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

It represents 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 state insignia is a red heraldic shield, in the middle of which there is a golden double-headed eagle. The bird holds an orb in its left clawed paw, and a scepter in its right.

On each of the heads there is a crown, and on top there is another one, bigger size. All three royal decorations are connected by a gold ribbon.

In the center of the shield, on the eagle’s chest, there is another red cloth. It depicts a plot familiar to every Russian: St. 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, wearing a blue cloak. A monster under the hooves of a black horse.

How were the symbols on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation formed and what do they mean?

Today, heraldry is an auxiliary branch of historical science. The emblems of countries, along with annals and chronicles, represent the most important historical evidence.

IN Western Europe During the times of chivalry, every noble family had a symbol that was inherited from generation to generation. It was present on the banners and was an insignia by which a representative of the clan was recognized both on the battlefield and at the feast. In our country, this tradition has not been developed. Russian soldiers carried embroidered images of the great martyrs, Christ or the Virgin Mary into battle. The Russian heraldic sign originates from princely seals.

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

On the princely seals there were the patron saints of the rulers and an inscription indicating who owned 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 a sign only of the Moscow principality, but after the unification of 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, which is used as the main one not only by the Russian Federation, but also by Albania, Serbia, and Montenegro. The history of the appearance of one of the main elements of our emblem goes back to the times of the Sumerians. There this ancient kingdom he personified God.

Since antiquity, the eagle has been considered a solar symbol associated with the spiritual principle and liberation from bonds. This element of the Russian coat of arms means courage, pride, desire for victory, royal origin and the greatness of the country. In the Middle Ages it was a symbol of baptism and rebirth, as well as of 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 family image by Sophia Paleologus, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine, whom Ivan the Terrible’s grandfather, Ivan III, known as Kalita, married. In Russia, the history of the famous double-headed eagle begins during 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', ruler of the entire Orthodox East.

But during the time of Ivan III, the official emblem in the traditional sense still did not exist. The bird was featured 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 eagle's wings and beak were closed, the feathers smoothed.

After the victory over the Tatar-Mongol yoke and the liberation of the country from centuries-old oppression, the wings flutter open, emphasizing the power and might 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 puts forward a theory about Moscow as the third Rome. Spreading wings appeared much later, in the early years of the Romanov dynasty. They showed neighboring hostile states that Russia had perked up and rose from sleep.

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

This is how a double-headed eagle appeared with a warrior on a horse depicted on its 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 signified the victory of good over evil, the military valor of the ruler and the righteous strength of the state. In addition, this is an image of monastic life, the desire for monasticism and solitude. This is probably why Ivan the Terrible highly valued this symbol and used it along 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. It was on top and was decorated with an eight-pointed cross as a symbol of faith. The cross has appeared before, between the heads of birds.

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 acquisition of ecclesiastical independence, which coincided with the reign of this tsar and the establishment of the patriarchate in Rus' in 1589. The number of crowns varied at different times.

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 three crowns was also associated with the Orthodox tradition, and was interpreted as a sign of the Holy Trinity.

It is currently known that this symbolism on the coat of arms Russian Federation means the unity of three levels of government (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 crowns were secured with ribbon already in 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, a laurel wreath, and even a lightning bolt.

Currently, an eagle holding a sword and a wreath is on the banner. The attributes that appeared in the image personified autocracy, absolute monarchy, but also indicated the independence of the state. After the 1917 revolution, 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 just 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.

On the wings were painted the signs of large local principalities and kingdoms that were part of the country. 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 of rights. Peter I chose this type of crown several years before he proclaimed the country an Empire and himself emperor.

The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called appeared on the bird's chest.

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 state symbols.

In 2000, it was decided to return the eagle to its golden color. It is a symbol of power, justice, the 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 and the state’s preservation of historical memory.

The abundance of silver (cloak, spear, horse of St. 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 defense of their land. It is a sign of courage and love not only for the Motherland, but also for each other, and emphasizes that many fraternal peoples coexist peacefully 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 country’s constancy in trials, as well as memory and grief 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 signs from different eras were included in the final version emphasizes the country's long history. The type of this personification of state power is strictly regulated and described in the 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. The 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, clutching the same scepter and so on ad infinitum.

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

We hope our article helped you penetrate the secrets of state symbols. If you are interested in the history of not only your country, but your family, then it’s worth learning about it.

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

• Check the authenticity of the data.
• Systematize the information received.
• Make a family tree.
• Help trace your family tree.

If you want to find out who your ancestors were, what they did and how they lived, contact the Russian House of Genealogy.

29.06.11 18:14

15th century

The reign of Grand Duke Ivan III (1462-1505) is the most important stage in the formation of a single Russian state. Ivan III managed to finally eliminate dependence on the Golden Horde, repelling the campaign of Khan Akhmat against Moscow in 1480. The Grand Duchy of Moscow included Yaroslavl, Novgorod, Tver, and Perm lands. The country began to actively develop ties with other European countries, and its foreign policy position strengthened. In 1497, the all-Russian Code of Laws was adopted - a unified set of laws of the country.
It was at this time - the time of successful construction of Russian statehood - that the double-headed eagle became the coat of arms of Russia, personifying supreme power, independence, what was called “autocracy” in Rus'. It happened like this: the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III married the Byzantine princess Sophia Paleologus and, in order to increase his authority in relations with foreign states, adopted the family coat of arms of the Byzantine kings - the Double-Headed Eagle. The double-headed eagle of Byzantium personified the Roman-Byzantine Empire, spanning East and West (Fig. 1). Emperor Maximilian II, however, did not give Sophia his Imperial eagle; the eagle depicted on the banner of Sophia Paleologus did not have the Imperial crown, but only the Caesar's crown (Fig. 2).

However, the opportunity to become equal with all European sovereigns prompted Ivan III to adopt this coat of arms as the heraldic symbol of his state. Having transformed from the Grand Duke into the Tsar of Moscow and taking a new coat of arms for his state - the Double-Headed Eagle, Ivan III in 1472 placed Caesar's crowns on both heads (Fig. 3), at the same time a shield with the image of the icon of St. George the Victorious appears on the eagle's chest. In 1480, the Tsar of Moscow became Autocrat, i.e. independent and self-sufficient. This circumstance is reflected in the modification of the Eagle; a sword and an Orthodox cross appear in its paws (Fig. 4).

Collapsed Byzantine Empire makes the Russian Eagle the successor of the Byzantine one and the son of Ivan III, Vasily III (1505-1533) places one common autocratic Monomakh's Cap on both heads of the Eagle (Fig. 5). After the death of Vasily III, because his heir Ivan IV, who later received the name Grozny, was still small, the regency of his mother Elena Glinskaya (1533-1538) began, and the actual autocracy of the boyars Shuisky, Belsky (1538-1548) began. And here the Russian Eagle undergoes a very comic modification (Fig. 6).

Mid-16th century

Ivan IV turns 16 years old, and he is crowned king and immediately the Eagle undergoes a very significant change (Fig. 7), as if personifying the entire era of the reign of Ivan the Terrible (1548-1574, 1576-1584). But during the reign of Ivan the Terrible there was a period when he renounced the Kingdom and retired to a monastery, handing over the reins of power to Semyon Bekbulatovich Kasimovsky (1574-1576), and in fact to the boyars. And Eagle reacted to the events taking place with another change (Fig. 8).

The return of Ivan the Terrible to the throne causes the appearance of a new Eagle (Fig. 9), the heads of which are crowned with one, common crown, clearly Western style. But that’s not all, on the Eagle’s chest, instead of the icon of St. George the Victorious, an image of a Unicorn appears. Why? One can only guess about this. True, in fairness it should be noted that this Eagle was quickly canceled by Ivan the Terrible.

Late 16th - early 17th century

During the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich “the Blessed” (1584-1587), the sign of the passion of Christ appears between the crowned heads of the double-headed eagle: the so-called Calvary cross. The cross on the state seal was a symbol of Orthodoxy, giving a religious connotation to the state emblem. The appearance of the “Golgotha ​​cross” in the coat of arms of Russia coincides with the establishment of the patriarchate and ecclesiastical independence of Russia in 1589. Another coat of arms of Fyodor Ivanovich is also known, which is somewhat different from the above (Fig. 10).
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, in which a double-headed eagle with a rider on its chest is crowned with two crowns, and an Orthodox eight-pointed cross rises between the heads of the eagle.

Boris Godunov (1587-1605), who replaced Fyodor Ivanovich, could be the founder of a new dynasty. His occupation of the throne was completely legal, but popular rumor did not want to see him as a legitimate Tsar, considering him a regicide. And Eagle (Fig. 11) reflects this public opinion.

The enemies of Rus' took advantage of the troubles and the appearance of False Dmitry (1605-1606) in these conditions was quite natural, as was the appearance of the new Eagle (Fig. 12). It must be said that some seals depicted a different, clearly not Russian Eagle (Fig. 13). Here events also left their mark on Orel and in connection with the Polish occupation, Orel becomes very similar to Polish, differing, perhaps, in having two heads.

The shaky attempt to establish a new dynasty in the person of Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610), the painters from the official hut reflected in Orel, deprived of all the attributes of sovereignty (Fig. 14) and, as if in mockery, either a flower or a cone will grow from the place where the heads are fused. Russian history says very little about Tsar Vladislav I Sigismundovich (1610-1612); however, he was not crowned in Rus', but he issued decrees, his image was minted on coins, and the Russian State Eagle had its own forms with him (Fig. 15). Moreover, for the first time the Scepter appears in the Eagle’s paw. The short and essentially fictitious reign of this king actually put an end to the Troubles.

17th century

It's over Time of Troubles, Russia repelled claims to the throne of the Polish and Swedish dynasties. Numerous impostors were defeated, and the uprisings that flared in the country were suppressed. Since 1613, by decision of the Zemsky Sobor, the Romanov dynasty began to rule in Russia. Under the first king of this dynasty - Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), popularly nicknamed "The Quietest" - the State Emblem changes somewhat (Fig. 16). In 1625, for the first time, a double-headed eagle was depicted under three crowns; St. George the Victorious returned on the chest, but no longer in the form of an icon, in the form of a shield. Also , on the icons St. George the Victorious always galloped from left to right, i.e. from west to east towards the eternal enemies - the Mongol-Tatars. Now the enemy was in the west, the Polish gangs and the Roman Curia did not abandon their hopes of bringing Rus' to the Catholic faith.

In 1645, under the son of Mikhail Fedorovich - Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich - the first Great State Seal appeared, on which a double-headed eagle with a rider on his chest was crowned with three crowns. From that time on, this type of image was constantly used.
The next stage of changing the State Emblem came after the Pereyaslav Rada, the entry of Ukraine into the Russian state. At the celebrations on this occasion, a new, unprecedented three-headed Eagle appears (Fig. 17), which was supposed to symbolize the new title of the Russian Tsar : "Tsar, Sovereign and Autocrat of All Great and Little and White Rus'."

A seal was attached to the charter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his descendants for the city of Gadyach dated March 27, 1654, on which for the first time a double-headed eagle under three crowns is depicted holding symbols of power in its claws: a scepter and an orb.
In contrast to the Byzantine model and, perhaps, under the influence of the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, the double-headed eagle, starting in 1654, 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 came out of the printing press in Moscow - main book Christianity. It is no coincidence that it depicted the State Emblem of Russia and gave a poetic “explanation” of it:

The eastern eagle shines with three crowns,
Shows faith, hope, love for God,
Krile stretches out, embraces all the worlds of the end,
North, south, from the east all the way to the west of the sun
With outstretched wings it covers goodness.

In 1667, after a long war between Russia and Poland over Ukraine, the Truce of Andrusovo was concluded. To seal this agreement, a Great Seal was made with a double-headed eagle under three crowns, with a shield with a rider on the chest, with a scepter and an orb in its paws.
In the same year, the first in the history of Russia Decree of December 14 “On the royal title and on the state seal” appeared, which contained the official description of the coat of arms: “The double-headed eagle is the coat of arms of the Great Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of all Great and Small and White Russia's autocrat, His Royal Majesty of the Russian reign, on which three crowns are depicted, symbolizing the three great Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian glorious kingdoms. On the chest (chest) there is an image of the heir; Autocrat and Possessor."

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich dies and the short and unremarkable reign of his son Fyodor Alekseevich (1676-1682) begins. The three-headed Eagle is replaced by the old two-headed Eagle and at the same time does not reflect anything new. After a short struggle with the boyars' choice for the kingdom of the young Peter, under the regency of his mother Natalya Kirillovna, a second king, the weak and limited John, is elevated to the throne. And behind the double royal throne stands Princess Sophia (1682-1689). The actual reign of Sophia brought to life a new Eagle (Fig. 18). However, he did not last long. After a new outbreak of unrest - the Streletsky rebellion - a new Eagle appears (Fig. 19). Moreover, the old Eagle does not disappear and both of them exist for some time in parallel.

In the end, Sophia, having suffered defeat, goes to a monastery, and in 1696 Tsar John V also dies, the throne goes to Peter I Alekseevich “the Great” (1689-1725).

Early 18th century

In 1696, Tsar John V also died, and the throne went solely to Peter I Alekseevich “The Great” (1689-1725). And almost immediately the State Emblem dramatically changes its shape (Fig. 20). The era of great transformations begins. The capital is moved to St. Petersburg and Orel acquires new attributes (Fig. 21). Crowns appear on the heads under one common larger one, and on the chest there is an order chain of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. This order, approved by Peter in 1798, became the first in the system of 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 insignia of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and the symbol of the Russian Navy. Since 1699, there have been images of a double-headed eagle surrounded by a chain with the sign of the Order of St. Andrew. And next year the Order of St. Andrew is placed on the eagle, around a shield with a rider.
From the first quarter of the 18th century, the colors of the double-headed eagle became brown (natural) or black.
It is also important to say about one more Eagle (Fig. 21a) which Peter drew as a boy for the banner Amusing Regiment. This Eagle had only one paw for: "Who has only one ground force has - has one hand, but whoever has a fleet has two hands."

Mid-18th century

During the short reign of Catherine I (1725-1727), the Eagle (Fig. 22) again changed its shape, the ironic nickname “Marsh Queen” was everywhere and, accordingly, the Eagle simply could not help but change. However, this Eagle lasted for a very short period of time. Menshikov, paying attention to it, ordered it to be removed from use, and by the day of the coronation of the Empress, a new Eagle appeared (Fig. 23). 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, with a rider on it in a red field.”
After the death of Catherine I during the short reign of Peter II (1727-1730) - the grandson of Peter I, Orel remained virtually unchanged (Fig. 24).

However, the reign of Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740) and Ivan VI (1740-1741), the great-grandson of Peter I, does not cause practically any change in the Eagle (Fig. 25) with the exception of the body being exorbitantly elongated upward. However, the accession to the throne of Empress Elizabeth (1740-1761) entails a radical change in the Eagle (Fig. 26). Nothing remains of the imperial power, and St. George the Victorious is replaced by a cross (besides, not an Orthodox one). The humiliating period of Russia added the humiliating Eagle.

Orel did not react in any way to the very short and extremely offensive reign of Peter III (1761-1762) for the Russian people. In 1762, Catherine II “The Great” (1762-1796) ascended the throne and the Eagle changed, acquiring powerful and grandiose forms (Fig. 27). In the coinage of this reign there were many arbitrary forms of the coat of arms. The most interesting form is the Eagle (Fig. 27a), which appeared during the time of Pugachev with a huge and not entirely familiar crown.

1799 - 1801

The Eagle (Fig. 28) of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) appeared long before the death of Catherine II, as if in contrast to her Eagle, to distinguish the Gatchina battalions from the entire Russian Army, to be worn on buttons, badges and headdresses. Finally, he appears on the standard of the crown prince himself. This Eagle is created by Paul himself.
IN a short time During the reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801), Russia pursued an active foreign policy, faced with a new enemy - Napoleonic France. After 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 coat of arms (Fig. 28a). On the eagle’s chest, under the Maltese crown, there was a shield with St. George (Paul interpreted it as the “indigenous 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 above-described coat of arms in the form of a double-headed eagle with a Maltese cross, larger than the others. 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 appears. The shield holders, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, support the imperial crown over the knight's helmet and mantle (cloak). The entire composition is placed against the background of a canopy with a dome - a heraldic symbol of sovereignty. From behind the shield with coats of arms emerge two standards with a double-headed and a single-headed eagles. This project has not been finalized.

1st half of the 19th century

As a result of a Masonic conspiracy, on March 11, 1801, Paul fell at the hands of the palace regicides. The young Emperor Alexander I “The Blessed” (1801-1825) ascends the throne. By the day of his coronation, a new Eagle appears (Fig. 29), without the Maltese emblems, but, in fact, this Eagle is quite close to the old one. The victory over Napoleon and almost complete control over all processes in Europe causes the emergence of a new Eagle (Fig. 30). He had one crown, the eagle’s wings were depicted lowered (straightened), and in his paws were not the traditional scepter and orb, but a wreath, lightning bolts (peruns) and a torch.

In 1825, Alexander I (according to the official version) dies in Taganrog and Emperor Nicholas I (1825-1855), strong in will and aware of his duty to Russia, ascends the throne. Nicholas contributed to a powerful, spiritual and cultural revival of Russia. This revealed a new Eagle (Fig. 31), which changed somewhat over time (Fig. 31a), but still carried the same strict forms.

Mid-19th century

In 1855-1857, during the heraldic reform, which was carried out under the leadership of Baron B. Kene, the type of state eagle was changed under the influence of German designs. 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 coats of arms of Kazan, Poland, Tauride Chersonese and the combined coat of arms of the Grand Duchies (Kyiv, Vladimir, Novgorod), on the left were shields with the coats of arms of Astrakhan, Siberia, Georgia, Finland.
On April 11, 1857, the Supreme approval of the entire set of state emblems followed. It included: Big, Middle 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, Middle and Small state seals, arks (cases) for seals, as well as seals of the main and lower official places and persons were approved. In total, one hundred and ten drawings lithographed by A. Beggrov were approved in one act. On May 31, 1857, the Senate published a Decree describing the new coats of arms and the rules for their use.
Another Eagle of Emperor Alexander II (1855-1881) is also known, where the shine of gold returns to the Eagle (Fig. 32). The scepter and orb are replaced by a torch and a wreath. During the reign, the wreath and torch are replaced several times by the scepter and orb and return several times.

Large State Emblem, 1882

On July 24, 1882, Emperor Alexander III in Peterhof 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, imperial crowns began to be depicted like real diamond crowns used at coronations.
The large Russian state emblem, Supremely approved on November 3, 1882, contains a black double-headed eagle in a golden shield, crowned with two imperial crowns, above which is the same, but larger, crown, with two fluttering ends of the ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew. The state eagle holds a golden scepter and orb. On the eagle's chest is the coat of arms of Moscow. The shield is topped with the helmet of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. Black and gold mantle. Around the shield is a chain of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called; On the sides there are images of Saints Archangel Michael and Archangel Gabriel. The canopy is golden, crowned with the imperial crown, dotted with Russian eagles and lined with ermine. On it is a scarlet inscription: God is with us! Above the canopy is a state banner with an eight-pointed cross on the pole.

Small State Emblem, 1883-1917.

On February 23, 1883, the Middle and two versions of the Small coat of arms were approved. In January 1895, the highest order was given to leave unchanged the drawing of the state eagle made by academician A. Charlemagne.
The latest act - "Basic provisions of the state structure of the Russian Empire" of 1906 - confirmed all previous legal provisions relating to the State Emblem, but with all its strict contours it is the most elegant.

"derzava.com"

Every country in the world has state symbols that contain deep meaning. The coat of arms of Russia, like the flag of Russia and the anthem, are among the main symbols of the country. Over the long history of these lands, it has changed and been supplemented more than once, becoming the subject of heated debate and discussion at all levels of political and public life. The Russian coat of arms is one of the most complex among the coats of arms of other countries.

Coat of arms of Russia - greatness and beauty

The modern Russian symbol is a beautiful heraldic shield, bright red, rectangular in shape with lower rounded edges. In the central part of the country's coat of arms there is an image of a double-headed golden eagle with wings wide open and raised upward.

In this case, the bird's heads are crowned with small crowns, and a third, larger one is placed on top; the crowns are connected by a ribbon. The eagle itself holds in its paws symbols of power: a scepter (in the right) and an orb (in the left). On the chest is another red shield, on which is an image of a horseman dressed in a blue cloak. The warrior has a silver horse and a spear of the same color, with which he strikes a black dragon.

Every detail of the Russian coat of arms has one or another symbolic meaning. Crowns are a symbol of the sovereignty of the Russian Federation, both as a whole country and in its individual parts. The scepter and orb act as symbols of state power.

Similarities and differences between the coats of arms of Russia and Moscow

The horseman depicted on the coat of arms of Russia is often called St. George the Victorious, confused with the coat of arms of Moscow, which actually depicts this historical figure. However, there are major differences between the two images:

• On the Russian coat of arms, the horseman does not have a halo, a symbol of holiness.
• The horse on the coat of arms of Russia has three legs, the fourth tramples the dragon, while on the capital's coat of arms the horse has two legs.
• The dragon on the Russian coat of arms is overturned and trampled upon by a horseman, on the Moscow one it stands on four legs.

That is, upon careful examination, one can note the difference not only in small, but also in significant details.

Long haul

The modern symbol of the Russian state has a rather long history. In its main features it coincides with the official coats of arms of the Russian Empire, which were finally formed only at the end of the 19th century - the Great Coat of Arms (1882) and the Small Coat of Arms (1883).

On the Great Russian Coat of Arms the shield was gold in color, a black eagle, imperial crowns connected by St. Andrew's ribbon. The capital's coat of arms with George was depicted on the eagle's chest. The Small Coat of Arms of the Empire also depicted an eagle with two black heads, and the shields of the principalities were placed on its wings.

February 12th, 2013

The word coat of arms comes from the German word erbe, which means inheritance. A coat of arms is a symbolic image that shows the historical traditions of a state or city.

Coats of arms appeared a very long time ago. The predecessors of coats of arms can be considered the totems of primitive tribes. Coastal tribes had figurines of dolphins and turtles as totems; steppe tribes had snakes; forest tribes had bears, deer, and wolves. A special role was played by the signs of the Sun, Moon, and water.

The Double-Headed Eagle is one of the oldest heraldic figures. There is still a lot of uncertainty about the appearance of the double-headed eagle as a symbol. It is known, for example, that he was depicted in the Hittite state, a rival of Egypt, which existed in Asia Minor in the second millennium BC. In the 6th century BC. e., as archaeologists testify, the image of a double-headed eagle can be traced in Media, east of the former Hittite kingdom.

From the end of the 14th century. The golden double-headed Eagle, looking to the West and East, placed on a red field, becomes the state symbol of the Byzantine Empire. He personified the unity of Europe and Asia, divinity, greatness and power, as well as victory, courage, faith. Allegorically, the ancient image of a two-headed bird could mean a still-waking guardian who sees everything in both the east and the west. The golden color, meaning wealth, prosperity and eternity, in the latter meaning is still used in icon painting.

There are many myths and scientific hypotheses about the reasons for the appearance of the double-headed eagle in Russia. According to one hypothesis, the main state symbol of the Byzantine Empire - the double-headed Eagle - appeared in Rus' more than 500 years ago in 1472, after the marriage of the Grand Duke of Moscow John III Vasilyevich, who completed the unification of the Russian lands around Moscow, and the Byzantine princess Sophia (Zoe) Paleologue - nieces of the last Emperor of Constantinople, Constantine XI Palaiologos-Dragas.

The reign of Grand Duke Ivan III (1462-1505) was 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 Khan Akhmat against Moscow in 1480. The Grand Duchy of Moscow included Yaroslavl, Novgorod, Tver, and Perm lands. The country began to actively develop ties with other European countries, and its foreign policy position strengthened. In 1497, the All-Russian Code of Laws was adopted - a unified set of laws of the country.

It was at this time - the time of successful construction of Russian statehood.

Double-headed eagle of the Byzantine Empire, ca. XV century

However, the opportunity to become equal with all European sovereigns prompted Ivan III to adopt this coat of arms as the heraldic symbol of his state. Having transformed from the Grand Duke into the Tsar of Moscow and taking a new coat of arms for his state - the Double-Headed Eagle, Ivan III in 1472 placed Caesar's crowns on both heads, at the same time a shield with the image of the icon of St. George the Victorious appeared on the eagle's chest. In 1480, the Tsar of Moscow became Autocrat, i.e. independent and self-sufficient. This circumstance is reflected in the modification of the Eagle; a sword and an Orthodox cross appear in its paws.

The twinning of dynasties not only symbolized the continuity of power of the Moscow princes from Byzantium, but also put them on a par with European sovereigns. The combination of the coat of arms of Byzantium and the more ancient coat of arms of Moscow formed a new coat of arms, which became a symbol of the Russian state. However, this did not happen immediately. Sophia Paleologus, who ascended the Moscow grand-ducal throne, brought with her not a golden Eagle - the emblem of the Empire, but a black one, signifying the family coat of arms of the dynasty.

This eagle had not an imperial crown over its heads, but only a Caesar’s crown and did not hold any attributes in its paws. The eagle was woven in black silk on a gold banner, which was carried at the head of the wedding train. And only in 1480 after the “Standing on the Ugra”, which marked the end of the 240-year Mongol-Tatar yoke, when John III became autocrat and sovereign of “all Rus'” (in a number of documents he is already called “tsar” - from the Byzantine “Caesar” ), the former Byzantine golden double-headed eagle acquires the significance of a Russian state symbol.

The Eagle's head is crowned with the autocratic cap of Monomakh; he takes into his paws a cross (not a four-pointed Byzantine one, but an eight-pointed one - Russian) as a symbol of Orthodoxy, and a sword, as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for the independence of the Russian state, which only the grandson of John III, John IV, manages to complete ( Grozny).

On the Eagle's chest is an image of St. George, who was revered in Rus' as the patron saint of warriors, farmers and the entire Russian land. The image of the Heavenly Warrior on a white horse, striking the Serpent with a spear, was placed on the grand ducal seals, banners (banners) of princely squads, on the helmets and shields of Russian soldiers, coins and seal rings - insignia of military leaders. Since ancient times, the image of St. George has adorned the coat of arms of Moscow, because St. George himself has been considered the patron saint of the city since the time of Dmitry Donskoy.

Clickable

Liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke (1480) was marked by the appearance of the now Russian double-headed eagle on the spire of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. A symbol that personifies the supreme power of the sovereign-autocrat and the idea of ​​unifying the Russian lands.

Double-headed eagles found in coats of arms are not that uncommon. Since the 13th century, they appear in the coats of arms of the counts of Savoy and Würzburg, on Bavarian coins, and are known in the heraldry of the knights of Holland and the Balkan countries. At the beginning of the 15th century, Emperor Sigismund I made the double-headed eagle the coat of arms of the Holy Roman (later German) Empire. The eagle was depicted black on a gold shield with gold beaks and claws. The Eagle's heads were surrounded by halos.

Thus, an understanding of the image of the double-headed Eagle as a symbol of a single state, consisting of several equal parts, was formed. After the collapse of the empire in 1806, the double-headed eagle became the coat of arms of Austria (until 1919). Both Serbia and Albania have it in their coats of arms. It is also in the coats of arms of the descendants of the Greek emperors.

How did he appear in Byzantium? In 326, the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great adopted the double-headed eagle as his symbol. In 330, he moved the capital of the empire to Constantinople, and from that time on, the double-headed eagle was the state emblem. The empire splits into western and eastern, and the double-headed eagle becomes the coat of arms of Byzantium.

The collapsed Byzantine Empire makes the Russian Eagle the successor of the Byzantine one and the son of Ivan III, Vasily III (1505-1533) places one common autocratic Monomakh's Cap on both heads of the Eagle. After the death of Vasily III, because his heir Ivan IV, who later received the name Grozny, was still small, the regency of his mother Elena Glinskaya (1533-1538) began, and the actual autocracy of the boyars Shuisky, Belsky (1538-1548) began. And here the Russian Eagle undergoes a very comic modification.

It should be noted that the year of the creation of the State Emblem of Russia is considered to be 1497, despite its quarter-century distance from the marriage of Ivan III and Sophia Paleologus. This year dates back to the letter of grant from Ivan III Vasilyevich to his nephews, the Volotsk princes Fyodor and Ivan Borisovich, in the Buigorod and Kolp volosts in the Volotsk and Tver districts.

The diploma was sealed with a double-sided hanging red wax seal of the Grand Duke, which was perfectly preserved and has survived to this day. On the front side of the seal there is a picture of a horseman slaying a serpent with a spear and a circular inscription (legend) “John by the grace of God, the ruler of all Rus' and the great prince”; on the reverse there is a double-headed Eagle with outstretched wings and crowns on their heads, a circular inscription listing its possessions.

Seal of Ivan III Vasilyevich, front and back, late 15th century.

One of the first to draw attention to this seal was the famous Russian historian and writer N.M. Karamzin. The seal differed from previous princely seals, and most importantly, for the first time (from the material sources that have come down to us) it demonstrated the “reunion” of the images of the double-headed Eagle and St. George. Of course, it can be assumed that similar seals were used to seal letters earlier than 1497, but there is no evidence for this. In any case, many historical studies of the last century agreed on this date, and the 400th anniversary of the Russian coat of arms in 1897 was celebrated very solemnly.

Ivan IV turns 16 years old, and he is crowned king and immediately the Eagle undergoes a very significant change, as if personifying the entire era of the reign of Ivan the Terrible (1548-1574, 1576-1584). But during the reign of Ivan the Terrible there was a period when he renounced the Kingdom and retired to a monastery, handing over the reins of power to Semyon Bekbulatovich Kasimovsky (1574-1576), and in fact to the boyars. And the Eagle reacted to the events taking place with another change.

The return of Ivan the Terrible to the throne causes the appearance of a new Eagle, the heads of which are crowned with one, common crown of a clearly Western design. But that’s not all, on the Eagle’s chest, instead of the icon of St. George the Victorious, an image of a Unicorn appears. Why? One can only guess about this. True, in fairness it should be noted that this Eagle was quickly canceled by Ivan the Terrible.

Ivan the Terrible dies and the weak, limited Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich “Blessed” (1584-1587) reigns on the throne. And again the Eagle changes its appearance. During the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, between the crowned heads of the double-headed eagle, the sign of the passion of Christ appears: the so-called Calvary cross. The cross on the state seal was a symbol of Orthodoxy, giving a religious connotation to the state emblem. The appearance of the “Golgotha ​​cross” in the coat of arms of Russia coincides with the establishment of the patriarchate and ecclesiastical independence of Russia in 1589. Another coat of arms of Fyodor Ivanovich is also known, which is somewhat different from the above.

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, in which a double-headed eagle with a rider on its chest is crowned with two crowns, and an Orthodox eight-pointed cross rises between the heads of the eagle.

Boris Godunov (1587-1605), who replaced Fyodor Ivanovich, could be the founder of a new dynasty. His occupation of the throne was completely legal, but popular rumor did not want to see him as a legitimate Tsar, considering him a regicide. And Orel reflects this public opinion.

The enemies of Rus' took advantage of the troubles and the appearance of False Dmitry (1605-1606) in these conditions was quite natural, as was the appearance of a new Eagle. It must be said that some seals depicted a different, clearly not Russian Eagle. Here events also left their mark on Orel and in connection with the Polish occupation, Orel becomes very similar to Polish, differing, perhaps, in having two heads.

The shaky attempt to establish a new dynasty in the person of Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610), the painters from the official hut reflected in Orel, deprived of all the attributes of sovereignty, and as if in mockery, from the place where the heads are fused, either a flower or a cone will grow. Russian history says very little about Tsar Vladislav I Sigismundovich (1610-1612); however, he was not crowned in Rus', but he issued decrees, his image was minted on coins, and the Russian State Eagle had its own forms with him. Moreover, for the first time the Scepter appears in the Eagle’s paw. The short and essentially fictitious reign of this king actually put an end to the Troubles.

The Time of Troubles ended, Russia repelled the claims to the throne of the Polish and Swedish dynasties. Numerous impostors were defeated, and the uprisings that flared in the country were suppressed. Since 1613, by decision of the Zemsky Sobor, the Romanov dynasty began to rule in Russia. Under the first king of this dynasty - Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), popularly nicknamed "The Quiet" - the State Emblem changes somewhat. In 1625, for the first time, a double-headed eagle was depicted under three crowns; St. George the Victorious returned on the chest, but no longer in the form of an icon, in the form of a shield. Also, in icons, St. George the Victorious always galloped from left to right, i.e. from west to east towards the eternal enemies - the Mongol-Tatars. Now the enemy was in the west, the Polish gangs and the Roman Curia did not abandon their hopes of bringing Rus' to the Catholic faith.

In 1645, under the son of Mikhail Fedorovich - Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich - the first Great State Seal appeared, on which a double-headed eagle with a rider on his chest was crowned with three crowns. From that time on, this type of image was constantly used.

The next stage of changing the State Emblem came after the Pereyaslav Rada, the entry of Ukraine into the Russian state. At the celebrations on this occasion, a new, unprecedented three-headed Eagle appears, which was supposed to symbolize the new title of the Russian Tsar: “Tsar, Sovereign and Autocrat of All Great and Small and White Rus'.”

A seal was attached to the charter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his descendants for the city of Gadyach dated March 27, 1654, on which for the first time a double-headed eagle under three crowns is depicted holding symbols of power in its claws: a scepter and an orb.

In contrast to the Byzantine model and, perhaps, under the influence of the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, the double-headed eagle, starting in 1654, 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 of the printing press in Moscow. It is no coincidence that it depicted the State Emblem of Russia and gave a poetic “explanation” of it:

The eastern eagle shines with three crowns,
Shows faith, hope, love for God,
Krile stretches out, embraces all the worlds of the end,
North, south, from the east all the way to the west of the sun
With outstretched wings it covers goodness.

In 1667, after a long war between Russia and Poland over Ukraine, the Truce of Andrusovo was concluded. To seal this agreement, a Great Seal was made with a double-headed eagle under three crowns, with a shield with a rider on the chest, with a scepter and an orb in its paws.

In the same year, the first in the history of Russia Decree of December 14 “On the royal title and on the state seal” appeared, which contained the official description of the coat of arms: “The double-headed eagle is the coat of arms of the Great Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of all Great and Lesser and White Russia's autocrat, His Royal Majesty of the Russian reign, on which three crowns are depicted signifying the three great Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian glorious kingdoms. On the chest (chest) there is an image of the heir; in the grooves (claws) there is a scepter and an apple, and reveals the most merciful Sovereign, His Royal Majesty the Autocrat and Possessor.”

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich dies and the short and unremarkable reign of his son Fyodor Alekseevich (1676-1682) begins. The three-headed Eagle is replaced by the old two-headed Eagle and at the same time does not reflect anything new. After a short struggle with the boyars’ choice for the kingdom of the young Peter, under the regency of his mother Natalya Kirillovna, a second king, the weak and limited John, was elevated to the throne. And behind the double royal throne stands Princess Sophia (1682-1689). The actual reign of Sophia brought into being a new Eagle. However, he did not last long. After a new outbreak of unrest - the Streletsky revolt - a new Eagle appears. Moreover, the old Eagle does not disappear and both of them exist for some time in parallel.

In the end, Sophia, having suffered defeat, goes to a monastery, and in 1696 Tsar John V also dies, the throne goes solely to Peter I Alekseevich “The Great” (1689-1725).

And almost immediately the State Emblem dramatically changes its shape. The era of great transformations begins. The capital is moved to St. Petersburg and Oryol takes on new attributes. Crowns appear on the heads under one common larger one, and on the chest there is an order chain of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. This order, approved by Peter in 1798, became the first in the system of 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 insignia of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and the symbol of the Russian Navy. Since 1699, there have been images of a double-headed eagle surrounded by a chain with the sign of the Order of St. Andrew. And next year the Order of St. Andrew is placed on the eagle, around a shield with a rider.

From the first quarter of the 18th century, the colors of the double-headed eagle became brown (natural) or black.

It is also important to say about another Eagle, which Peter painted as a very young boy for the banner of the Amusing Regiment. This Eagle had only one paw, for: “Whoever has only one land army has one hand, but whoever has a fleet has two hands.”

During the short reign of Catherine I (1725-1727), the Eagle again changed its forms, the ironic nickname “Marsh Queen” was everywhere and, accordingly, the Eagle simply could not help but change. However, this Eagle lasted for a very short period of time. Menshikov, paying attention to it, ordered it to be removed from use, and by the day of the coronation of the Empress, a new Eagle appeared. 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 a rider in a red field.”

Under Empress Catherine I, the color scheme of the coat of arms was finally established - a black Eagle on a gold (yellow) field, a white (silver) Horseman on a red field.

State Banner of Russia, 1882 (Reconstruction by R.I. Malanichev)

After the death of Catherine I during the short reign of Peter II (1727-1730), the grandson of Peter I, Orel remained virtually unchanged.

However, the reign of Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740) and Ivan VI (1740-1741), the great-grandson of Peter I, did not cause practically any change in the Eagle, with the exception of the body being exorbitantly elongated upward. However, the accession to the throne of Empress Elizabeth (1740-1761) entailed a radical change in the Eagle. Nothing remains of the imperial power, and St. George the Victorious is replaced by a cross (besides, not an Orthodox one). The humiliating period of Russia added the humiliating Eagle.

Orel did not react in any way to the very short and extremely offensive reign of Peter III (1761-1762) for the Russian people. In 1762, Catherine II “The Great” (1762-1796) ascended the throne and the Eagle changed, acquiring powerful and grandiose forms. In the coinage of this reign there were many arbitrary forms of the coat of arms. The most interesting form is the Eagle, which appeared during the time of Pugachev with a huge and not entirely familiar crown.

The Eagle of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) appeared long before the death of Catherine II, as if in contrast to her Eagle, to distinguish the Gatchina battalions from the entire Russian Army, to be worn on buttons, badges and headdresses. Finally, he appears on the standard of the crown prince himself. This Eagle is created by Paul himself.

During the short reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801), Russia pursued an active foreign policy, faced with a new enemy - Napoleonic France. After 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 eagle’s chest, under the Maltese crown, was a shield with St. George (Paul interpreted it as the “indigenous 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 above-described coat of arms in the form of a double-headed eagle with a Maltese cross, larger than the others. 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 appears. The shield holders, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, support the imperial crown over the knight's helmet and mantle (cloak). The entire composition is placed against the background of a canopy with a dome - a heraldic symbol of sovereignty. From behind the shield with coats of arms emerge two standards with a double-headed and a single-headed eagles. This project has not been finalized.

As a result of the conspiracy, on March 11, 1801, Paul fell at the hands of the palace regicides. The young Emperor Alexander I “The Blessed” (1801-1825) ascends the throne. By the day of his coronation, a new Eagle appears, without the Maltese emblems, but, in fact, this Eagle is quite close to the old one. The victory over Napoleon and almost complete control over all processes in Europe causes the emergence of a new Eagle. He had one crown, the eagle’s wings were depicted lowered (straightened), and in his paws were not the traditional scepter and orb, but a wreath, lightning bolts (peruns) and a torch.

In 1825, Alexander I (according to the official version) dies in Taganrog and Emperor Nicholas I (1825-1855), strong in will and aware of his duty to Russia, ascends the throne. Nicholas contributed to a powerful, spiritual and cultural revival of Russia. This revealed a new Eagle, which changed somewhat over time, but still carried the same strict forms.

In 1855-1857, during the heraldic reform, which was carried out under the leadership of Baron B. Kene, the type of state eagle was changed under the influence of German designs. 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 coats of arms of Kazan, Poland, Tauride Chersonese and the combined coat of arms of the Grand Duchies (Kyiv, Vladimir, Novgorod), on the left were shields with the coats of arms of Astrakhan, Siberia, Georgia, Finland.

On April 11, 1857, the Supreme approval of the entire set of state emblems followed. It included: Big, Middle 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, Middle and Small state seals, arks (cases) for seals, as well as seals of the main and lower official places and persons were approved. In total, one hundred and ten drawings lithographed by A. Beggrov were approved in one act. On May 31, 1857, the Senate published a Decree describing the new coats of arms and the rules for their use.

Another Eagle of Emperor Alexander II (1855-1881) is also known, where the shine of gold returns to the Eagle. The scepter and orb are replaced by a torch and a wreath. During the reign, the wreath and torch are replaced several times by the scepter and orb and return several times.

On July 24, 1882, Emperor Alexander III in Peterhof 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, imperial crowns began to be depicted like real diamond crowns used at coronations.

The large Russian state emblem, Supremely approved on November 3, 1882, contains a black double-headed eagle in a golden shield, crowned with two imperial crowns, above which is the same, but larger, crown, with two fluttering ends of the ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew. The state eagle holds a golden scepter and orb. On the eagle's chest is the coat of arms of Moscow. The shield is topped with the helmet of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. Black and gold mantle. Around the shield is a chain of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called; On the sides there are images of Saints Archangel Michael and Archangel Gabriel. The canopy is golden, crowned with the imperial crown, dotted with Russian eagles and lined with ermine. On it is a scarlet inscription: God is with us! Above the canopy is a state banner with an eight-pointed cross on the pole.

On February 23, 1883, the Middle and two versions of the Small coat of arms were approved. In January 1895, the highest order was given to leave unchanged the drawing of the state eagle made by academician A. Charlemagne.

The latest act - “Basic provisions of the state structure of the Russian Empire” of 1906 - confirmed all previous legal provisions relating to the State Emblem, but with all its strict contours it is the most elegant.

With minor changes made in 1882 Alexander III, the coat of arms of Russia existed until 1917.

The Commission of the Provisional Government came to the conclusion that the double-headed eagle itself does not carry any monarchical or dynastic characteristics, therefore, deprived of a crown, scepter, orb, coats of arms of kingdoms, lands and all other heraldic attributes, it was “left in service.”

The Bolsheviks had a completely different opinion. By decree of the Council of People's Commissars of November 10, 1917, along with estates, ranks, titles and old regime orders, the coat of arms and flag were abolished. But making the decision turned out to be easier than implementing it. Government bodies continued to exist and function, so for another six months the old coat of arms was used where necessary, on signs indicating authorities and in documents.

The new coat of arms of Russia was adopted along with the new constitution in July 1918. Initially, the ears of corn were not crowned with a five-pointed star; it was introduced a few years later as a symbol of the unity of the proletariat of the five continents of the planet.

It seemed that the double-headed eagle had been finally retired, but as if doubting this, the authorities were in no hurry to remove the eagles from the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. This happened only in 1935, when the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks decided to replace the previous symbols with ruby ​​stars.

In 1990, the Government of the RSFSR adopted a resolution on the creation of the State Emblem and State Flag of the RSFSR. After a comprehensive discussion, the Government Commission proposed to recommend to the Government a coat of arms - a golden double-headed eagle on a red field.

The eagles were removed from the Kremlin towers in 1935. The revival of the Russian Eagle became possible after the collapse of the USSR and with the return of true statehood to Russia, although the development of state symbols of the Russian Federation had been going on since the spring of 1991, during the existence of the USSR.
Moreover, from the very beginning there were three approaches to this issue: the first was to improve the Soviet symbolism, which was alien to Russia but had become familiar; the second is the adoption of fundamentally new, without ideology, symbols of statehood (birch leaf, swan, etc.); and finally, the third is the restoration of historical traditions. The image of the double-headed Eagle with all its traditional attributes of state power was taken as the basis.

However, the symbolism of the coat of arms has been rethought and received a modern interpretation, more in line with the spirit of the times and democratic changes in the country. In the modern meaning, the crowns on the State Emblem of the Russian Federation can be considered in the same way as symbols of the three branches of government - executive, representative and judicial. In any case, they should not be identified with symbols of empire and monarchy. The scepter (originally as a striking weapon - a mace, the pole - a symbol of military leaders) can be interpreted as a symbol of the protection of sovereignty, a power - symbolizes the unity, integrity and legal nature of the state.

The Byzantine Empire was a Eurasian power; Greeks, Armenians, Slavs, and other peoples lived in it. The eagle in her coat of arms with heads looking to the West and East symbolized, among other things, the unity of these two principles. This is also true for Russia, which has always been a multinational country, uniting the peoples of Europe and Asia under one coat of arms. The sovereign eagle of Russia is not only a symbol of its statehood, but also a symbol of our ancient roots and thousand-year history.

Back at the end of 1990, the Government of the RSFSR adopted a Resolution on the creation of the State Emblem and State Flag of the RSFSR. Many specialists were involved in the preparation of proposals on this issue. In the spring of 1991, officials came to the conclusion that the State Emblem of the RSFSR should be a golden double-headed Eagle on a red field, and the State Flag should be a white-blue-red flag.

In December 1991, the Government of the RSFSR at its meeting reviewed the proposed versions of the coat of arms, and the approved projects were sent for revision. Created in February 1992, the State Heraldic Service of the Russian Federation (since July 1994 - State Heraldry under the President of the Russian Federation) headed by the Deputy Director of the State Hermitage for Scientific Work (State Master of Arms) G.V. Vilinbakhov had one of her tasks to participate in the development of state symbols.

The final version of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation was approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 30, 1993. The author of the sketch of the coat of arms is artist E.I. Ukhnalev.

The restoration of the centuries-old historical symbol of our Fatherland - the Double-Headed Eagle - can only be welcomed. However, a very important point should be taken into account - the existence of the restored and legalized coat of arms in the form in which we now see it everywhere imposes considerable responsibility on the state.

A.G. writes about this in his recently published book “The Origins of Russian Heraldry”. Silaev. In his book, the author, based on a painstaking study of historical materials, very interestingly and widely reveals the very essence of the origin of the image of the Double-Headed Eagle, its basis - mythological, religious, political.

In particular, we are talking about the artistic embodiment of the current coat of arms of the Russian Federation. Yes, indeed, many specialists and artists were involved in the work on creating (or recreating) the coat of arms of the new Russia. A large number of beautifully executed projects were proposed, but for some reason the choice fell on a sketch made by a person who was actually far from heraldry. How else can we explain the fact that the current depiction of the double-headed eagle contains a number of annoying flaws and inaccuracies that are noticeable to any professional artist.

Have you ever seen narrow-eyed eagles in nature? What about parrot beaks? Alas, the image of a double-headed eagle is not decorated with very thin legs and sparse plumage. As for the description of the coat of arms, unfortunately, from the point of view of the rules of heraldry, it remains inaccurate and superficial. And all this is present in the State Emblem of Russia! Where, in the end, is respect for one’s national symbols and own history?! Was it really so difficult to more carefully study the heraldic images of the predecessors of the modern eagle - ancient Russian coats of arms? After all, this is a wealth of historical material!

The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -

November 30, 1993 Russian President Boris Yeltsin By his decree, he approved the double-headed eagle as the state emblem, which replaced the Soviet hammer and sickle. For the first time this symbol was officially approved as the coat of arms of Russia on April 11, 1857 Emperor Alexander II. Until this moment, it did not have official status and was modified many times.

The history of the double-headed eagle

The emblem of an eagle with two heads was a symbol of the ancient Hittite kingdom, which ruled the Balkans, Asia Minor and controlled the exit from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The symbol was also used by the Persian Shahs of the Sassanid dynasty.

In ancient Rome, generals depicted a single-headed eagle on their staffs. Later, the eagle became an exclusively imperial sign, symbolizing supreme power.

According to legend, when he entered Rome Julius Caesar, an eagle circling in the air killed two kites, which fell at the feet of the emperor. The surprised Caesar considered this a good sign and ordered a second head to be added to the Roman eagle.

The double-headed eagle was also the coat of arms of Byzantium. There is an assumption that the emblem did not refer to the entire state, but only to the Palaiologan dynasty, which ruled from 1261 to 1453. in Byzantium.

How did the double-headed eagle become a symbol of Russia?

Coats of arms, in a form close to the modern one, appeared in the Middle Ages in Western Europe, in England and France. Knights depicted their emblems on shields and banners, passing them on from generation to generation. There were no coats of arms in Rus'. During battles, embroidered or painted images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints or an Orthodox cross most often served as banners. Therefore, at first the grand ducal seal served as the coat of arms in Russia.

The double-headed eagle came to Rus' from Byzantium in the Middle Ages. In January 1472, the bride Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III became Byzantine Princess Sophia Paleologue. Ivan III decided to place a double-headed eagle on his seal next to the coat of arms of Moscow - St. George the Victorious killing the serpent.

At first, both coats of arms existed on equal terms, but a hundred years later the double-headed eagle was chosen as the emblem of the Russian coat of arms, and St. George the Victorious - of Moscow.

How did the coat of arms of Russia change?

In the 17th century, the regalia of imperial power, generally accepted in all monarchical states, appeared in the paws of an eagle.

Coat of arms of the Russian state in the middle of the 17th century. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Another change was made by the son of Ivan the Terrible - Fyodor Ivanovich “Blessed” during his short reign (1584-1587). An Orthodox cross appeared between the crowned heads of the double-headed eagle. This symbol was associated with the establishment in 1589 of the patriarchate and ecclesiastical independence of Russia.

At Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov(1613-1645) St. George the Victorious appeared on the emblem - his image appeared on the chest of the eagle. Also, the third crown began to be depicted on the coat of arms.

Paul I(1796-1801) as the patron of the Order of Malta, ordered the inclusion of an image of the Maltese cross and crown in the state coat of arms.

Emperor Alexander I(1801-1825) removed the Maltese symbols, as well as two of the three crowns. After the victory over Napoleon, the eagle began to be depicted with lowered, spread wings (before that the wings were raised). In the paws, instead of a scepter and orb, a wreath, lightning and a torch appeared.

Large coat of arms of the Russian Empire. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

But the most serious reform was carried out during the reign Alexandra II in 1855-1857. At his order, a special Stamp Department was created, which was headed by Baron Bernhard Koehne. He changed the design of the eagle and St. George the Victorious.

On April 11, 1857, Alexander II approved the coat of arms of the Russian Empire - a double-headed eagle. In May 1857, the Senate published a Decree describing new coats of arms and the norms for their use, which existed until 1917 without any significant changes.

After the revolution, the symbolism of the monarchy and Russian Empire- the order, flag and coat of arms were abolished. The hammer and sickle became the emblem of the USSR.

Coat of arms of the RSFSR (July 19, 1918 - May 11, 1925) Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

The double-headed eagle returned to the country's coat of arms only in 1993, when a new state emblem was introduced by presidential decree - a double-headed eagle, the design of which was based on the coat of arms of the Russian Empire.

In what other countries is the double-headed eagle used as a state symbol?

The double-headed eagle is used on the coats of arms and flags of modern states:

Albania

The double-headed eagle was borrowed from Byzantium at the end of the 15th century by the feudal family of Kastrioti. Family name representative Georgiy Skanderbeg in 1443 he led the fight for the independence of Albania from Turkey. The flag with an eagle, under which Skanderbeg’s warriors went on the attack against foreigners, became the main national symbol of the Balkan people. And it couldn’t have been any other way. After all, the ancient Albanians believed that they descended from this proud bird. The name of the country in the local dialect is called Skiperia - “Country of Eagles”.

Flag of Alanya. Photo: Public Domain

Armenia

The double-headed eagle was depicted on the coat of arms of the ancient princely family of Mamikonyans. In 1918, it became the official emblem of the First Republic of Armenia at the choice of the architect, academician Russian Academy arts Alexandra Tamanyan and artist Hakob Kojoyan.

Coat of arms of Armenia. Photo: Public Domain

Serbia

The emblem depicts a double-headed eagle, a red shield on its chest, and a cross with four flints (Serbian cross) on the shield. On top there is a royal crown and cloak. The coat of arms exactly repeats the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Serbia dynasty Obrenovic, first adopted in 1882.

Flag of Serbia. Photo: Public Domain

Montenegro

The coat of arms depicts a double-headed eagle in flight, which repeats the emblem of the dynasty Petrovich(the first royal dynasty of Montenegro) and the dynastic coat of arms of the ruling dynasty of Byzantium, the Palaiologos. The coat of arms in the local interpretation symbolizes the unity and interrelation of the Church and the State.

Flag of Montenegro. Photo: Public Domain

In addition, the double-headed eagle was used in the past on the coats of arms and flags of historical states:

• Austrian Empire (1815-1867)
• Austria-Hungary (1867-1918)
• Federal State of Austria (1934-1938)
• Kingdom of Poland (1815-1915)
• Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1992-2003)

In a number of countries, the double-headed eagle is a symbol of the armed forces or police:

• Greece - army flag;
• Cyprus - emblem of the National Guard;
• Türkiye - emblem of the Directorate General of Security;
• Sri Lanka - Emblem of the Armored Corps.

*Heraldry(coat of arms; from Latin heraldus - herald) - a special historical discipline that deals with the study of coats of arms, as well as the tradition and practice of their use.