What does the great state seal of Ivan the Terrible say? Ivan III - the first sovereign of all Rus'

History of the Coat of Arms of Russia

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, an Orthodox cross was also placed on them, which indicated that the regiment fighting under this banner was serving to 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 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" - 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 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 the same year, the first decree in the history of Russia appeared on December 14, “On the royal title and on the state seal,” 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, Little and White Russia, the 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".

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." Only I did not find an image of this eagle.

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 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 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.

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 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 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's 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’s appearance 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, becoming huge and independent state Russia now has 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 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 a unified 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 Vasilyevich on the exchange document 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 power and unity Russian state.

15th century
The reign of Grand Duke Ivan III (1462-1505) - the most important stage 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 the oldest symbols of 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 to the Military Collegium and which received the highest approval, the double-headed eagle is described as follows: “The State Coat of Arms in the old way: 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 serpent 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. The central part of the matrix of this seal with the image of a double-headed eagle was used until 1856. Thus, the type of double-headed eagle on the State Seal remained unchanged for more than a hundred years.

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.
IN 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 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.

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
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 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 - “Basic provisions of the state structure of the Russian Empire” of 1906 - confirmed all previous legal provisions relating to the State Emblem.

Coat of arms of Russia, 1917
After the February Revolution of 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 rising sun as a sign of change. Since 1920, the abbreviated name of the state - the RSFSR - was placed at the top of the shield. The shield was bordered by ears of wheat, 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.

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

A golden double-headed eagle on a red field maintains historical continuity in color scheme coats of arms of the late XV - XVII 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 the continuity and continuity of Russian history. Today's coat of arms of Russia is a new coat of arms, but its components are deeply traditional; he reflects different stages national history, and continues them on the eve of the third millennium.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

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 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 - 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: Grand Duke Moscow Ivan III married the Byzantine princess Sophia Paleologus and, 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).

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 (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 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.

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

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 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 for 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, 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, 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 boyar 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 another Eagle (Fig. 21a), 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.”

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.

For a very short and extremely offensive reign for the Russian people Peter III(1761-1762) The eagle did not react in any way. 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. Most interesting shape- Eagle (Fig. 27a) appeared during the time of Pugachev with a huge and not quite 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.
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 coat of arms (Fig. 28a). 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.

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, has a black double-headed eagle in a golden shield, crowned with two imperial crowns, above which is the same, but in in a larger form, crown, with two fluttering ends of the St. Andrew's Order ribbon. 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 an 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.

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The anthem appeared even later - in the 19th century. At that time there were already many all-Russian melodies, which even after the creation of the official anthem of Russia remained the musical emblems of the Russian army, class associations, spiritual ceremonies, etc.

Thus, our today's state symbols are, first of all, signs of Russian history, and you just need to love the history of your country, as the great one loved it, who wrote: “... I swear on my honor that for nothing in the world I would not want to change my fatherland or have another story besides the history of our ancestors, the way God gave it to us.”

State symbols of Russia withXVXXI centuries

1) Symbolism under IvanIII

The reign of Moscow Prince Ivan III was the era of the formation of a unified Russian state. The last independent principalities that once competed with Moscow disappeared. Russia performed confidently on the international stage. Ivan III was called the sovereign of all Rus', and in some cases even the tsar.

A single power also required common symbols.

The state symbols of Russia have become a double-headed eagle and a horseman slaying a serpent with a spear. They were first combined in print

Ivan III 1490s

The Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts in Moscow contains the Charter of Ivan III, dating back to 1497. It is a charter of the Grand Duke of Moscow to his nephews - Fyodor Borisovich and Ivan Borisovich.

The certificate was sealed with four seals. The most notable of these was the seal of Ivan III made of red wax.

On the front side of the seal there is an image of a horseman slaying a serpent with a spear, on back side- a double-headed eagle with outstretched wings and two crowns above their heads. There is a legend (inscription) around the circumference of both sides of the seal.

Impressions of the seal that sealed the charter of 1497 were preserved in several documents from the late 15th – early 16th centuries.

The emblems of the seal - the horseman and the eagle - began to be perceived as official symbols of the Russian state. Therefore, not so long ago, in 1997, the 500th anniversary of the state emblem of Russia was celebrated.

2) State symbols of the Russian Federation.

COAT OF ARMS

The double-headed eagle as the coat of arms of the Moscow state first appeared on the seal of Ivan III in 1497 after his marriage to the Byzantine princess Sophia Palaeologus: the image of a double-headed eagle (the coat of arms of Byzantium) was combined with the Moscow coat of arms, as a result of which an eagle was depicted on one half of the coat of arms, and a horseman on the other trampling the dragon.

Subsequently, changes were made to the coat of arms. On the seals of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible, an image of St. George the Victorious, the symbol of the Moscow princes, began to be placed on the chest of the eagle. Since 1625, under Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, three crowns appeared over the heads of the eagle. After the establishment of the Russian Order of St. Andrew the First-Called by Peter I, a chain with the sign of the order was included in the coat of arms. Under Paul I, the image of the Maltese cross was also included in the coat of arms.

Alexander I carried out a large-scale reform of the coat of arms. In 1825, the state eagle was given not a heraldic, but a completely arbitrary form. This eagle had widely spread wings and held thunder arrows and a torch intertwined with ribbons in his right paw, and a laurel crown in his left. The dynastic St. Andrew's chain disappeared, and on the eagle's chest a non-traditional (heart-shaped), pointed upward shield with the Moscow coat of arms appeared. Emperor Nicholas I already in 1830 returned to the traditional emblem, but supplemented it with the coats of arms of the kingdoms that were part of the Russian Empire. The shields of these coats of arms were located on the open wings of an eagle.

The reign of Alexander II was also marked by a new reform of the coat of arms. This was a purely heraldic reform - the design of the coat of arms was brought into line with international rules heraldry. In 1882, a strict hierarchy of the coat of arms was established - Large, Middle and Small state emblems Russian Empire. From this time until February 1917, the image of the coat of arms became unshakable.

After February revolution In 1917, the seal and banknotes of the Provisional Government featured the imperial double-headed eagle, but without crowns. The decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of January 1, 2001 “On the destruction of estates and civil ranks” abolished Russian insignia, orders, flag and coat of arms.

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: on November 30, 1993, the President of the Russian Federation signed the Decree “On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation”. According to the Regulations on the Coat of Arms, it is “an image of a golden double-headed eagle placed on a red heraldic shield; above the eagle are three historical crowns of Peter the Great (above the heads are two small ones and above them is one larger size); in the eagle's paws are a scepter and an orb; on the eagle's chest on a red shield is a horseman slaying a dragon with a spear."

On December 4, 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma, along with a number of bills on state symbols, a draft federal constitutional law “On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation.” A double-headed golden eagle against the background of a red shield was proposed as a coat of arms. On December 8, the State Duma adopted in the first and third (bypassing the second, which is allowed by State Duma regulations) the draft law “On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation.” On December 25, 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the federal constitutional law of the Russian Federation “On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation” (No. FKZ-2), the law came into force on the date of its publication - December 27, 2000.

In accordance with the law, the State Emblem of the Russian Federation is a quadrangular, with rounded lower corners, pointed at the tip, red heraldic shield with a golden double-headed eagle raising its spreading wings upward. The eagle is crowned with two small and one large crowns connected by a ribbon. In the eagle's right paw is a scepter, in the left is an orb. On the eagle’s chest, in a red shield, is a silver rider in a blue cloak riding to the left on a silver horse, striking with a silver spear a black dragon, overturned on its back and trampled by the horse, also facing to the left.

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. Above the heads of the eagle are three historical crowns of Peter the Great, symbolizing in the new conditions 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 a unified 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. The restoration of the double-headed eagle as the State Emblem of Russia personifies the continuity and continuity of Russian history. Today's coat of arms of Russia is a new coat of arms, but its components are deeply traditional; it reflects different stages of Russian history and continues them on the eve of the third millennium.

Conclusion: I believe that the state emblem of the Russian Federation is a symbol of the unity of the peoples of Russia who live in both the European and Asian parts. I think that the crowns over the heads of the eagle are symbols of the union of the republics, territories and regions of which our country consists. The scepter and orb mean power, the greatness of the state and its unity. A horseman slaying a serpent with a spear - not only ancient symbol capital of Russia - Moscow, but also the personification of the victory of good over evil, the readiness of our people to protect the country from enemies.

FLAG

The national flag in Russia appeared at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries, during the era of the emergence of Russia as a powerful state. For the first time, the white-blue-red flag was raised on the first Russian warship "Eagle", during the reign of Peter I's father Alexei Mikhailovich. It is known that the "Eagle" did not sail for long under the new banner: having descended along the Volga to Astrakhan, it was burned by the rebel peasants of Stepan Razin. Peter I is recognized as the legal father of the tricolor. On January 20, 1705, he issued a decree according to which “all kinds of merchant ships” should fly a white-blue-red flag, he himself drew a sample and determined the order of horizontal stripes. In different variations, the three-stripe flag also decorated warships until 1712, when the St. Andrew's flag was established in the navy.

In 1858, Alexander II approved a drawing “with the arrangement of the emblem black-yellow-white colors of the Empire on banners, flags and other items for decoration on the streets on special occasions.” And on January 1, 1865, a personal decree of Alexander II was issued, in which the colors black, orange (gold) and white were directly called “the state colors of Russia.”

The black-yellow-white flag lasted until 1883. On April 28, 1883, a decree was announced Alexandra III, which stated: “So that on those solemn occasions when it is considered possible to allow the decoration of buildings with flags, only the Russian flag, consisting of three stripes: the upper one is white, the middle one is blue and the lower one is red.” Finally, in 1896, Nicholas II established a Special Meeting at the Ministry of Justice to discuss the issue of the Russian national flag. The meeting came to the conclusion that “the white-blue-red flag has every right to be called Russian or national and its colors: white, blue and red are called state” and determined that for the entire empire the color “white-blue-red” should be definitively considered and no other."

The three colors of the flag, which became national, received an official interpretation. The red color meant “sovereignty”, blue - the color of the Mother of God, under whose protection Russia is, white - the color of freedom and independence. These colors also meant the commonwealth of White, Little and Great Russia.

After the February Revolution, the Provisional Government used the white-blue-red flag as its state flag. Soviet Russia did not immediately reject the tricolor symbol of Russia. On April 8, 1918, speaking at a meeting of the Bolshevik faction of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, he proposed to approve the red battle flag as the national Russian flag, and for more than 70 years the red banner was the state flag.

The proposal to replace the “revolutionary” red flag with a white-blue-red one was made by a people’s deputy - even before the August 1991 putsch. The extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR on August 22, 1991 decided to consider the tricolor the official symbol of Russia, the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 01/01/01 approved the Regulations on the State Flag of the Russian Federation, and the decree dated 01/01/01 established that the State Flag is permanently displayed on buildings , where the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, federal executive bodies, other federal government bodies, government bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are located (together with the flags of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation).

In August 1994, the President signed a Decree that states: “In connection with the restoration on August 22, 1991 of the historical Russian tricolor state flag, covered with the glory of many generations of Russians, and in order to educate current and future generations of Russian citizens to respect state symbols, I decree: Establish a holiday - the Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation and celebrate it on August 22."

In January 1998, it was decided to remove the problem of legislative consolidation of state symbols from the agenda of domestic political life, since both in society and in parliament there are polar points of view on this matter.

On December 4, 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma, among other laws on state symbols, a draft federal constitutional law "On State flag Russian Federation." On December 8, 2000, the State Duma adopted the bill in the first and third (final) readings. On December 20, 2000, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation approved the draft law, and on December 25, 2000, it was signed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

In accordance with the law, the State Flag of the Russian Federation is a rectangular panel of three equal horizontal stripes: the top is white, the middle is blue and the bottom is red. The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 2:3.

Currently, the following interpretation of the meanings of the colors of the Russian flag is most often (unofficially) used: white means peace, purity, purity, perfection; blue is the color of faith and fidelity, constancy; red color symbolizes energy, strength, blood shed for the Fatherland.

Conclusion: Thus, the state flag of our Motherland is one of its most important symbols, which means the independence of our country from others, which is subject to protection both within Russia and outside its borders. I am very proud and admire our national flag and believe that every person should know not only what it looks like, but also its history, the interpretation of the meanings of its colors.

HYMN

Russia did not have its own anthem for a long time. Until the 17th century, Orthodox church hymns were performed during state ceremonies and events of national significance. In the era of Peter the Great, during all kinds of celebrations, “vivat cants” began to be performed - patriotic chants, interspersed with the singing of “Many Years.” They were performed until the 1780s.

Throughout the 18th century, the functions of the hymn were performed by the medieval pan-European hymn “We Praise You, God.” It was performed after the victories of the Russian troops, at the end of solemn prayers and on the “royal” days of the imperial family. Adjoining the laudatory cants and oratorios was the oldest Russian "Preobrazhensky March of Peter the Great", created towards the end of Peter's reign.

By the end of the 19th century, the Preobrazhensky March became the main one in Russia. Since 1917, this march has served as the national anthem for some time.

The first official national anthem of Russia was “The Russian Prayer” with the words “God Save the Tsar!” On September 19, 1816, the “Prayer” was sung during the celebration of the anniversary of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum with two additional verses composed. At the same time, Alexander I issued a decree to perform the “Russian Prayer” by the regimental orchestra always when the emperor met.

The date of birth of the second official anthem of Russia - "God Save the Tsar" to the tune - was December 25, 1833, the day of celebration of the anniversary of the expulsion of the French from Russia. This anthem existed until March 2, 1917, the day of the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II.

After the February Revolution of 1917, the Russian Marseillaise served as the anthem for a short time. At the suggestion “in the new conditions” of “irreconcilable class struggle,” the “Internationale” began to be used instead of the “bourgeois “Marseillaise.” On January 10, 1918, at the Third Congress of Soviets, it was performed as the anthem of the victorious proletarian revolution.

On January 1, 1944, the new national anthem “The Indestructible Union of Free Republics” (music, text and -Registan) was heard on the radio for the first time. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the new anthem was approved from March 15, 1944 for universal use.

In 1990, by decision of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, a government commission was formed in Russia to create a new national anthem (co-chairs - Sergei Mikhalkov, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Evgeniy Sidorov, chairman of the Union of Composers). The authorities approved "Patriotic Song" as his music. A competition was announced for the text of the anthem. According to the terms of the competition, poems were accepted from all Russian citizens.

The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated January 1, 2001 approved the Regulations on the State Anthem of the Russian Federation, on the basis of which the State Anthem of the Russian Federation is a melody created on the basis of the “Patriotic Song” arranged by A. Petrov.

The commission for the preparation of the new anthem announced a competition for its text; in total, the commission received over 6,000 texts. After much work, they settled on twenty, which were recorded on tape by a choir. After listening to these texts, the commission members came to the conclusion that none of the voiced options is suitable for the Russian national anthem. The work of the commission was terminated in 1996.

In January 1998, President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin introduced the federal constitutional law “On the state flag, coat of arms and anthem of the Russian Federation” to the State Duma. The State Duma rejected the law in the first reading on January 23, 1998. The State Duma also rejected the alternative project “On the State Anthem of the Russian Federation,” introduced by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation faction and providing for a return to the anthem to the music of A. Alexandrov, the anthem of the USSR.

At a meeting of the top leaders of the legislative and executive powers - the Quartet - on January 29, 1998, it was decided that at present it is advisable to remove the problem of legislative consolidation of state symbols from the agenda of internal political life, since there are polar points of view both in society and in parliament on this score. The issue of state symbols will be transferred to a special commission “for careful study and preparation of proposals.”

On December 4, 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced to the State Duma along with federal laws on state symbols, the draft federal constitutional law "On the State Anthem of the Russian Federation". Alexandrov's music was proposed as an anthem. On December 8, 2000, the State Duma adopted in the first and third (bypassing the second, as State Duma regulations allow) readings the draft constitutional law “On the State Anthem of the Russian Federation.” On December 25, 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the federal constitutional law of the Russian Federation “On the National Anthem of the Russian Federation,” which came into force on December 27, 2000.

In December 2000, a working group was formed to consider proposals for the text of the national anthem. The working group includes, in particular, Governor St., Minister of Culture Mikhail Shvydkoy, Chairman of the Duma Committee on Culture and Tourism Nikolai Gubenko, a number of State Duma deputies and members of the Federation Council, as well as the Presidential Administration.

On December 30, 2000, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a Decree on the text of the national anthem of the Russian Federation. By decree, the President approved the text of the anthem written by Sergei Mikhalkov.

In mid-January 2001, Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma the text of the State Anthem of Russia as a draft Law “On Amendments and Additions to the Federal Constitutional Law “On the State Anthem of the Russian Federation”.

On March 7, 2001, the State Duma adopted in the first, second and third, final reading a bill introduced by the president on the text of the National Anthem based on the words of Sergei Mikhalkov. On March 14, the bill was approved by the Federation Council, signed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on March 22, 2001 No. 2 of the Federal Law, and entered into force on March 24, 2001.

Text of the Russian Anthem

1st verse:

Russia is our sacred power,
Russia is our beloved country.
Mighty will, great glory -
Your treasure for all time!

2nd verse:

From the southern seas to the polar edge
Our forests and fields are spread out.
You are the only one in the world! You're the only one -
God-protected native land!

Hail, our Fatherland is free,
An age-old union of fraternal peoples,
This is the folk wisdom given by our ancestors!
Hail, country! We are proud of you!

Verse 3:

Wide scope for dreams and for life
The years to come reveal to us.
Our loyalty to the Fatherland gives us strength.
So it was, so it is and so it will always be!

Hail, our Fatherland is free,
An age-old union of fraternal peoples,
This is the folk wisdom given by our ancestors!
Hail, country! We are proud of you!

Conclusion: Therefore, the anthem is a song dedicated to our beloved Motherland. His words convey the idea of reviving the greatness and glory of Russia. In my deep conviction, the modern anthem unites all residents of our country: Usinsk and Syktyvkar, Moscow and Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg and Kaliningrad. It unites everyone who considers themselves a citizen, who wishes Russia prosperity and good luck, who truly loves and is proud of their Motherland. Therefore, I believe that every resident of our country should know the words of the anthem by heart!

3) State symbols of the Komi Republic

COAT OF ARMS

It is an image of a golden bird of prey, based on the Permian animal style, on a red heraldic shield: on the bird’s chest is the face of a woman framed by six elk heads. The composition “bird – man – elk”, made in the style of cult casting, reflects the mythological views of the Komi people.

The Perm animal style appeared in the VI-VIII centuries. n. e. The subjects of his works are very diverse. The most common images are of birds of prey and animals, especially bears and moose. Many bird images are complicated by images of human figures, faces, or images of the sun stylized as a face on the chest.

In the traditional interpretation, a bird of prey with slightly open wings is an image of the sun, power, and the upper world. The woman’s face on the bird’s chest corresponds to the image of Zarni An (Golden Woman), the life-giving solar goddess, the mother of the world. The image of a moose is associated with the idea of strength, nobility, and beauty. In cosmological concepts, it carries within itself a synthesis of the harmonious structure of the world. The combination of gold and red, which forms the basis of the color scheme of the coat of arms, symbolizes the morning, spring, warm sun, motherhood and birth in Komi folklore. Along with this, in modern socio-political interpretation, the red field (background) means activity, activity of the people and the authorities, and in combination with the shape of the shield it can be associated with the historical fate of the Komi people, which is part of the multinational Russian state. At the same time, the figure of the bird itself with half-opened wings takes on the shape of a cross, which can be interpreted as a symbol of spiritual and state power.

Conclusion: The state emblem of the Komi Republic is the most important symbol of a sovereign republic within the Russian Federation. The coat of arms of the republic where I live gives me a feeling of pride and admiration. The bird of prey depicted on it reminds me of a wise owl that will always help and protect, an elk is always a symbol of nobility and honor, and the woman’s face speaks of the beauty of our native land, symbolizing the life and prosperity of our Komi people.

FLAG

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I love my city of Usinsk very much, because here I was born and raised, now I am studying and getting a “start in life.” It means a lot to me main symbol our city is its coat of arms. It depicts a drilling rig, because the main occupation of all Usinsk residents is oil production.

It's interesting that...

On February 26, 1991, the city authorities decided to hold a city competition to create a design for the coat of arms of Usinsk. A year and a half later, on November 26, 1992, city council deputies had to determine the winner. Of the four competitors - Usinsk artists A. Pridatko, S. Morozova, F. Burangulov, P. Karpov - the latter, in the opinion of the deputies, managed to most fully reflect the character and features of Usinsk.

This is how Pyotr Vladimirovich himself revealed the content of his project: “The main symbol of my work is a schematic drilling rig. The northern lights seem to hover above it and play in the form of a Komi ornament (a graphically stylized image of a plague). The word “Usinsk” is written at the top of the work on a blue background, symbolizing rivers and lakes. There may be some depth here green- the color of parma (forest).”

Conclusion: What a joy it is to live in Usinsk! After all, you are constantly surrounded by wonderful people - Usinsk residents, who are always ready to help in difficult times. Very soon, I will leave to study in another city, but I will always remember you, my native Usinsk! And wherever I am, I will remember your main symbol - oil rig against the backdrop of the endless taiga!

Conclusion.

Russian state symbols are among those problems that not so long ago seemed insignificant and did not arouse much interest among historians. Nowadays, many are showing keen attention to symbols and emblems unfamiliar to them, once overthrown in the literal sense of the word, but now returned to our society as primordial signs of Russian statehood.

In this work, I tried to highlight the history of Russian state symbols in accordance with today's scientific ideas about each of them. I also talked about the state symbols of the Komi Republic and my hometown of Usinsk, and for clarity I included an illustration of each of them.

Studying the symbols of the Russian Federation, I learned a lot of new and interesting things. I believe that every person in our country should love and respect their Motherland and, of course, know its state symbols.

The symbols of the country are, of course, an integral part of the state. When our athletes take first place at international competitions, the flag is raised over the stadium and the anthem of the Russian Federation is played. So, our fellow countryman from 2005 earned a gold medal at international competitions in cross-country skiing, when he was awarded, we all saw the Russian flag and heard the anthem. These were moments of pride for all residents of our country, and especially the Komi Republic.

We can also recall this case: when, during the first Chechen war, our fighters liberated the village of Vedeno, the “patrimony” of Shamil Basayev, from militants, a Russian flag was installed on his house, as a symbol of the fact that the Chechen Republic is an integral part of our country. After this, hope arose in the hearts of civilians that peace and order would finally be established there.

On January 15, 2006, the inauguration of the Head of the Komi Republic took place in the city of Syktyvkar. Hundreds of thousands of residents of our republic watched with excitement the assumption of Vladimir Alexandrovich as Head of the Republic. Anthems sounded, flags fluttered majestically, the coats of arms of the Russian Federation and the Komi Republic burned brightly, demonstrating the unity of Russia and Komi. The inauguration was attended by the representative of the President of the Russian Federation I. Klebanov and many governors. They all spoke kind words to our republic and the people of Komi. At that moment, I felt great pride that I am a citizen of the great country of Russia and the Komi Republic.

In my city of Usinsk there is a holy place where many Usinsk residents gather together: the Monument to three generations - veterans of the Second World War, the Afghan and Chechen wars. During ceremonial events, the anthems of Russia and the Komi Republic are always played here. And when, at this moment, I see veterans, I am simply overwhelmed with a feeling of pride for them, for true patriots our Motherland.

State symbols of Russia are constantly present at city and school events. Even those people who are not particularly interested in state symbols encounter it every day: every morning the anthem plays on the radio and TV, and in any government agency they can see the flag and coat of arms.

When I go to school and pass by the administration, I involuntarily raise my head and always see the flags of the Russian Federation and our Komi Republic fluttering in the wind. And at school I again encounter state symbols: I see them on the first floor and in the history classroom (see appendix). At this moment, I feel a sense of pride and greatness for my Motherland and I think that every resident of our huge country will agree with me!

“State symbols of Russia. Flag"

secondary school"

With. Zamezhnaya, Ust-Tsilemsky district.

Supervisor: ,

Rus

...There’s a reason for it,

Mighty Rus',

To love you

Call her mother.

Stand for your honor

Against the enemy

For you in need

He'll lay down his head!

(I. Nikitin)

"Symbols of Russia"

Russian Federation, Russia is the largest state in the world. Our huge country is distinguished by its amazingly diverse nature. Harsh beauty Arctic zone gives way to picturesque landscapes of forests and fields; majestic rivers and peaks flow across endless plains high mountains covered with glaciers. The greatness and beauty of our entire vast homeland has inspired and continues to inspire poets, artists and musicians to create outstanding works.

In our country you can see cities-monuments such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Pskov, Novgorod, Vladimir (“ golden ring"), who remember, know and keep the secrets of Russian history. History has always been of great importance for Russia, because all our troubles and joys, defeats and victories, disintegrations and unifications originate from there. And now we need to turn to history in order to find out “how?”, “when?”, “why?” symbols appeared that were and are the embodiment of history, a reflection of the present and the life of the peoples of our country.

The state symbols of the country include the coat of arms, flag, and anthem. Our country has them too.

In December 2000 State Duma adopted laws on the state symbols of the Russian Federation - the coat of arms, flag and anthem.

Modern symbolism did not arise immediately, but only in the 20th century. A mandatory tradition has been established all over the world - each country has its own coat of arms, flag and anthem.

State symbols are the calling card of each country. It emphasizes the individuality and sovereignty of the country as a whole and of an individual state. By the symbols you can easily determine which country you are going to or which you are in, and the representative of which country or state is near you. For example, a white flag with a red maple leaf in the center, and on the sides there are two red stripes is the national flag of Canada. But the red flag with five five-pointed stars in the upper right corner - one large and four small - is the flag of the People's Republic of China.

Symbols are indispensable at the Olympic Games (and all international games). Here, behind the state symbols there is a country and people with their own customs, traditions and culture.

Symbols have their own history and meaning. Modern Russian coat of arms is a symbol of the unification of two parts of the world - Europe and Asia, the unity of European and Asian peoples, but more often the coat of arms is located within the state, present on seals and money. The drawing of the coat of arms was made by the artist. The coat of arms is a double-headed eagle with three crowns - two small ones, and above them a large crown. In the eagle’s right paw is a scepter, in the left is an orb, on the eagle’s chest is a rider on a horse, striking a dragon overturned with a spear. This is what the modern Russian coat of arms looks like, which has a 500-year history.

The modern Russian anthem appeared quite recently, on the eve of the new century (XXI). He demands no less respect for himself than the coat of arms and flag, because his music reflects all the experiences of the Russian people, all the strength and power single state, the unity of the people of such a large country. The majestic music of the anthem touches invisible strings of the soul and makes you feel pride and love for your country. The text of the anthem belongs to the famous Soviet writer(b. 1913), and the music was written by (). IN Tsarist Russia The national anthem was the hymn “God Save the Tsar”; its creators were: The text consisted of only 6 lines.

I would like to tell the story of the Russian national flag, because in my opinion, the flag ranks first among the symbols of Russia. But the flag for Russia is always a symbol of freedom, faith and truth. The Russian flag owes its birth to the Russian fleet. In the village of Dedinovo on the Oka River, the first Russian flotilla was built. It was intended to protect trade caravans. We had to choose a flag for the ship. The flag showed that the ship belonged to one country or another, and the state thereby made it clear that the ship was under its protection. By that time, all the leading powers already had their own flags, all of them differing in color and image. In April 1668, a large amount of white, blue and red material was ordered to be supplied to a Russian ship. But no one knows exactly where these colors were located. Here is one of these statements.

Some researchers believe that the flag consisted of four parts. A blue cross divided the panel in half, vertically and horizontally, and white and red colors were arranged in a checkerboard pattern. There was a red border along the edges of the cloth. This assumption is based on an ancient Dutch engraving that depicts the capture of Azov by Russian troops in 1696. These are the flags shown there.

In 1693, on a ship in Arkhangelsk, Peter I raised a flag, the upper part of which was white, the middle part was blue, and the lower part was red. The blue stripe featured a double-headed eagle with the red mark of St. George, but without the serpent. Perhaps the Russian tricolor arose according to the Dutch model: for the flags of their ships, the Dutch chose a combination of three colors - orange, white and blue (but later the orange stripe was replaced by red). At that time, Holland was the leading naval power in the world. And it is quite possible that Peter I, focusing on this country, took the Dutch flag as a basis.

But it is possible that the combination of three colors is explained as a symbol of the union of three East Slavic peoples - Russians (red), Ukrainians (blue), Belarusians (white). In addition, the colors of the flag corresponded to the colors of the Moscow coat of arms.

Although the prototype of the modern Russian flag appeared under Peter I (), it was able to truly “come into its own” only on April 29, 1896, when Nicholas II ordered that white-blue-red be declared the national state flag.

What does this color combination mean?

The color red was a symbol of courage and courage, as well as a synonym for beauty. Blue color was a symbol of the Mother of God. White color represents peace, purity, nobility.

Frankly, this was unexpected for me, because I used to think that red was the color of blood, because in Russia there have always been many wars, both within Russia itself and with other states. Blue, in my opinion, was supposed to indicate the color of water, since Russia has large reserves of water. And white is the color of winter, snow, because it’s not for nothing that Russia is called the country with the harshest climate (Siberia).

In the era of Peter, other flags appeared, for example, St. Andrew's - a blue oblique cross on a white field. Apostle Andrew was considered the patron saint of Russia and navigation, so the St. Andrew's flag became the flag of the navy of the Russian Empire.

The third flag also owes its birth to Peter I. In 1701, instead of the flag of the Tsar of Moscow, a new standard appeared - an image of a black double-headed eagle on a golden field. This combination of colors was reminiscent of the standard of the Holy Roman Emperor. And although Russia became an empire only 20 years later, even then the Russian Tsar announced its new status.

Flags introduced by Peter I, for a long time were preserved in the history of the country and served as the basis for subsequent Russian state flags.

However, under Peter's successors, the combination of black and gold colors replaced the Russian tricolor. The combination of black, yellow and white was used as the state color symbol. This was the color of the state emblem, as well as the flags of Austria and Prussia, whose armed forces have repeatedly become role models in Russia.

Thus, black, yellow and white began to be perceived as state colors. The flag consisted of three horizontal stripes. The top one is black, the middle one is yellow, the bottom one is white. They meant the following: black - the color of earth, yellow - gold, white - silver.

It is difficult for me to imagine the presence of black on the flag, since black usually symbolizes decline and death. And white-blue-red colors bring festivity, solemnity, and raise patriotic feelings.

The black-yellow-white flag existed along with the white-blue-red one. The white-blue-red flag was hung on courthouses and houses.

In the struggle between the black-yellow-white and white-blue-red flags, Peter’s colors won. Subsequently, Nicholas II secured the tricolor as the state color. Petrovsky colors were revived, but black-yellow-white did not disappear either. Now they were perceived as the colors of the Romanov dynasty.

Of course, there were other state colors and various emblems, but the combination of white, blue and red remained the main one. The Petrovsky tricolor was also present during the discovery of new lands (in 1913 - Northern land), and during the First World War (1914 - 1918), when it was perceived as the flag of free Russia, the banner of struggle.

1917 painted Russia red. In Europe, the color red acquired a revolutionary meaning during the Great Patriotic War. french revolution(1789 – 1795). Russia also greeted February 1917 with red banners.

Since then, the color red has become a symbol of the labor movement, a symbol of the ideas of socialism and communists.

The red color of the revolution did not change even after the October events of 1917.

In October 1918, the Soviet red flag was raised over the Moscow Kremlin. This was the state flag of the RSFSR. It consisted of a red (scarlet) cloth, in the left corner of which, at the top of the shaft, were the golden letters of the RSFSR. The flag had several options.

In November 1918, emblems of the old, tsarist regime were burned on a site in Moscow. Since then, the white-blue-red flag was banned in Soviet Russia.

After the formation of the USSR in 1922, the state flag of the USSR, according to the constitution of 1924, was “a red or scarlet cloth with an image on its upper corner near the shaft of a golden sickle and hammer and, above them, a red five-pointed star framed by a gold border.”

At the beginning of 1954, the last of the republican symbols was approved by the flag of the RSFSR - a red cloth with a narrow vertical blue stripe at the pole. It symbolized the natural resources and water expanses of Russia. There was also a white stripe in the openings.

The flag remained this way until 1991.

The flags of the union republics were of the same type. Their red banners, in addition to the hammer, sickle and five-pointed star, bore the name of republics. These flags changed only at the turn of the 1st year, when white, blue, light blue and green colors were introduced into the flags of the republics, according to “national characteristics”.

The white-blue-red flag returned as the state flag only in November 1990, when the RSFSR commission proposed restoring the historical Russian flag.

Since then, the Russian flag has not changed any more, and has remained and remains so to this day. The white-blue-red flag more accurately reflects current state Russia. Now this is a completely different state: the form of government has changed, the government structure has changed. But, no matter what, Russia remains a powerful power.

In 1992 navy St. Andrew's flag was also restored, instead of the previous naval flag of the USSR, which was a white cloth with a red sickle, hammer, star and a blue stripe along the lower edge.

On December 11, 1993, on the eve of the adoption of a new constitution, the President of Russia signed a decree “On the State Flag of the Russian Federation.” In accordance with it, white, blue and red colors of the flag were established.

On December 25, 2000, President Putin adopted the law “On the National Anthem of the Russian Federation” and “On the State Flag of the Russian Federation.” Russian state symbols were officially enshrined in them.

State symbols were with us always and everywhere, carrying the ideas of freedom, peace, courage and bravery. At the sound of the anthem, the heart begins to beat excitedly. Tears often well up in people’s eyes when the flag flies up. People stand up, expressing their love and devotion to their country, their Motherland - Russia.

FOR NOTES

Constitution of the Komi Republic. Syktyvkar. 2001. p. 83., article 68

Symbols of Russian statehood. Coat of arms. Flag. Hymn. M., pp. 3.

Symbols of Russian statehood. Coat of arms. Flag. Hymn. M., pp. 5.

Sobolev state symbols: history and modernity. M., pp. 5, 10

State symbols of Russia. M., pp. 25,26

Russian state symbols: history and modernity. M., p. 66.

Russian state symbols: history and modernity. M., pp.95-96

State symbols of Russia. M., page 6

Scientific and methodological journal “Teaching history and social studies at school.” Issue 1, 2003. p. 30

Symbols of Russian statehood. Coat of arms. Flag. Hymn. M., pp. 16-17

Russian state symbols: history and modernity. M., pp. 143-144

Russian state symbols: history and modernity. M., p.155

State symbols of Russia. M., pp. 82-83

Scientific and methodological journal “Teaching history and social studies at school.” Issue 1, 2003. p. 33

Russian state symbols: history and modernity. M., p.181

Scientific and methodological journal “Teaching history and social studies at school.” Issue 1, 2003. p.34

State symbols of Russia. M., p. 108

Scientific and methodological journal “Teaching history and social studies at school.” Issue 1, 2003. p. 34

History of the Komi Republic. M. 2000. Pp. 81-82.

Small explanatory dictionary. , . M., 1993, pp. 89

. . “my homeland is Usinsk. Usinsk, 2004., p. 161

The coat of arms of Russia was approved on November 30, 1993.

Description of the coat of arms

Based on the Regulations on the State Emblem of the Russian Federation, clause 1:

"The state emblem of the Russian Federation is an image of a golden double-headed eagle placed on a red heraldic shield; above the eagle are three historical crowns of Peter the Great (above the heads are two small ones and above them is one larger); in the eagle's paws are a scepter and an orb; on the eagle's chest on a red shield is a horseman slaying a dragon with a spear."

Symbolism

Three crowns signify the country's sovereignty. The scepter and orb are a symbol of state power and the unity of the state. The author of the most common image of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation is People's Artist Evgeniy Ilyich Ukhnalev. The symbol of the double-headed eagle first appeared in the history of Russia in 1497, although it was found on Tver coins even earlier. The double-headed eagle is a symbol of the Byzantine Empire. The borrowing of this symbol, as well as from Serbia and Albania from Byzantium, is explained by economic, diplomatic, as well as cultural proximity. The heraldic shield became red for the reason that the image of an eagle on red belongs to the Byzantine heraldic tradition, and the image of an eagle on yellow is closer to the Roman heraldic tradition (coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire).

Possible coat of arms options

All of the above coats of arms are acceptable for use. Most often, the coat of arms is depicted in full color with a shield, as well as in black and white without a shield (on seals).

History of the origin of the coat of arms of Russia

Coat of arms of Russia 1497

The process of uniting the disparate principalities began before John III. It was his father, Vasily II Vasilyevich (ruled from 1435 to 1462), who began the process of unifying Russian lands.

Under John III of Moscow, the principality finally gained strength and subjugated Pskov, Novgorod, and Ryazan. During this period, Tver significantly weakened as a center for the unification of lands.

During the reign of John III, the traditions of government began to change. All the nobility in the subject lands lost their privileges. It was during the reign of John III that the veche bell of Novgorod was dismantled and brought to Moscow.

John III also built a new diplomatic policy. He took the title "Sovereign of All Rus'".

During this period, John III marries the Byzantine queen Sophia (Zinaida) Fominichna Palaeologus.

"John III wisely adopted for Russia the symbolic coat of arms of the Byzantine Empire: a black double-headed eagle on a yellow field and combined it with the Moscow coat of arms - a horseman (St. George) in white clothes on a white horse, slaying a serpent. The state emblem, according to state law, is recognized as a symbol, a visible distinctive sign of the state itself, emblematically depicted on the state seal, on a coin, on a banner, etc. And as such a symbol, the coat of arms of the state expresses the distinctive idea and principles that the state considers itself called upon to implement.

Due to the use of King John III coat of arms Byzantine together with Moscow on the seals of internal and external state acts that have been preserved since 1497; this year is generally considered to be the year of the adoption and merger of the coat of arms of the Byzantine Empire with the coat of arms of the Russian kingdom". /E.N. Voronets. Kharkov. 1912./

Thus, the coat of arms appeared at the moment of its appearance modern state Russian.

It is definitely impossible to say that the coat of arms appeared in 1497, since the matrices for printing coins lasted for 5-15 years. On a coin from 1497, a spearman was reflected on one side, and a double-headed eagle on the other. But we can say for sure that this period can be limited from 1490 to 1500.

Theories of the appearance of the double-headed eagle in Russia as an official symbol

There are several points of view on the appearance of images of a double-headed eagle in Russia (Rus). Firstly, the eagle was originally used on coins and seals of Tver and Moscow. Secondly, the eagle began to be used at approximately the same time - approximately the end of the 15th century, together with images of a spearman.

Currently, there are three theories explaining the appearance of the double-headed eagle on the seals of kings.

Byzantine theory

This theory was actively supported by Russian monarchists and many historians. In most sources it remains the only one. According to this theory, the double-headed eagle began to be used after the marriage of John III with the Byzantine queen Sophia (Zinaida) Fominichna Palaeologus.

This theory is also supported by the fact that the marriage of monarchs coincided with the appearance in Rus' of coins combining the image of a spearman on one side and a double-headed eagle on the other.

Theory of symbol borrowing in the Holy Roman Empire

In the Holy Roman Empire until 1440, a regular eagle was used. After this period it changes to a double-headed eagle.

Some historians and heraldists note that in Muscovy the double-headed eagle could have been adopted for use under the influence of the Holy Roman Empire.

The theory of symbol borrowing in the Balkan countries

The third version of symbol borrowing is the borrowing of the double-headed eagle row Balkan countries: Bulgaria, Serbia.

Each of the theories has its own right to exist.

You can read more about the appearance of the double-headed eagle on the coats of arms of the world in a separate article: eagle in heraldry.

Since 1539, Russian heraldry has been influenced by the Central European heraldic tradition. In accordance with it, the eagle’s beaks are open and its tongue is sticking out. This position of the bird is called: “armed”

During this period, the double-headed eagle was transferred from the reverse of the seal to the obverse. Its meaning is fixed in Russian heraldry.

On the reverse side, a mythological animal appears for the first time: the unicorn.

From this period, a shield appears on the double-headed eagle’s chest (at first of a baroque heraldic form), on which there is a rider with a spear, striking a dragon on one side (the main side) and a unicorn on the shield on the other (reverse side).

This version of the coat of arms differs from the previous one in that there is now one jagged crown above the eagle’s heads, which symbolizes the unity and supremacy of the Moscow Prince Ivan IV the Terrible over the Russian lands.

On this seal, on each side there are emblems of 12 Russian lands (in total, 24 emblems on both sides).

Unicorn on state seals

The unicorn first appeared as one of the symbols of state power in 1560. The meaning of this symbol is still not clear. It appeared on state seals several more times - during the reigns of Boris Godunov, False Dmitry, Mikhail Fedorovich and Alexei Mikhailovich. After 1646 this symbol was not used.

During the Time of Troubles, the state emblem was brought into line with the European heraldic tradition for a short period of time. The spearman was turned to the left, and crowns were again placed above the heads of the eagles. The eagle's wings began to be depicted spread out.

After the end of the Time of Troubles and the reign of the new Romanov dynasty in Russia, the state seal, coat of arms and other symbols changed.

The main changes were that, in accordance with European heraldic tradition, the eagle's wings were now spread out. In accordance with Russian emblematic tradition, the spearman is turned to the right. Three crowns were finally placed above the eagle's heads. The beaks of the eagle's heads are open. The scepter and orb are clutched in the paws.

It was under Emperor Alexei Mikhailovich that a description of the state coat of arms first appeared.

"The eastern eagle shines with three crowns:
Reveals 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 covers the good"("Slavic Bible" 1663, poetic form of description).

The second description is given in the state normative act: the decree “On the royal title and the state seal” dated December 14, 1667:

"The double-headed eagle is the coat of arms of the Great Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of All Great, Little, and White Russia, the Samozherzh, His Royal Majesty of the Russian Kingdom, on which (the coat of arms - editor's note) three crowns are depicted, signifying the three great Kazan, The Astrakhan, Siberian glorious kingdoms, submitting to the God-protected and highest power of His Royal Majesty the Most Gracious Sovereign and command... on the Persians (on the chest - editor's note) there is an image of the heir (this is how the rider was interpreted - editor's note); in the claws (claws - editor's note) a scepter and an apple (power - editor's note), and reveals the most gracious Sovereign, His Royal Majesty the Autocrat and Possessor".

Coat of arms of Russia during the reign of Peter the Great

Since 1710, the horseman on the Russian coat of arms is increasingly associated with St. George the Victorious, and not with a simple spear-bearer. Also during the reign of Peter the Great, crowns on the eagle’s head began to be depicted in the form of imperial crowns. Petal and other crowns were no longer used from this point on.


Master - Haupt	Matrix of the state seal of 1712 Master - Becker

It was under Peter I that the coat of arms adopted the following color design: the double-headed eagle became black; beak, eyes, tongue, paws, golden-colored attributes; the field became golden; the affected dragon turned black; St. George the Victorious was depicted in silver. This color scheme was followed by all subsequent rulers from the House of Romanov.

Under Peter the Great, the coat of arms received its first official description. Under the leadership of Count B.Kh. von Minich can be found today: “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 there is a large Imperial crown - gold; in the middle of that eagle is George on a white horse, defeating the serpent: epancha (cloak - Ed.) and the spear are yellow, the crown (crown crowning St. George - Ed.) is yellow, the serpent is black; the field around (that is, around the double-headed eagle - Ed.) is white, and in the middle (that is, underneath). St. George - editor's note) red."

In the 17th century, the state emblem underwent a large number of changes and variations.

Coats of arms of Russia under Paul I

After Peter the Great, the coat of arms of Russia changed significantly under Paul I. It was under this ruler that all variants of the coat of arms of Russia were unified and brought to one form

This year the Maltese cross appears on the coat of arms of Russia. This year Russia took the island of Malta under its protection. The following year, Britain captured the island. Paul ordered the transfer of the Order of Malta to Russia. The fact that the Maltese cross remained on the Russian coat of arms meant its claim to this territory.

Also, under Paul I, a full coat of arms with shield holders appeared, made in accordance with the traditions of that time. At this time, the “Manifesto on the full coat of arms of the All-Russian Empire” was prepared. The large coat of arms contained 43 coats of arms of the lands that were part of it. The archangels Michael and Gabriel became the shield holders. The manifesto never came into force for the reason that the head of state was killed.

Under Alexander I, this type of coat of arms first appeared. It was different from the standard coat of arms. The main difference was that the coats of arms of the dependent territories (Finland, Astrakhan, Kazan, etc.) were not placed on the military coat of arms. The shield on the eagle's chest had a distinct heraldic shape from the French shield. The wings were not raised up.

Under the next emperor, Nicholas I, this tradition was consolidated.

This coat of arms existed during the reign of Nicholas I.

Köhne reform (1857)

Köhne Bernhard was born in 1817 in Berlin. In 1844 he was appointed to the position of curator of the numismatic department of the Hermitage. In 1857, Köhne was appointed head of the armorial department of the heraldry department.

The book “Armorial of the Russian Empire” (XI-XIII) was published under the editorship of Koehne.

It was Bernhard Köhne who organized the coats of arms of the territories of the Russian Empire. It is believed that it was under the influence of Köhne that the state received a new state black-yellow-white flag. Although in fact, Koehne used only already developed historical materials (it is worth paying attention to the design of the large full coat of arms of the Russian Empire from 1800; on it, shield holders support a yellow flag with a black eagle with their free hand).

Köhne, in accordance with the heraldic tradition that had developed at that time, brought all coats of arms into conformity. The first coat of arms corrected by Koehne was the coat of arms of the Russian Empire. It was under him that three versions of the coat of arms were formed: large, medium, small.

As mentioned above, under the leadership of Koehne, the artist Alexander Fadeev created a new design of the coat of arms.

Main changes in the coat of arms:

drawing of a double-headed eagle;
added the number of shields (increased from six to eight) on the eagle’s wings;
the rider slaying the dragon now faces heraldic right (towards the eagle's right wing).

A year later, under the leadership of Köhne, the medium and large coats of arms were also prepared.

In this coat of arms, the main elements of the coat of arms of the previous version were retained. The color of the crowns has changed - it is now silver.

All attributes of monarchy were removed from the seal, and the shields were removed.

The sketch of the emblem-coat of arms was made by Vladislav Lukomsky, Sergei Troinitsky, Georgy Narbut, Ivan Bilibin.

An interesting fact is that the emblem was used on the reverse of coins issued by the Central Bank of Russia at the end of the 20th century. - beginning of XXI. Many people mistakenly consider this emblem to be the state emblem, which is a misconception.

Common misconceptions about the coat of arms of Russia

It is not the coat of arms of Moscow that is placed on the eagle’s chest, although the elements are very similar to the coat of arms of Moscow. No less important is the fact that the horseman of the state coat of arms is not an image of St. George. On the coat of arms of Moscow the horseman is “galloping”, and on the state emblem it is “riding”. On the coat of arms of Moscow, the rider has a headdress. On the coat of arms of Russia the dragon is prostrate (lying on its back), and on the city coat of arms the dragon stands on four legs.

Use of the coat of arms on facades

Sources

Coats of arms of cities, provinces, regions and towns of the Russian Empire, included in the complete collection of laws from 1649 to 1900/ compiled. P. P. von-Winkler;
"How did black, yellow and white colors Russian heraldic symbolization" Presented by E.N. Voronets. Kharkov. 1912.
Manifesto of Emperor Paul I on the full coat of arms of the All-Russian Empire. Approved December 16, 1800;
Website of the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation;
Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 30, 1993 N 2050 (as amended on September 25, 1999);
Decree "On the royal title and the state seal" dated December 14, 1667.
"Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron."
Some of the photographs were provided by Oransky A.V. and is prohibited from copying.