appearance of the double-headed eagle on the coats of arms of the world in a separate article: the eagle in heraldry.
Since 1539, the influence of the Central European heraldic tradition has been felt in the heraldry of Russia. In accordance with it, the beaks of the eagle are open, the tongue is sticking out. This position of the bird is called: "armed"
During this period, the double-headed eagle is transferred from the reverse of the seal to the obverse. Its significance in the heraldry of Russia is fixed.
On the reverse side, a mythological animal appears for the first time: the unicorn.
From this period, a shield appears on the chest of the double-headed eagle (at first, a baroque heraldic form), on which there is a horseman with a spear, striking a dragon on one side (main) and a unicorn on the shield on the other (reverse side).
This version of the coat of arms differs from the previous one in that there is now one jagged crown above the heads of the eagle, which symbolizes the unity and supremacy of the Moscow prince Ivan IV the Terrible over the Russian lands.
On this seal, on each side, there are emblems of 12 Russian lands (in total, 24 emblems on both sides).
Unicorn on state seals
For the first time, the unicorn as one of the symbols of state power appeared in 1560. The meaning of this symbol is still not clear. It appeared on state seals several more times - during the reign of Boris Godunov, False Dmitry, Mikhail Fedorovichi and Alexei Mikhailovich. After 1646, this symbol was not used.
During the Time of Troubles, the state emblem was brought into line with the European heraldic tradition for a short period of time. The spearman was turned to the left, crowns were again placed above the heads of the eagles. The wings of an eagle began to be depicted straightened.
After the end of the Time of Troubles and the reign of the new Romanov dynasty in Russia, the state seal, coat of arms and other symbols are modified.
The main changes were that, in accordance with the European heraldic tradition, the wings of the eagle are now spread out. In accordance with the Russian emblematic tradition, the spearman is turned to the right. Three crowns finally settled over the heads of the eagle. The beaks of the eagle's heads are open. The scepter and orb are clamped in the paws.
It was during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich that the description of the state emblem first appeared.
"The eastern eagle shines with three crowns:
Faith, Hope, Love for God shows.
Krill extended - embraces all the worlds of the end:
north, south, from east to sunset
covers with outstretched wings"("Slavic Bible" 1663, poetic form of description).
The second description is given in the state normative act: the decree "On the title of the royal and state seal" of December 14, 1667:
"The double-headed eagle is the coat of arms of the sovereign Grand Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of All the Great, and Maly, and White of Russia Self-Jerker, His Royal Majesty of the Russian Kingdom, on which (the coat of arms - ed.) three korunas are depicted, signifying the three great Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian glorious kingdoms, submitting to the God-protected and highest of His Royal Majesty, the Gracious Sovereign, the power and command ... on the Persians (on the chest - ed.) the image of the heir (this is how the rider was interpreted - ed.); in paznoktah (claws - ed. note) a scepter and an apple (orb - ed. note), and reveals the most merciful Sovereign, His Royal Majesty the Autocrat and Possessor".
Coat of arms of Russia during the reign of Peter the Great
Beginning in 1710, the rider on the coat of arms of Russia is increasingly associated with George the Victorious, rather than a simple spear-bearer. Also during the reign of Peter the Great, the crowns on the head of an eagle began to be depicted in the form of imperial crowns. Petal and other crowns were no longer used from this point on.
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Matrix of the state seal of 1712 |
It was under Peter I that the coat of arms took on the following color design: the double-headed eagle became black; beak, eyes, tongue, paws, attributes of golden color; the field became golden; the stricken dragon turned black; George the Victorious was depicted in silver. This color scheme was followed by all subsequent rulers from the Romanov dynasty.
Under Peter the Great, the coat of arms received the first official description. Under the leadership of Count B.Kh. von Minich can also be found at the present time: "The state coat of arms in the old way: a double-headed eagle, black, on the heads of the crown, and at the top in the middle of the large Imperial crown - gold; in the middle of that eagle is George on a white horse, defeating the serpent: epancha (cloak - ed.) and a spear are yellow, the crown (the crown crowning St. George - ed.) is yellow, the serpent is black; the field around (that is, around the double-headed eagle - ed.) is white, and in the middle (that is, under Saint George - ed.) red".
In the 17th century, the state emblem underwent a large number of changes and variants.
Coats of arms of Russia under Paul I
After Peter the Great, the coat of arms of Russia changed significantly under Paul I. It was under this ruler that all variants of the coat of arms of Russia were unified and brought to one form
This year, the Maltese cross appears on the coat of arms of Russia. Russia this year took under the protection of the island of Malta. The following year, Britain captured this island. Pavel ordered to transfer the Order of Malta to Russia. The fact that the Maltese cross remained on the coat of arms of Russia meant its claim to this territory.
Also, under Paul I, the Full Coat of Arms with shield holders appears, made in accordance with the traditions of that time. At this time, the "Manifesto on the full coat of arms of the All-Russian Empire" was prepared. On the large coat of arms there were 43 coats of arms of the lands that were part of it. The archangels Michael and Gabriel became the holders of the shield. The manifesto never came into effect for the reason that the head of state was killed.
Under Alexander I, this type of coat of arms first appeared. It differed from the standard coat of arms. The main difference was that the emblems of dependent territories (Finland, Astrakhan, Kazan, etc.) were not placed on the military coat of arms. The shield on the chest of the eagle had an excellent heraldic form of the French shield. The wings were not raised.
Under the next emperor, Nicholas I, this tradition was consolidated.
This emblem existed during the reign of Nicholas I.
Reform of Koehne (1857)
Köhne Bernhard was born in 1817 in Berlin. In 1844 he was appointed curator of the numismatic department of the Hermitage. In 1857, Koene was appointed to the post of head of the herald department of the department of heraldry.
Under the editorship of Koene, the book "The Armorial of the Russian Empire" (XI-XIII) is published.
It is Bernhard Koehne who organizes the coats of arms of the territories of the Russian Empire. It is believed that it was under the influence of Köhne that the state receives a new state black-yellow-white flag. Although, in fact, Koene used only historical materials that had already been developed (it is worth paying attention to the design of the large full coat of arms of the Russian Empire from 1800; on it, the shield holders support a yellow flag with a black eagle with their free hand).
Koehne, in accordance with the heraldic tradition prevailing at that time, brought all the coats of arms into line. The first coat of arms corrected by Koehne was the coat of arms of the Russian Empire. It was under him that three versions of the coat of arms were formed: large, medium, small.
As mentioned above, under the leadership of Köhne, the artist Alexander Fadeev created a new drawing of the coat of arms.
The main changes in the coat of arms:
- drawing of a double-headed eagle;
- added the number of shields (increased from six to eight) on the wings of an eagle;
- the rider slaying the dragon is now directed heraldically to the right (towards the right wing of the eagle).
A year later, under the leadership of Köhne, the middle and large coats of arms were also prepared.
In this coat of arms, the main elements of the coat of arms of the previous version were left. The color of the crowns has changed - now it has become silver.
On the seal, all the attributes of monarchical affiliation were removed, the shields were removed.
The sketch of the emblem-coat of arms was made by Vladislav Lukomsky, Sergey Troinitsky, Georgy Narbut, Ivan Bilibin.
An interesting fact is that the emblem was used on the reverse of coins issued by the Central Bank of Russia at the end of the 20th century. - early XXI. Many mistakenly consider this emblem to be the state emblem, which is a delusion.
Common misconceptions about the coat of arms of Russia
The coat of arms of Moscow is not placed on the chest of the eagle, although the elements are very similar to the coat of arms of Moscow. No less important is the fact that the rider of the state emblem is not an image of St. George. On the coat of arms of Moscow there is a rider "jumping", and on the state emblem - "riding". On the coat of arms of Moscow, the rider has a headdress. On the coat of arms of Russia, the dragon is defeated (lying on its back), and on the city coat of arms, the dragon stands on four legs.
Use of coat of arms on facades
Sources
- Coats of arms of cities, provinces, regions and towns of the Russian Empire, included in the complete collection of laws from 1649 to 1900 / compiled. P. P. fon-Winkler;
- "How did the black, yellow and white colors of Russian heraldic symbolism come about and what do they mean" E.N. Voronets. Kharkiv. 1912
- Manifesto of Emperor Paul I on the full coat of arms of the All-Russian Empire. Approved December 16, 1800;
- Website of the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation;
- Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 30, 1993 N 2050 (as amended on September 25, 1999);
- Decree "On the title of the royal and state seal" of December 14, 1667.
- "Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron".
- Some of the photos were provided by Oransky A.V. and prohibited from copying.
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