The Russian coat of arms is not just a drawing. Him rich story and each element carries a hidden meaning.

The official symbol of any country is its coat of arms. Any coat of arms, as a rule, has its own long and interesting story. Each symbol of the coat of arms has a strictly defined meaning. The coat of arms can depict the main type of activity of the country, an important historical event, animal or bird. In general, anything that is important for the people and the state.

In addition to the coat of arms, any country also has a flag and an anthem. This article is devoted to the coat of arms of the Russian Federation. But if you are interested in learning, for example, about the flag of the Russian Federation, then we recommend that you refer to.

What does the State Emblem of the Russian Federation look like: photo

So, the state emblem of the Russian Federation is an image of a double-headed eagle, on each of the heads there is one small royal crown. A crown bigger size tops both heads. The eagle holds a scepter in one paw and an orb in the other. These are symbols of power from the time tsarist Russia. On the chest of the eagle is placed the coat of arms of the capital of Russia - the city of Moscow. On it, George the Victorious kills a snake with a spear.

Now the coat of arms of the Russian Federation looks like this

It is noteworthy that each city of the Russian Federation has its own coat of arms, which is chosen by popular vote!

It is worth saying that the coat of arms of the Russian Federation was far from always exactly the way we know it now. Over the last 100 s extra years There have been several upheavals in Russia. The power changed, the name of the country changed, the emblem and flag changed accordingly. The modern coat of arms has existed only since 1993. In 2000, the description of the coat of arms changed, but the coat of arms itself remained the same.



The coat of arms of the RSFSR looked like this

The photo below shows how the coat of arms of the RSFSR differed from the coat of arms of the USSR.



The row of the Russian Empire, approved in 1882, is more like a whole composition. Archangel Michael is depicted on the left, Archangel Gabriel is depicted on the right. The small coat of arms inside, crowned with the coats of arms of the principalities, is the progenitor of the modern Russian coat of arms, only in black.



Full coat of arms of the Russian Empire

Small coat of arms of the Russian Empire

And before Russia became an empire, the Russian state had its own flag. It is very similar to the small coat of arms of the Russian Empire, but not as well detailed.

Depending on the ruler and the general situation in the country, the coat of arms changed. There were at least three versions of the Russian coat of arms until 1882. But in general, they all represent the processing of the same image.





option 2

The history of the Russian coat of arms: a description for children

The history of the coat of arms of Russia begins since the Middle Ages. There was never a coat of arms in Rus'; images of saints and an Orthodox cross were used instead.

This is interesting! The image of an eagle on coats of arms was relevant in Ancient Rome, and before him in the ancient Hittite kingdom. The eagle was considered a symbol of the highest power.

So in what way double-headed eagle moved to coat of arms Russian state? There is an opinion that the symbol came from Byzantium, but there are speculations that the image of the eagle may have been borrowed from European states.

The coat of arms with an eagle in different variations is in many countries. An example is in the photo below.



This is the coat of arms used in Armenia, similar coats of arms are approved in many countries

The coat of arms was approved only in the 16th century. No one will name the exact date right now. The coat of arms changed with each new ruler. Elements were added or removed by the following rulers:

  • 1584 1587 - Fedor Ivanovich "Blessed" (son of Ivan IX the Terrible) - an Orthodox cross appeared between the crowns of the eagle
  • 1613 - 1645 - Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov - the image on the chest of the eagle of the Moscow coat of arms, the third crown
  • 1791 - 1801 - Paul the First - the image of the cross and the crown of the Order of Malta
  • 1801 - 1825 - Alexander the First - the abolition of the Maltese symbols and the third crown, instead of the scepter and orb - a wreath, torch, lightning
  • 1855 - 1857 - Alexander II - redrawing of the double-headed eagle (reworking), approval of three crowns, power, scepter, in the center - a horseman in armor killing a snake.

Without changes, the coat of arms of the Russian Empire was valid until 1917. After the coup, the new government approved a simpler, "proletarian" coat of arms - a sickle and a hammer.



It looked like the coat of arms of the USSR on the coins

And after the collapse of the USSR and the reorganization of the USSR into the RSFSR, the coat of arms was slightly redesigned (the photo is already in the article). Then the coat of arms was returned, reminiscent of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire, but in a different color scheme. It was in 1993.

What is depicted on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation: description and meaning of the symbolism of each element of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation

Each component of the coat of arms has a specific meaning:

  • heraldic shield (the same red background) - the main element of the coat of arms of any state
  • the double-headed eagle is a symbol of supreme power and the bilateral policy of the Russian state
  • crowns - high dignity, sovereignty of the state, national wealth
  • scepter and orb - symbols of power
  • a rider on a horse killing a snake - according to one version, this is St. George the Victorious, according to another, Tsar Ivan III. Precise definition it is difficult to give, perhaps this is an appeal to the memory of ancestors, the embodiment of a legend, or just an image made to order by Ivan III.


How many colors are on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation?

There are several colors on the Russian coat of arms. Each color has a special meaning. For example:

  • red is the color of courage, bravery, spilled blood.
  • golden - wealth
  • blue - sky, freedom
  • white - purity
  • black (at the snake) - a symbol of evil

So it turns out that three colors out of five are available both on the coat of arms of Russia and on the flag. For the country, the meaning of these flowers has always been very important, because it is courage, purity and freedom that have always been the driving force in the soul of a Russian person.

Video: Coat of arms of Russia (documentary)

This is a special emblem, made in accordance with heraldic canons.

It is an interconnected system of images and colors, which carries the idea of ​​the integrity of the state and is inextricably linked with its history, traditions and mentality.

The appearance of this official sign is enshrined in the Constitution.

Brief description and meaning of the symbols of the coat of arms of Russia

This sign of state distinction is a red heraldic shield, in the middle of which is a golden double-headed eagle. In the left clawed paw, the bird holds an orb, and in the right - a scepter.

On each of the heads is a crown, and at the top is another, larger one. All three royal attire are connected by a gold ribbon.

In the center of the shield, on the chest of the eagle, there is another red cloth. On it is a plot familiar to every Russian person: George the Victorious kills a snake.

There are many icons and paintings illustrating this legend. This is the most recognizable image of the saint. On the emblem, he is represented as a silver rider on a silver horse, dressed in a blue cloak. A monster under the hooves of a black horse.

How did they form and what do the symbols on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation mean?

Today, heraldry is an ancillary industry historical science. Emblems of countries, along with annals and chronicles, are the most important historical evidence.

In Western Europe during the days of chivalry, every noble family had a symbol inherited from generation to generation. He was present on the banners and was an insignia by which she recognized the representative of the family both on the battlefield and at the feast. In our country, this tradition has not been developed. Russian wars carried with them embroidered images of the great martyrs, Christ or the Mother of God into battle. The Russian heraldic sign originates from princely seals.

What do the main elements of the Russian coat of arms mean: George the Victorious


The princely seals had the patron saints of the rulers and an inscription indicating who owns the symbol of power. Later, a symbolic image of the head began to appear on them and on coins. Usually it was a horseman holding some kind of weapon in his hand. It could be a bow, sword or spear.

Initially, the “rider” (as this image was called) was not only familiar to the Moscow principality, but after the unification of the lands around the new capital in the 15th century, it became an official attribute of the Moscow sovereigns. He replaced the lion who defeats the snake.

What is depicted on the state emblem of Russia: a double-headed eagle

It should be noted that this is a popular symbol that is used as the main one not only by the Russian Federation, but also by Albania, Serbia, Montenegro. The history of the appearance of one of the main elements of our emblem goes back to the time of the Sumerians. There it ancient kingdom he personified God.

Since antiquity, the eagle has been considered a solar symbol associated with the spiritual principle, liberation from bonds. This element of the coat of arms of Russia means courage, pride, the desire for victory, royal origin and greatness of the country. In the Middle Ages, it was a symbol of baptism and rebirth, as well as Christ in his ascension.

In ancient Rome, the image of a black eagle was used, which had one head. Such a bird was brought as a generic image by Sophia Paleolog, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine, whom the grandfather of Ivan the Terrible, Ivan III, known as Kalita, married. In Russia, the history of the famous double-headed eagle dates back to the period of his reign. Together with his marriage, he received the right to this symbol as a state emblem. It confirmed that our country had become the heir of Byzantium and began to claim the right to be a world Orthodox power. Ivan III received the title of Tsar of All Rus', the ruler of the entire Orthodox East.

But at the time of Ivan III, the official emblem in the traditional sense still did not exist. The bird was emblazoned on the royal seal. It was very different from the modern one and looked more like a chick. This is symbolic, since Rus' at that time was a young, fledgling country. The wings and beak of the eagle were closed, the feathers smoothed.

After defeating Tatar-Mongol yoke and the liberation of the country from centuries of oppression, the wings open wide, emphasizing the might and power of the Russian state. Under Vasily Ioanovich, the beak also opens, emphasizing the strengthening of the country's position. At the same time, the eagle developed tongues, which became a sign that the country could stand up for itself. It was at this moment that the monk Philotheus put forward a theory about Moscow as the third Rome. Spread wings appeared much later, in the early years of the Romanov dynasty. They showed the neighboring hostile states that Russia was awakened and awakened from sleep.

The double-headed eagle also featured on state seal Ivan the Terrible. There were two of them, a small one and a large one. The first was attached to the decree. It had a rider on one side and a bird on the other. The king replaced the abstract rider with a specific saint. George the Victorious was considered the patron saint of Moscow. Finally, this interpretation will be fixed under Peter I. The second seal was applied and made it necessary to combine two state symbols into one.

So a double-headed eagle appeared with a warrior on a horse depicted on his chest. Sometimes the rider was replaced by a unicorn, as a personal sign of the king. It was also an Orthodox symbol taken from the Psalter, like any heraldic sign. Like the hero defeating the snake, the unicorn meant the victory of good over evil, the military prowess of the ruler and the righteous power of the state. In addition, this is an image of monastic life, striving for monasticism and solitude. This is probably why Ivan the Terrible highly valued this symbol and used it on a par with the traditional "rider".

What do the elements of the images on the coat of arms of Russia mean: three crowns

One of them also appears under Ivan IV. She was on top and was decorated with an eight-pointed cross, as a symbol of faith. The cross appeared before, between the heads of the bird.

During the time of Fyodor Ioanovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible, who was a very religious ruler, it was a symbol of the passion of Christ. Traditionally, the image of a cross on the coat of arms of Russia symbolizes the country's gaining ecclesiastical independence, which coincided with the reign of this tsar and the establishment of the patriarchate in Rus' in 1589. IN different times the number of crowns changed.

Under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, there were three of them, the ruler explained this by the fact that then the state absorbed three kingdoms: Siberian, Kazan and Astrakhan. The appearance of the three crowns was also associated with Orthodox tradition, and was interpreted as a sign of the holy trinity.

IN currently it is known that this symbolism on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation means the unity of the three levels of power (state, municipal and regional), or its three branches (legislative, executive and judicial).

Another version suggests that the three crowns mean the brotherhood of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. The ribbon of the crown was fastened as early as 2000.

What does the coat of arms of the Russian Federation mean: scepter and orb

They were added at the same time as the crown. In earlier versions, the bird could hold a torch, Laurel wreath and even lightning.

Currently, the eagle, which holds a sword and a wreath, is on the banner. The attributes that appeared on the image personified autocracy, absolute monarchy but also pointed to the independence of the state. After the revolution of 1917, these elements, like the crowns, were removed. The provisional government considered them a relic of the past.

Seventeen years ago, they were returned and now adorn the modern state insignia. Scientists agree that in modern conditions this symbolism of the coat of arms of Russia means state power and the unity of the state.

What did the coat of arms of the Russian Empire mean under Peter I

After coming to power, the first Russian emperor decided that the double-headed eagle should not only decorate certain official papers, but also become a full-fledged symbol of the country. He decided that the bird should become black, like the one that was on the banners of the Holy Roman Empire, of which Byzantium was the heir.

Signs of local large principalities and kingdoms that are part of the country were painted on the wings. For example, Kyiv, Novgorod, Kazan. One head looked to the West, the other to the East. The headdress was a large imperial crown, which replaced the royal one and hinted at the specifics of the established power. Russia asserted its independence and freedom in rights. Peter I chose this type of crown a few years before he proclaimed the country an Empire, and himself an emperor.

The order of St. Andrew the First-Called appeared on the chest of the bird.

Until Nicholas I, the official emblem of the country retained the form established by Peter I, undergoing only minor changes.

The meaning of the colors on the coat of arms of Russia

Color, as the brightest and simplest sign, is an important part of any symbolism, including the state.

In 2000, it was decided to return the golden color to the eagle. It is a symbol of power, justice, wealth of the country, as well as the Orthodox faith and Christian virtues such as humility and mercy. The return to the golden color emphasizes the continuity of traditions, the preservation of historical memory by the state.

The abundance of silver (cloak, spear, horse of George the Victorious) indicates purity and nobility, the desire to fight for a righteous cause and truth at any cost.

The red color of the shield speaks of the blood that was shed by the people in the defense of their land. It is a sign of courage and love not only for the Motherland, but also for each other, it emphasizes that many fraternal peoples peacefully coexist in Russia.

The snake that the rider kills is painted black. Heraldry experts agree that this symbol on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation means the constancy of the country in trials, as well as the memory and sorrow for the dead.

The meaning of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation

The drawing of the modern state symbol was made by St. Petersburg artist Evgeny Ukhnalev. He left the traditional elements, but created a new image. The fact that the signs of different eras were included in the final version emphasizes the long history of the country. The type of this personification state power strictly regulated and described in relevant laws.

The shield is a symbol of the protection of the earth. At the moment, the meaning of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation is interpreted as a fusion of conservatism and progress. Three rows of feathers on the bird's wings refer to the unity of Kindness, Beauty and Truth. The scepter became a sign of state sovereignty. It is interesting that it is decorated with the same double-headed eagle, squeezing the same scepter and so on ad infinitum.

Briefly, we can say that the coat of arms of Russia symbolizes eternity, means the unity of all the peoples of the Russian Federation. The state acts as an emblem of power and integrity.

We hope our article has helped you to penetrate the secrets of state symbols. If you are interested in the history of not only your country, but your family, then you should learn it.

Our specialists have access to rare archival documents, which allows:

  • Verify the authenticity of the data.
  • Organize the received information.
  • Make a genealogical tree.
  • Help with family tree.

If you want to know who your ancestors were, what they did and how they lived, please contact " Russian House Genealogy".

Almost every country in the world has its own coat of arms. Depending on the basis on which the state arose, its history can either be calculated for centuries or completely absent, and the symbol of the state itself can only be a more or less modern creation that takes into account the current political situation in the country and the peculiarities of its emergence. The eagle on the coat of arms of Russia appeared a very long time ago, and although the long time of existence Soviet Union such a symbol was not used, now the situation has changed, and he has again returned to his rightful place.

Coat of arms history

In fact, the eagle appeared on the coats of arms of many princes long before becoming the official symbol of the state. Officially, it is believed that in the version that is as similar as possible to the modern one, the coat of arms first began to appear around the time of Ivan the Terrible. Prior to this, the same symbol was present in the Byzantine Empire, which was considered the Second Rome. The double-headed eagle on the coat of arms of Russia is intended to show that it is the direct successor of Byzantium and the Third Rome. In different periods, up to the appearance of the large coat of arms of the Russian Empire, this symbol constantly changed and acquired various elements. The result was the most complex coat of arms in the world, which existed until 1917. Historically, the flag of Russia with the coat of arms has been used in many situations, from the personal standard of the sovereign to the designation of state campaigns.

The meaning of the coat of arms

The main element is a double-headed eagle, which is intended to symbolize the orientation of Russia both to the West and to the East, while it is understood that the country itself is neither West nor East and combines them best qualities. Located in the middle of the coat of arms, a rider on a horse who kills a snake has a rather ancient history. Almost all ancient princes in Rus' used similar images on their symbols. At the same time, it was implied that the horseman himself is the prince. Only later, already in the time of Peter the Great, it was decided that the horseman was St. George the Victorious.

An interesting fact is that on some coats of arms of the ancient princes images of foot soldiers were also used, and the direction in which the rider is located also changed. For example, on the coat of arms of False Dmitry, the horseman is turned to the right, which is more in line with the traditional symbolism of the West, while earlier he was turned to the left. Three crowns, which are located on top of the coat of arms, did not appear immediately. In different periods of time, there were from one to three crowns, and only the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was the first to give an explanation - the crowns symbolized three kingdoms: Siberian, Astrakhan and Kazan. Later, the crowns were recognized as symbols of the independence of the state. This is a sad and interesting moment. In 1917, by decree of the provisional government, the coat of arms of Russia was once again changed. Crowns were removed from it, which were considered symbols of tsarism, but from the point of view of the science of heraldry, the state independently abandoned its own independence.

The orb and scepter, which the double-headed eagle holds in its paws, traditionally symbolize a single power and state power (and they were also removed in 1917). Despite the fact that traditionally the eagle was depicted in gold on a red background, during the time of the Russian Empire, without thinking twice, they took the colors traditional not for our state, but for Germany, because the eagle turned out to be black and on a yellow background. Eagle gold symbolizes wealth, prosperity, grace, and so on. The red color of the background symbolized in ancient times the color of sacrificial love, in a more modern interpretation - the color of courage, courage, love and blood that was shed during the battles for the homeland. The flag of Russia with the coat of arms is also sometimes used.

Coats of arms of Russian cities

In most cases, coats of arms do not exist in cities, but in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. However, there are some exceptions, for example: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol. They bear little resemblance to the official coat of arms of Russia. All of them are considered cities of federal significance and have the right to their own coat of arms. In Moscow, this is a rider on a horse, slaying a snake, similar to the one located on the state symbols, but still somewhat different. Existing on this moment the image is as close as possible to the one that existed in Moscow and its princes back in the days of Ancient Rus'.

St. Petersburg's coat of arms is much more complex. It was approved back in 1730 and relatively recently returned to exactly the state in which it was originally accepted. The emblem of the Vatican served as the prototype of this symbol. The scepter with the state eagle and the crown symbolize that this city for a long time was the capital of the Russian Empire. Two crossed anchors indicate that St. Petersburg is both a sea and a river port, and the red background symbolizes the blood shed during the war with Sweden.

Coat of arms of the USSR

After the emergence of the USSR, the standard version of the coat of arms with a double-headed eagle was abandoned, and from 1918 to 1993 a different symbol was used, which was gradually refined and modified. At the same time, many coats of arms of Russian cities were significantly altered or even completely changed. The main colors are red and gold, traditions in this regard were observed, but everything else has changed dramatically. In the center, against the background of the sun's rays, a crossed hammer and sickle are depicted, at the top - a red star (it was not in the first variations of the coat of arms). On the sides are ears of wheat, and below the symbol on a red background is written in black letters "Proletarians of all countries, unite!". In this version, the coat of arms of Russia, or rather the Soviet Union, was used for a very long time, until the collapse and is still used in one form or another by various communist parties.

The modern coat of arms of the Russian Federation

In the version in which the coat of arms of Russia exists at the moment, it was adopted in 1993. Symbolism and general meaning remained approximately the same as long before the emergence of the USSR, the only thing is that the blood shed during the wars was added to the interpretation of the red color.

Results

In general, the coat of arms of Russia has a very long history, and specific reasons for the use of just such symbols were thought up rather upon the fact of application. The reasons why they were chosen by some ancient ruler is unlikely to ever be established for certain.

the site recalls the history of the appearance of the double-headed eagle, how it has changed and in what form it has reached the present day.

West and East

National emblem Russia is an ancient symbol of our statehood. The eagle is present on the emblems of many states, but the two-headed eagle is preserved on only a few: Russian, Serbian and Albanian. For the first time, such a symbol appeared in the XIII century BC and later appeared on many emblems.

The question of where the image of the double-headed eagle came from in Rus' is still debatable. Even in the "History of the Russian State" Nikolai Karamzin drew attention to this fact. He suggested that for the first time such a coat of arms appeared in Russia in the 15th century, when Tsar Ivan III married the niece of the Byzantine emperor. Wishing to emphasize kinship with the rulers strong state, the king ordered to depict on reverse side the princely seal of the double-headed eagle, the coat of arms of Byzantium.

There are other versions of the origin of the coat of arms: according to one, Ivan III just wanted to get closer to the countries Western Europe, where at that time a similar symbol was actively used. On the other hand, to improve relations with those close to the South Slavic states, such as Serbia or Montenegro.

One way or another, since the 15th century, this symbol has been firmly entrenched on Russian emblems.

During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the image of George the Victorious began to be placed on the chest of the eagle. In the 17th century, a scepter and an orb appeared in the paws of a bird. They symbolized the unity and integrity of the empire, the protection of sovereignty.

Double-headed eagle on the coat of arms of Ivan III Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Later, three crowns appeared: two on the heads of an eagle, the third large one on top in the middle. They meant the Holy Trinity, although later they were also interpreted as a symbol of the unity of the Great Russians, Little Russians and Belarusians.

A great contribution to Russian heraldry was made by Peter I, who gave the Russian state the title of empire. He ordered that the chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called be added to the coat of arms. Then the eagle turned from gold to black, and the background on which it was located was yellow.

The right wing was decorated with shields with the emblems of Kyiv, Novgorod and Astrakhan, and the left - with Vladimir, Kazan and the Siberian kingdom.

After the adoption of the title of emperor by Peter I, the royal crowns were replaced on the coat of arms with imperial ones.

The double-headed eagle has become a symbol of the inseparability of European and Asian Russia, united under one imperial crown: one crowned head looks to the West, the other to the East.

Return of the Eagle

Alexander II brought the image of the coat of arms in line with the rules of international heraldry. After all, neither under Peter, nor under the following Russian emperors, not a single official document, approving the image of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire. Therefore, the kings often experimented in the field of state heraldry. For example, under Alexander I, the eagle lowered its wings down.

Small coat of arms of 1857. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

On April 11, 1857, the Large, Medium and Small coats of arms, drawn up by the artist Boris Vasilyevich Kene, were approved. The large state emblem has become one of the most complex coats of arms in the history of the states of the world. His description alone takes up several pages of text. Several inaccuracies were made by the author during creation. For example, the Muscovite horseman, who strikes a snake with a spear, was turned to the right, although before that he had always been turned to the left.

In 1993, the double-headed eagle again became a symbol of the eternity of Russian statehood, its continuity with the great empires of antiquity. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

In this form, the coat of arms of Russia remained unchanged until October revolution 1917. In the USSR, a new coat of arms appeared, which looked completely different. He represented the image of the hammer and sickle against the background the globe in the rays of the sun and framed by ears of corn. On them was the inscription "Proletarians of all countries, unite", written in all languages ​​of the Union republics. Later, a five-pointed star was located in the upper part of the coat of arms. The Soviet coat of arms took its final form in 1978.

Only in 1993 did the double-headed eagle return to the coat of arms of the Russian state. He again became a symbol of the eternity of Russian statehood, its continuity with the great empires of antiquity.

It was approved in 1993 by decree of the country's first president, Boris Yeltsin. However, the symbols that are depicted on the coat of arms of Russia have a much longer history, rooted in the period of the formation of the Moscow principality. The coat of arms of the Russian Federation depicts a double-headed eagle spreading its wings. What does it symbolize on the coat of arms of Russia?

Any state emblem is not only an image on banknotes, documents and chevrons of the police. First of all, the coat of arms is a national symbol designed to unite people living in a given territory.

What does the national emblem mean? Russian Federation? When did he appear? Was there a coat of arms medieval Rus' similar to modern? Why does the Russian eagle have two heads?

The history of the coat of arms of Russia is rich and interesting, but before talking about it, one should give a description of this national symbol.

Description of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation

The emblem of the Russian Federation is a red heraldic shield with the image of a golden double-headed eagle spreading its wings.

Each head of the eagle is crowned with a crown, in addition, there is another larger crown above them. The three crowns are connected by a golden ribbon. The double-headed eagle holds a scepter in its right paw, and an orb in its left paw. On the chest of the double-headed eagle there is another red shield depicting a rider slaying a dragon with a silver spear.

As it should be according to heraldic laws, each of the elements of the Russian coat of arms has its own meaning. The double-headed eagle is a symbol Byzantine Empire, its image on the Russian coat of arms emphasizes the continuity between the two countries, their cultures and religious beliefs. It should be noted that the double-headed eagle is used in the state emblems of Serbia and Albania - in countries whose state traditions were also strongly influenced by Byzantium.

Three crowns in the coat of arms signify the sovereignty of the Russian state. Initially, the crowns meant three kingdoms conquered by the Moscow princes: Siberian, Kazan and Astrakhan. The scepter and orb in the paws of an eagle are symbols of the supreme state power (prince, king, emperor).

The horseman slaying the dragon (serpent) is nothing but the image of St. George the Victorious, a symbol of the bright principle that conquers evil. He personifies the warrior-defender of the Motherland and has been very popular in Russia throughout its history. No wonder George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of Moscow and is depicted on its coat of arms.

The image of a rider is traditional for the Russian state. This symbol (the so-called rider) was in use back in Kievan Rus, he was present on the princely seals and coins.

Initially, the rider was considered an image of the sovereign, but during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the tsar on the coat of arms was replaced by St. George.

History of the coat of arms of Russia

The central element of the Russian coat of arms is a double-headed eagle; this symbol first appeared during the reign of Ivan III, at the end of the 15th century (1497). The double-headed eagle was depicted on one of the royal seals.

Prior to this, seals most often depicted a lion tormenting a snake. The lion was considered a symbol of the Vladimir principality and passed from Prince Vasily II to his son Ivan III. Around the same time, widespread state symbol becomes a rider (later he will turn into George the Victorious). For the first time, the double-headed eagle as a symbol of princely power was used on the seal, which was sealed with a letter of ownership. land plots. Also in the reign of Ivan III, the eagle appears on the walls of the Faceted Chamber of the Kremlin.

Why it was during this period that the Moscow tsars began to use the double-headed eagle is still a matter of controversy among historians. The canonical version is that Ivan III took this symbol for himself because he married the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Sophia Palaiologos. In fact, for the first time this theory was put forward by Karamzin. However, it raises serious doubts.

Sophia was born in Morea - the outskirts of the Byzantine Empire and was never close to Constantinople, the eagle first appeared in the Moscow principality several decades after the marriage of Ivan and Sophia, and the prince himself never declared any claims to the throne of Byzantium.

The theory of Moscow as the “Third Rome” was born much later, after the death of Ivan III. There is another version of the origin of the double-headed eagle: having chosen such a symbol, the Moscow princes wanted to challenge the rights to it from the strongest empire of that time - the Habsburg Empire.

There is an opinion that the Moscow princes borrowed the eagle from the South Slavic peoples, who quite actively used this image. However, traces of such borrowing have not been found. And the appearance of the Russian "bird" is very different from its South Slavic counterparts.

In general, why a double-headed eagle appeared on the Russian coat of arms, historians still do not know exactly. It should be noted that around the same time, a single-headed eagle was depicted on the coins of the Novgorod Principality.

The double-headed eagle becomes the official state emblem under the grandson of Ivan III - Ivan the Terrible. Initially, the eagle is complemented by a unicorn, but soon it is replaced by a horseman slaying a dragon, a symbol usually associated with Moscow. Initially, the rider was perceived as a sovereign (“great prince on horseback”), but already during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, they begin to call him George the Victorious. Finally, this interpretation will be fixed much later, in the reign of Peter the Great.

Already during the reign of Boris Godunov, the coat of arms of Russia for the first time receives three crowns located above the heads of an eagle. They meant the conquered Siberian, Kazan and Astrakhan kingdoms.

From about the middle of the 16th century, the Russian double-headed eagle is often drawn in the “armed” position: at the same time, the beak of the bird is open, the tongue is stuck out. Such a double-headed eagle seems aggressive, ready to attack. This change is the result of the influence of European heraldic traditions.

IN late XVI- the beginning of the 17th century, in the upper part of the coat of arms, between the heads of the eagle, the so-called Calvary cross often appears. Such innovation coincides with the moment when Russia gained ecclesiastical independence. Another version of the emblem of that period is the image of an eagle with two crowns and an eight-pointed Christian cross between its heads.

By the way, all three False Dmitrys during the Time of Troubles actively used seals depicting the Russian coat of arms.

The end of the Time of Troubles and the accession of the new Romanov dynasty led to some changes in the state emblem. According to the then heraldic tradition, the eagle began to be depicted with spread wings.

In the middle of the 17th century, during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, the State Emblem of Russia for the first time receives an orb and a scepter, the eagle holds them in its paws. These are traditional symbols of autocratic power. At the same time, the first official descriptions of the coat of arms appeared, they have survived to this day.

During the reign of Peter I, the crowns over the heads of the eagle acquire the well-known "imperial" look, in addition, the coat of arms of Russia changes its color design. The body of the eagle became black, and its eyes, beak, tongue and paws were golden. The dragon also began to be depicted in black, and George the Victorious - in silver. This design has become traditional for the entire period of the Romanov dynasty.

The coat of arms of Russia underwent relatively serious changes during the reign of Emperor Paul I. This was the beginning of the era of the Napoleonic Wars, in 1799 Britain captured Malta, whose patron was the Russian emperor. Such an act of the British infuriated the Russian emperor and pushed him to an alliance with Napoleon (which later cost him his life). It is for this reason that the coat of arms of Russia received another element - the Maltese cross. Its significance was that the Russian state claims this territory.

During the reign of Paul I, a draft of the Great Coat of Arms of Russia was prepared. It was made entirely in accordance with the heraldic traditions of its time. Around the state emblem with a double-headed eagle, the emblems of all 43 lands that were part of Russia were collected. The shield with coats of arms was held by two archangels: Michael and Gabriel.

However, soon Paul I was killed by conspirators and the large coat of arms of Russia remained in the projects.

Nicholas I adopted two main versions of the state emblem: full and simplified. Prior to this, the coat of arms of Russia could be depicted in different versions.

Under his son, Emperor Alexander II, a heraldic reform was carried out. Heraldmeister Baron Köhne was engaged in it. In 1856, a new small Russian coat of arms. In 1857, the reform was finally completed: in addition to the small one, the medium and large emblems of the Russian Empire were also adopted. They remained virtually unchanged until the events February Revolution.

After the February Revolution, the question arose of a new coat of arms of the Russian state. To solve it, a group of the best Russian heraldry experts was assembled. However, the question of the coat of arms was rather political, so they recommended that, until the convocation of the Constituent Assembly (where they were supposed to adopt a new coat of arms), the use of a double-headed eagle, but without imperial crowns and St. George the Victorious, was recommended.

However, six months later, another revolution happened, and the Bolsheviks took up the development of a new coat of arms for Russia.

In 1918, the Constitution of the RSFSR was adopted, and along with it, a draft of a new coat of arms of the republic was approved. In 1920, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee adopted a version of the coat of arms, drawn by the artist Andreev. The coat of arms of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic was finally adopted at the All-Russian Congress in 1925. The coat of arms of the RSFSR was used until 1992.

The current state emblem of Russia is sometimes criticized for the abundance of monarchical symbols, which are not very appropriate for a presidential republic. In 2000, a law was passed that establishes an accurate description of the coat of arms and regulates the procedure for its use.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.