The coat of arms of Russia is one of the main state symbols of Russia, along with the flag and anthem. After the RSFSR was renamed the Russian Federation on December 25, 1991, the country continued to use the old pre-revolutionary coat of arms with the image of a double-headed eagle.

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. The coats of arms themselves appeared a very long time ago; the totems of primitive tribes can be considered their predecessors. 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, earth and water...

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 Law was adopted - a single set of laws of the country - the prototype of the Constitution and codes. Actually, the time of the formation of symbolism can be counted from the reign of Ivan III Russian statehood.

Ivan III married Byzantine princess Sofya Paleolog and to increase his authority in relations with foreign countries adopts the family coat of arms of the Byzantine kings - a double-headed eagle. The double-headed eagle of Byzantium represented the powerful Roman-Byzantine Empire, covering significant lands both in the East and in the West. Emperor Maximilian II, however, spared 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.

Nevertheless, the opportunity to become equal with all European sovereigns prompted Ivan III to accept 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.

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 comical modification.

When Ivan IV turns 16 years old and is crowned king, the Eagle immediately undergoes a very significant change, as if personifying the entire era of the reign of Ivan the Terrible (1548-1574, 1576-1584).

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 and why? One can only guess about this. True, in fairness it should be noted that this Eagle was quickly canceled by Ivan the Terrible. Apparently the tsar realized that such a fairy-tale zoo was inappropriate on the state emblem.

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.

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, they also contained orthodox cross, which indicated that the regiment fighting under this banner serves 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.

In connection with the Polish occupation, the Eagle becomes very similar to the Polish one, differing only in its 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 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" - National 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.

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. And then the eagle “flew up” onto the spiers of the Moscow Kremlin towers.

In 1667, after long war Russia and Poland because of Ukraine, the Andrusovo Truce 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 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 claws (claws) there is a scepter and an apple, and reveals the most gracious Sovereign, His Royal Majesty Autocrat and Possessor."

In 1696, the throne went 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 (at the bottom of the eagle's plumage) 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 already next year the Order of St. Andrew is placed around a shield with a rider.

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: "Who has only one ground force has - has one hand, but whoever has a fleet has two hands."

With minor or significant, but short-term, changes, this image of the coat of arms of Russia existed until the beginning of the reign of Paul I (1796-1801), who made an attempt to introduce a full coat of arms 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 cloak. The entire composition is placed against the background of a mantle 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, thank God, was not approved.

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, the drawings of the Big, Middle and Small were approved state seals, arks (cases) for seals, as well as seals of main and lower official places and persons. In total, one hundred and ten drawings were approved in one act, which we, of course, will not present.

With minor changes introduced in 1882 by 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” - absolutely naked ...

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 completely 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.

The double-headed eagle was finally retired, remaining only to “sit” on the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. The Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks replaced them with ruby ​​stars only in 1935.

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. In 1993, by decree of President B.N. Yeltsin, the double-headed Eagle was re-approved as the state emblem. And only in 2000 the double-headed Eagle was finally approved by the State Duma. The modern coat of arms is based on the coat of arms of Peter I. But the double-headed eagle is gold in color, not black, and it is placed on a red heraldic shield.

Throughout the history of our state, each ruler contributed to the formation of the coat of arms, and, often, the historical events taking place at that moment were reflected on it. His character and political views were also reflected in his portrayal. All the details of the formation of the state wallpaper can be found in the history of its state symbols...

The eagle originally appeared in Russia from the collapsed mighty Roman Empire. It was necessary for the then still very young Russian state, as a symbol of power. The stronger Russia became, the more confident and powerful the eagle on the coat of arms looked.

Over time, having become a huge and independent state, Russia acquired all the attributes of statehood and power on its coat of arms: a crown, a scepter and an orb, which even now partly personify the modern Russian state.

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.

©flabad
based on materials from WiKi and other free sources

Today the state needs symbols just as much as it did several centuries ago, if not more. The point is that a common banner can really unite people. That is why the coat of arms was invented. This is a beautiful and mysterious symbol of an entire era.

Beautiful coat of arms of the Fatherland

So, what does it represent in the modern Russian Federation? What is remarkable? The law says that this is a quadrangular shield with rounded lower corners, a red heraldic shield, pointed at the tip, with the image of a golden double-headed eagle raising its spread wings upward. The said bird is crowned with two small crowns. Moreover, above these crowns there is another large crown connected by a ribbon. It is noteworthy that in the right paw of the eagle there is a scepter, and in the left there is an orb. On the chest of the bird, framed by a red shield, there is a silver rider dressed in a blue cloak. The knight is depicted on a silver horse, a man strikes a black serpent trampled by a horse, overturned on its back, with a silver spear. In order to fully understand the essence of the symbol, you need to figure out why the coat of arms of Russia is a double-headed eagle? Honor and conscience, a beautiful bird and a proud rider, crowns and swords... All this is the state emblem of the Russian Federation!

How to portray?

It should be noted that modern reproduction The state emblem of the Russian Federation is completely acceptable without the so-called heraldic shield. That is, in fact, the main figure remains: a double-headed eagle, possessing the attributes that were listed earlier. In addition, a single-color version of the symbol is allowed.

What does it mean?

Interestingly, the golden double-headed eagle, located on red material, usually symbolizes historical continuity directly in color scheme symbols of the late fifteenth to seventeenth centuries. The design of this bird, which belongs to the coat of arms of the Russian Federation, goes back to the images that are located on the monuments of the era of Peter the Great.

As for the eagle above the heads, these are the three historical crowns of Peter the Great himself. That is, they symbolize the sovereignty of our Fatherland - the Russian Federation - and the sovereignty of its parts, and therefore the subjects of the Federation.

What is their role? Their importance is simply enormous! The scepter and orb, which are in the paws of an eagle, are a symbol state power, as well as a single fatherland.

The importance of interpretation

It should be noted that the image of a horseman who strikes a fire-breathing dragon with a spear on the chest of a militant bird is one of the most ancient symbols of the constant struggle between light and darkness, good and evil, and the defense of the Motherland. This is notable for the coat of arms of the Russian Federation.

There is a special legal act that regulates the depiction of the coat of arms as the main symbol of our Fatherland. But where did it all begin? Why is he the way he is?

Old Russian seals

It is noteworthy that the very concept of the so-called knightly hereditary coat of arms, which was widely accepted in Western Europe, did not exist in Rus'. In particular, during struggles and fierce battles, embroidered or painted images of the Virgin Mary, Christ, certain saints, or simply an Orthodox cross most often served as banners. The images found on some ancient Russian military shields were also not considered hereditary. That is why the history of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation is, first of all, the history of the so-called grand ducal seal, which has been known for a long time.

Symbolism from antiquity

It should be said that on their own seals Old Russian princes They usually depicted, first of all, patron saints (in particular, on the seal belonging to Simeon the Proud, Saint Simeon is depicted, but on the seal of the famous Prince Demetrius of Donskoy, Saint Demetrius “ruled,” as you might guess). In addition, as a rule, there was an inscription on the symbolism that indicated who directly owned this seal. The wording was also interesting. For example, “the seal belongs to prince so-and-so.” This was considered a banner of honor.

More modern options

Approximately starting from Mstislav, known in wide circles as Udatny, as well as the grandchildren and other descendants of Vsevolod, nicknamed the “Big Nest,” the so-called “rider” began to appear on seals, that is, a symbolic image of the prince ruling at the current time. Interestingly, the rider’s weapon could well have been different. In particular, a bow, a spear, and a sword were most often depicted. But on coins from the time of Ivan the Second the Red, a foot warrior began to appear for the first time, striking a serpent with a sword (in other interpretations, a dragon). This is almost the coat of arms of the Russian Federation.

New elements

It is noteworthy that the image of the rider, for which the coat of arms of the Russian Federation is famous, was usually characteristic of numerous seals that belonged not only to the princes of Vladimir and Moscow, but also to other rulers. For example, during the reign of Ivan the Third, the image of a horseman who kills a snake or dragon was on the symbolism not of the Grand Duke of Moscow (there was a man with a sword), but of his brother-in-law, who was called Grand Duke Tverskoy Mikhail Borisovich. And the modern state emblem of the Russian Federation is not much different from that symbolism. And that's great!

It is interesting that since this Prince of Moscow began to single-handedly rule Russia, a rider on a horse who kills a dragon with a spear, that is, a symbolic image of the actual victory of good over evil, becomes one of the most important symbols of the entire Russian state, along with the no less famous and popular double-headed eagle. This became the predetermining moment in the formation of the modern perception of national symbols.

Russian state and coat of arms

So, the symbolism of our Fatherland cannot be imagined without the presence in it of the image of a double-headed eagle. First unusual bird in the role of the state symbol of the entire Russian state is found directly on the reverse side of the official seal of Ivan the Third Vasilyevich in one thousand four hundred and ninety-seven, although these images were found earlier in ancient Russian art, as well as on Tver coins. However, this was the first time she was remembered this way.

Fighter and his bird

It should be noted that the placement of the rider directly on the chest of the eagle may well be explained by the fact that there were usually two state seals that were different in size, namely the Greater and the Lesser. These are the first elements for which the Russian coat of arms is famous. In the second case, it was double-sided, usually attached to an important document, with an eagle and a horseman placed separately on each side. But the large seal was one-sided. She in mandatory was attached to the sheets, which is why subsequently the need arose to combine two symbols of the state into one. As practice has shown, this was an excellent decision.

For the first time, this combination is found directly on the great seal of Ivan the Terrible in the year one thousand five hundred and sixty-two. This is already a kind of coat of arms of Russia. At the same time, as a rule, a unicorn began to appear instead of a rider. And although the tsar himself did not consider this beast to be such a necessary symbol of the state, nevertheless, this animal was found on some of the seals of the famous Boris Godunov, False Dmitry, and also Alexei Mikhailovich.

It is noteworthy that on the Great Seal of Ivan the Terrible in the seventy-seventh year of the sixteenth century, instead of two crowns, one began to appear, which was characterized by a cross over an eagle. It was very unusual. The two crowns returned during the reign of the legendary Fyodor Ivanovich, but now an Orthodox cross was placed above the two heads of the eagle (probably as an independent symbol of the independent and strong Russian Orthodox Church).

The crown of creation

It should be noted that on the small seal of False Dmitry in one thousand six hundred and four, the eagle was depicted for the first time under three crowns, while the rider on the bird’s chest was turned, as a rule, in right side, according to established Western European heraldic traditions. It is noteworthy that after the period of False Dmitry, the image of the knight returned to its original state. Now two crowns were placed over the eagle’s heads for a long period of time. It is interesting that the date of the official establishment of all three crowns on the coat of arms can be considered one thousand six hundred and twenty-five. At that time, on the so-called small state seal under Mikhail Fedorovich, between the heads of the bird, instead of a cross, a third crown appeared (this symbolism differed from the seal of False Dmitry, which was quite possibly made in Poland). It was logical. Under the real Russian Tsar, all the symbolism was originally Russian. The so-called Great State Seal of the famous ruler Alexei Mikhailovich, as well as his son Mikhail Fedorovich, bore the same symbols in one thousand six hundred and forty-five. And here it is - the coat of arms of Russia, the significance of which in history is difficult to overestimate. Beautiful, unusual and proud...

Coat of arms of the Russian Empire

But the symbols of our Fatherland were not always so uniform. So, in particular, the Great Coat of Arms usually depicted a black double-headed eagle in a golden shield, which was crowned with two imperial crowns. It is interesting that above the indicated crowns there was the same decoration, but in large view. It was a crown, marked by the two ends of the fluttering ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew. Such a state eagle holds a golden scepter, as well as an orb, in its powerful claws. As for the chest of the bird, the coat of arms of Moscow is depicted here, that is, in a scarlet shield with golden edges are the Holy Great Martyr, as well as the Victorious George. It should be noted that he is depicted in silver armor and an azure robe, on a silver horse covered with crimson cloth trimmed with gold fringe. A brave horseman strikes a golden dragon with green wings with a spear with an eight-pointed cross in its upper part.

Usually the shield crowned the most famous Holy Grand Duke. Around this symbolism there was a chain of the Order of the Most Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. It is noteworthy that on the sides there were images of saints.

It must be said that the main shield from below was surrounded by eight similar symbols of principalities and “kingdoms”. In addition, “His Imperial Majesty’s family coat of arms” was present here. It is interesting that six other symbols of principalities and regions were also placed above the canopy of the main shield itself.

By the way, the small coat of arms usually represented a black double-headed eagle, directly on the wings of which, as a rule, eight shields of principalities, as well as “kingdoms,” were depicted. It is interesting that the description of the coat of arms of Russia is very reminiscent of the description of these ancient symbols that have been known in Rus' for a long time. Everything, as we know, is formed historically, going on from time immemorial. Therefore, it is not surprising that such a symbol has been formed over centuries.

What about now?

Today, everywhere, in all schools, the coat of arms of Russia and its meaning in history and culture are studied. And it is right. Children should understand from a young age where things come from and what they mean. So, the modern coat of arms of the Russian Federation is a unique symbol that allows any foreigner to understand how strong our state is, how unshakable our people are. It is not enough to understand the decoding of concepts, you need to remember the meaning. Today you can see the coat of arms of the Russian Federation everywhere, its photos are posted on the Internet and constantly “flicker” on TV. Therefore, studying it is not only easy, but also simply necessary. Knowing your history, feeling your unity, experiencing healthy patriotism and understanding the meaning of symbols is very important.

In January 1472, the Russian embassy went to Constantinople to pick up the bride of the Grand Duke. On November 12, 1472, Zoya Paleologue entered Moscow. She was met by the Metropolitan and the highest clergy. Zoya Paleolog became Grand Duchess Sophia Fominichnaya. She brought the coat of arms of Byzantium to Rus' - a double-headed eagle. Its combination with the Moscow coat of arms in the form of St. George the Victorious became the coat of arms of the Russian state, which was then united under the hegemon of Moscow.
But if on the seal of Ivan III both emblems appeared as if on equal terms, each occupying its own side, then from the next century the double-headed eagle became the main emblem of the Russian coat of arms. As royal power strengthened, new attributes were added to the eagle and rider.

In the 17th century, the eagle already held in its paws a scepter and an orb - the regalia of royal and imperial power, generally accepted in all monarchical states.
In general, the coat of arms of Russia was modified under many kings. This happened under Ivan the Terrible, Mikhail Fedorovich, Peter I, Paul I, Alexander I and Nicholas I. Each of these monarchs made some changes to the state emblem.
For example, during the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich “the Blessed” (1584-1587), the sign of the passion of Christ appears on the coat of arms of Russia 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.
And during the reign of the first king of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), the double-headed eagle was first depicted under three crowns, and St. George the Victorious returned on the chest in the form of a shield. 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.
IN a short time reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) Russia was 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, there was a shield with St. George (Paul interpreted it as the “indigenous coat of arms of Russia”), superimposed on the Maltese cross. But this draft coat of arms was never finally approved. As a result of a Masonic conspiracy, March 11, 1801. 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 dies in Taganrog and ascends the throne strong willed and awareness of duty to Russia Emperor Nicholas I (1825-1855). 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.

But the most serious heraldic reform was carried out during the reign of Alexander II in 1855-1857. At his order, specifically for work on coats of arms, the Department of Heraldry of the Senate created the Armorial Department, which was headed by Baron B. Kene. He developed a whole system of Russian state emblems (Big, Middle and Small), focusing in their artistic embodiment on the generally accepted norms of European monarchical heraldry.

Also, under the leadership of Kene, the design of the eagle and St. George was changed, and the state coat of arms was brought into compliance with international rules of heraldry.
On April 11, 1857, Alexander II approved the coat of arms of the Russian Empire - the double-headed eagle. The entire set of state emblems was also approved - Large, Middle and Small, which were supposed to symbolize the unity and power of Russia. 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.
Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars “On the destruction of estates and civil ranks” (1917) Russian signs distinctions, orders, flag and coat of arms were abolished. 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.

The coat of arms of Russia is one of the main state symbols of Russia, along with the flag and anthem. The modern coat of arms of Russia is a golden two-headed eagle on a red background. Three crowns are depicted above the eagle’s heads, now symbolizing the sovereignty of both the entire Russian Federation and its parts, the subjects of the Federation; in the paws there is a scepter and an orb, personifying state power and single state; on the chest is an image of a horseman slaying a dragon with a spear. This is one of the ancient symbols of the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, and the defense of the Fatherland.

History of changes to the coat of arms

The first reliable evidence of the use of the double-headed eagle as a state emblem is the seal of John III Vasilievich on the exchange charter of 1497. During its existence, the image of the double-headed eagle has undergone many changes. In 1917, the eagle ceased to be the coat of arms of Russia. Its symbolism seemed to the Bolsheviks a symbol of autocracy; they did not take into account the fact that the double-headed eagle was a symbol of Russian statehood. On November 30, 1993, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed the Decree on the State Emblem. Now the double-headed eagle, as before, symbolizes the power and unity of the Russian state.

15th century
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 first all-Russian Code of Law 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'. The very first surviving evidence of the use of the image of a double-headed eagle as a symbol of Russia is the grand-ducal seal of Ivan III, which in 1497 sealed his “exchange and allotment” charter for the land holdings of appanage princes. At the same time, images of a gilded double-headed eagle on a red field appeared on the walls of the Garnet Chamber in the Kremlin.

Mid-16th century
Beginning in 1539, the type of eagle on the seal of the Grand Duke of Moscow changed. In the era of Ivan the Terrible, on the golden bull (state seal) of 1562, in the center of the double-headed eagle, an image of a horseman (“rider”) appeared - one of ancient symbols princely power in "Rus". The “rider” is placed in a shield on the chest of a double-headed eagle, crowned with one or two crowns surmounted by a cross.

End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century
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.

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.

30-60s of the 18th century
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.”

But if in this Decree the rider on the coat of arms was still called a rider, then among the drawings of coats of arms presented in May 1729 by Count Minich in Military Collegium and having received the highest approval, the double-headed eagle is described as follows: “The State Coat of Arms in the old way: a double-headed eagle, black, on the heads of the crown, and at the top in the middle is a large Imperial crown in gold; in the middle of that eagle, George on a white horse, defeating the serpent; the cap and spear are yellow, the crown is yellow, the snake is black; the field is white all around, and red in the middle.” In 1736, Empress Anna Ioannovna invited the Swiss engraver Gedlinger, who by 1740 engraved the State Seal. Central part the matrices of this seal with the image of a double-headed eagle were used until 1856. Thus, the type of double-headed eagle on the State Seal remained unchanged for more than a hundred years.

Turn of the 18th-19th centuries
Emperor Paul I, by decree of April 5, 1797, allowed members of the imperial family to use the image of a double-headed eagle as their coat of arms.
During the short reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801), Russia pursued an active foreign policy, faced with a new enemy - 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, 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.

Soon after ascending the throne, Emperor Alexander I, by Decree of April 26, 1801, removed the Maltese cross and crown from the coat of arms of Russia.

1st half of the 19th century
Images of the double-headed eagle at this time were very diverse: it could have one or three crowns; in the paws are not only the already traditional scepter and orb, but also a wreath, lightning bolts (peruns), and a torch. The wings of an eagle were depicted in different ways - raised, lowered, straightened. To a certain extent, the image of the eagle was influenced by the then European fashion, common to the Empire era.
Under Emperor Nicholas I, the simultaneous existence of two types of state eagle was officially established.
The first type is an eagle with spread wings, under one crown, with the image of St. George on the chest and with a scepter and orb in its paws. The second type was an eagle with raised wings, on which the titular coats of arms were depicted: on the right - Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian, on the left - Polish, Tauride, Finland. For some time, another version was in circulation - with the coats of arms of the three “main” Old Russian Grand Duchies (Kyiv, Vladimir and Novgorod lands) and three kingdoms - Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberian. An eagle under three crowns, with St. George (as the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Moscow) in a shield on the chest, with a chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, with a scepter and an orb in its paws.

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. At the same time, St. George on the eagle’s chest, in accordance with the rules of Western European heraldry, began to look to the left. The drawing of the Small Coat of Arms of Russia, executed by Alexander Fadeev, was approved by the highest on December 8, 1856. This version of the coat of arms differed from the previous ones not only in the image of an eagle, but also in the number of “title” coats of arms on the wings. On the right were shields with the 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.

Large State Emblem, 1882
July 24, 1882 Emperor Alexander III in Peterhof, he 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 design of the Great Coat of Arms of the Empire was finally approved on November 3, 1882, when the coat of arms of Turkestan was added to the title coats of arms.

Small State Emblem, 1883-1917.
On February 23, 1883, the Middle and two versions of the Small coat of arms were approved. On the wings of the double-headed eagle (Small Coat of Arms) were placed eight coats of arms of the full title of the Emperor of Russia: the coat of arms of the kingdom of Kazan; coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland; coat of arms of the kingdom of Chersonese Tauride; combined coat of arms of the Kyiv, Vladimir and Novgorod great principalities; coat of arms of the kingdom of Astrakhan, coat of arms of the kingdom of Siberia, coat of arms of the kingdom of Georgia, coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Finland. 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 is “Basic Provisions government structure Russian Empire" of 1906 - confirmed all previous legal provisions relating to the State Emblem.

Coat of arms of Russia, 1917
After February Revolution In 1917, on the initiative of Maxim Gorky, a Special Meeting on Arts was organized. In March of the same year, it included a commission under the executive committee of the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, which, in particular, was preparing a new version of the coat of arms of Russia. The commission included famous artists and art historians A. N. Benois and N. K. Roerich, I. Ya. Bilibin, and heraldist V. K. Lukomsky. It was decided to use images of a double-headed eagle on the seal of the Provisional Government. The design of this seal was entrusted to I. Ya. Bilibin, who took as a basis the image of the double-headed eagle, deprived of almost all symbols of power, on the seal of Ivan III. This image continued to be used after October revolution, until the adoption of the new Soviet coat of arms on July 24, 1918.

State emblem of the RSFSR, 1918-1993.
In the summer of 1918, the Soviet government finally decided to break with the historical symbols of Russia, and the new Constitution adopted on July 10, 1918 proclaimed in the state emblem not land, but political, party symbols: the double-headed eagle was replaced by a red shield, which depicted a crossed hammer and sickle and an ascending the sun as a sign of change. Since 1920, the abbreviated name of the state - the RSFSR - was placed at the top of the shield. The shield was bordered by ears of wheat, secured with a red ribbon with the inscription “Workers of all countries, unite.” Later, this image of the coat of arms was approved in the Constitution of the RSFSR.

Even earlier (April 16, 1918), the sign of the Red Army was legalized: a five-pointed Red Star, a symbol of the ancient god of war, Mars. 60 years later, in the spring of 1978, the military star, which by that time had become part of the coat of arms of the USSR and most republics, was included in the coat of arms of the RSFSR.

In 1992, the last change to the coat of arms came into force: the abbreviation above the hammer and sickle was replaced by the inscription “Russian Federation”. But this decision was almost never carried out, because the Soviet coat of arms with its party symbols no longer corresponded to the political structure of Russia after the collapse of the one-party system of government, the ideology of which it embodied.

State emblem of the Russian Federation, 1993
On November 5, 1990, the Government of the RSFSR adopted a resolution on the creation of the State Emblem and State Flag of the RSFSR. A Government Commission was created to organize this work. After a comprehensive discussion, the commission proposed to recommend to the Government a white-blue-red flag and a coat of arms - a golden double-headed eagle on a red field. The final restoration of these symbols occurred in 1993, when by Decrees of President B. Yeltsin they were approved as the state flag and coat of arms.

December 8, 2000 The State Duma adopted the Federal Constitutional Law “On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation”. Which was approved by the Federation Council and signed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on December 20, 2000.

The golden double-headed eagle on a red field preserves historical continuity in the colors of the coats of arms of the late 15th - 17th centuries. The eagle design goes back to images on monuments from the era of Peter the Great.

The restoration of the double-headed eagle as the State Emblem of Russia personifies continuity and continuity national history. Today's coat of arms of Russia is a new coat of arms, but its components are deeply traditional; it reflects different stages of Russian history and continues them on the eve of the third millennium.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

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, dating back to the period of 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 Russian coat of arms?

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

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

The history of the coat of arms of Russia is rich and interesting, but before telling about it, a description of this national symbol should be given.

Description of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation

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

Each eagle's head is crowned, in addition, there is another crown above them, bigger size. Three crowns are connected by a gold ribbon. The double-headed eagle holds a scepter in its right paw, and an orb in its left. On the chest of the double-headed eagle there is another red shield with the image of a horseman killing 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 eigenvalue. The double-headed eagle is a symbol of the 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 - countries whose state traditions were also strongly influenced by Byzantium.

Three crowns in the coat of arms mean the sovereignty of the Russian state. Initially, the crowns meant the 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 more than the image of St. George the Victorious, a symbol of the bright principle defeating evil. He personifies the warrior-defender of the Motherland and has enjoyed great popularity in Russia throughout its history. No wonder St. George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of Moscow and is depicted on its coat of arms.

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

Initially, the horseman 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 Saint George.

History of the coat of arms of Russia

The central element of the Russian coat of arms is the 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.

Before 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, the horseman became a common state symbol (later it would turn into St. George the Victorious). For the first time, the double-headed eagle as a symbol of princely power was used on the seal that sealed the deed of ownership land plots. Also during the reign of Ivan III, an eagle appears on the walls of the Faceted Chamber of the Kremlin.

Why exactly during this period the Moscow tsars began to use the double-headed eagle is still a matter of debate 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 Paleologus. In fact, this theory was first put forward by Karamzin. However, it raises serious doubts.

Sofia 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 Sofia, and the prince himself never made 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.

There is an opinion that the Moscow princes borrowed the eagle from the South Slavic peoples, who quite actively used this image. However, no traces of such borrowing could be found. And the appearance of the Russian “bird” is very different from its South Slavic counterparts.

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

The double-headed eagle became the official state emblem under the grandson of Ivan III, Ivan the Terrible. At first the eagle is complemented by a unicorn, but soon it is replaced by a rider who slays a dragon - a symbol usually associated with Moscow. Initially, the horseman was perceived as a sovereign (“great prince on horseback”), but already during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, they began to call him George the Victorious. This interpretation will be finally consolidated much later, during the reign of Peter the Great.

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

Since about the middle of the 16th century, the Russian double-headed eagle has often been painted in the “armed” position: the bird’s beak is open and its tongue is hanging out. Such a double-headed eagle seems aggressive, ready to attack. This change is the result of the influence of European heraldic traditions.

At the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century, the so-called Calvary cross often appears in the upper part of the coat of arms, between the heads of the eagle. This innovation coincides with the moment Russia gained church independence. Another version of the coat of arms 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 actively used seals depicting the Russian coat of arms during the Time of Troubles.

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 heraldic tradition of that time, the eagle began to be depicted with spread wings.

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

During the reign of Peter I, the crowns over the heads of the eagle acquired the well-known “imperial” look, in addition, the coat of arms of Russia changed its color design. The eagle's body became black, and its eyes, beak, tongue and paws became gold. The dragon also began to be depicted in black, and St. George the Victorious - in silver. This design became 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 by the British infuriated the Russian emperor and pushed him into an alliance with Napoleon (which later cost him his life). It is for this reason that the Russian coat of arms received another element - the Maltese cross. Its meaning was that the Russian state lays claim to 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 coat of arms with a double-headed eagle, the coats of arms 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 the 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. Before 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. It was handled by the King of Arms Baron Köhne. In 1856, a new small Russian coat of arms was approved. In 1857, the reform was finally completed: in addition to the small one, the medium and large coat of arms of the Russian Empire were also adopted. They remained virtually unchanged until the events of the February Revolution.

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

However, six months later another revolution occurred, and the Bolsheviks began developing a new coat of arms for Russia.

In 1918, the Constitution of the RSFSR was adopted, and along with it, the 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 the exact 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