Since the time of Peter I, the most ancient coat of arms of Moscow has been placed on the chest of the Eagle. On it is the image of the Heavenly Horseman, personifying the image of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George, striking the Serpent with a spear, which symbolizes the eternal struggle of Light and Darkness, Good and Evil. In its paws, the Eagle firmly holds the scepter and orb - unshakable symbols of power, sovereignty, unity and integrity of the state.
Currently, the double-headed eagle is depicted on the coats of arms of Albania, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro.
There are many myths and scientific hypotheses about the reasons for the appearance of the double-headed eagle in Russia. According to one hypothesis, the main state symbol of the Byzantine Empire - the double-headed Eagle - appeared in Rus' more than 500 years ago in 1472, after the marriage of the Grand Duke of Moscow, John III Vasilyevich, who completed the unification of the Russian lands around Moscow, and the Byzantine princess Sophia (Zoya) Paleolog - nieces of the last Constantinopolitan Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos-Dragas.
In the 18th century, the first Russian historian V.N. Tatishchev, referring to "The old history of the Solovetsky Monastery", wrote: "John the Great (John III), by the heritage of his Princess Sophia, Princess of Greece, took for the state emblem an eagle with plastan with pubescent wings and two crowns over their heads, which his son also used." In support of Tatishchev's version, a seal was found attached to a charter of exchange and withdrawal from the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III Vasilyevich to the Volotsky princes Fedor and Ivan. On the obverse side of the seal was depicted a rider piercing the neck of a dragon, and on the reverse side a double-headed eagle. The letter and, accordingly, the seal dated 1497. Tatishchev's version was supported by N. M. Karamzin, who wrote in the History of the Russian State: "The Grand Duke began to use this emblem from 1497."
Double-headed eagle - the oldest solar symbol
Most researchers of this symbol believe that the eagle is associated with the sun. The logic here is this: the eagle is the king of birds, the Sun is the king of all planets; the eagle flies above all, that is, closest to the sun. The eagle is a symbol with many meanings. The eagle always personifies power and nobility, reminding a person of his exalted origin and divine nature. Large outstretched wings are a symbol of protection, sharp claws are a symbol of an uncompromising struggle against evil, and a white head symbolizes just power. In addition, strength, courage, morality and wisdom are always associated with the eagle.
The eagle has been known as a royal symbol since ancient times. He is a sign of dominance. He is the sign of the kings of earth and heaven. The eagle is the messenger of Jupiter. Zeus turns into an eagle to kidnap Ganymede.
The double-headed eagle means the possibility of strengthening power, spreading it to the west and east.Allegorically, the ancient image of a two-headed bird could mean a vigilant guardian who sees everything both in the east and in the west.
The eagle has always been a solar symbol, which is an attribute of the solar gods in many cultures.It was considered as a sacred emblem of Odin, Zeus, Jupiter, Mitra, Ninurta (Ningirsu), Ashur - the Assyrian god of storm, lightning and fertility. The double-headed eagle symbolized Nergal a (Marsa), a deity personifying the sizzling heat of the midday sun. Also the god of the underworld.
The eagle was also considered as the messenger of the gods, which connected the earthly and heavenly spheres.And in Mesoamerica, he was also considered a symbol of space from light and a heavenly spirit.
In Christianity, the eagle served as the embodiment of divine love, justice, courage, spirit, faith, a symbol of the Resurrection. As in other traditions, the eagle played the role of a messenger from heaven.
Russian modern coat of arms
Probably, any of us wondered - what means double-headed eagle on the Russian coat of arms What is the history of the origin of the coat of arms?
The modern coat of arms of Russia was finally approved only by Decree of the President of Russia dated November 30, 1993 No. 2050 "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation." It was based on a drawing by the Russian artist Yevgeny Ukhnalev, which depicts a two-headed golden eagle on a red shield, holding a power orb and a scepter in its paws. Above the heads of the eagle are three crowns, on the body is the coat of arms of Moscow - the image of St. George the Victorious, trampling the serpent.
Federal constitutional law of December 25, 2000 No. 2 "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation" slightly changed the appearance of the coat of arms, but it is based on the same drawing.
Where did this coat of arms come from?
For the first time he arose even in the most ancient of the world civilizations - ancient Sumer, and was one of the deities.
However, the ancient Sumerian tradition was lost, and the origins symbol of the modern double-headed eagle date back to ancient Roman times. The eagle was a sacred animal of the Romans, the messenger of the supreme god Jupiter, to notice his flight promised good luck in battles. In the late Roman Republic, the standard of the legions also appeared, in the form of a silver or gold eagle placed on a pole (aquila). Losing aquila was considered the greatest shame, such a legion was disbanded, so the legionnaires preferred to die, but not to give the Eagle to the enemies.
Later, this symbol was transformed into a double-headed eagle in Byzantium, which considered itself the successor of the Roman Empire, and the inhabitants called themselves "Romans" (i.e. Romans).
The double-headed eagle was the coat of arms of one of the last Greek rulers of the era of the end of Byzantium, the Morean despots of the Palaiologos.
The Grand Duke of Moscow Rus', Ivan III, married Sophia Paleolog, the daughter of the Morean ruler, and after that he approved the double-headed eagle as the second symbol of the principality, after the “rider” (a horseman striking a serpent with a spear).
The image of the double-headed eagle finally becomes the coat of arms under the first Russian tsar - Ivan the Terrible. The double-headed eagle at that time was also the coat of arms of the mighty Holy Roman Empire, and thus Grozny showed the claims of Muscovite Rus' to become a powerful Eurasian state.
During one of the following Moscow tsars, Alexei Mikhailovich, the eagle appears scepter and orb are symbols of power.
With minor modifications, this is eagle image lasted until the October Revolution and then became the basis of the modern coat of arms of the Russian Federation.
How many people know why there is a double-headed eagle on the coat of arms? What does he mean? The image of a double-headed eagle is an ancient symbol denoting power. For the first time this figure arose at the time of the appearance of the first developed states - about five thousand years ago. However, throughout its history, this sign has succumbed to various interpretations. To date, it is depicted on many symbols of power (flags and emblems) of various countries.
What does the double-headed eagle symbolize? This is a deep image, denoting a combination of two principles. directed in opposite directions: to the West and to the East. However, in itself it is a whole being, embodying unity. The double-headed eagle is the image of the sun, meaning nobility and power.
In some cultures, the meaning of the double-headed eagle symbol is slightly different. He is considered a messenger, an assistant of God, an executor of his will. He personifies a formidable force capable of establishing justice. However, many experts agree that the double-headed eagle is a symbol whose meaning is pride and arrogance.
The wings of a bird are the personification of protection, and sharp claws reflect a readiness to fight for ideals and ideas. The bird, depicted with a white head, means the purity of thought of the authorities, its justice and wisdom. The eagle is a brave, strong guard who can see the approaching disaster from any direction.
You can trace the meaning of the symbol of the double-headed eagle for thousands of years in different parts of the world. One of the first traces of it were found on the lands in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates, where one of the first states, Southern Mesopotamia, was located. During the excavations of the city of Lagash, where the Sumerians lived, an image of an eagle was found.
Also, precious talismans, which depict his figure, testify to the meaning and veneration of this symbol.
One of the famous and widespread images of the symbol dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. In Western Asia (today the territory of Turkey), an image of a double-headed eagle carved on a rock was found. Archaeologists have come to the conclusion that this sign refers to the art of the ancient Hittites. In their mythology, an eagle with two heads is an attribute of the main god Tishub, who commanded a thunderstorm.
In the Hittite kingdom, a double-headed eagle looked in opposite directions, and in its paws it had prey - hares. Archaeologists interpreted this sign in this way: the eagle is a king who tirelessly monitors everything that surrounds him and defeats enemies, and rodents are voracious, cowardly pests.
In the mythology of the ancient Greeks, there was a sun god - Helios. He could travel across the sky in a chariot drawn by four horses. It was a common image that was placed on the walls. However, there was another thing: instead of horses, the chariot was harnessed by two double-headed eagles - black and white. This image has not yet been accurately interpreted, however, it is believed that a secret meaning is hidden in it. Here you can trace an interesting chain: the eagle is the king of birds, and the Sun is the “king” of the planets. It is this bird that flies above the others and approaches the divine luminary.
Later, the double-headed eagle (the meaning of the symbol we already know) appears in Persia. His image in the first centuries of our era was used by the Shahs of the Sassanid dynasty. They were replaced by the Arabs, whose rulers placed the presented image on the coins. This emblem also belonged to the oriental ornament. He was especially popular when decorating. They even decorated coasters for the Koran. In the Middle Ages, it was placed on the standards of the Seljuk Turks. In the Golden Horde, the eagle meant victory. To this day, coins with the image of this two-headed bird, minted during the reign of the khans Uzbek and Dzhanybek, have survived.
In the mythology of Hinduism, the two-headed bird Gandaberund is endowed with great magical power. She is able to withstand destruction. A beautiful legend was invented about the appearance of this creature. According to him, the supreme god Vishnu slew the demon, turning into the image of a mixture of man and lion Narasimha. However, even after he won the victory and drank the blood of his enemy, anger continued to boil in him and he remained in a terrible image. Everyone was afraid of him, and therefore the demigods asked Shiva for help. God turned into an eight-legged creation of Sharabha, whose strength and power surpassed Narasimha. Then Vishnu reincarnated as Gandaberunda, and in these images the two deities entered into a fight. Since then, in Hinduism, a two-headed bird means colossal, destructive power.
The oldest surviving image of a bird is in India on a statue created in 1047. To show the great strength of this creature, he was depicted carrying elephants and lions in his claws and beaks. Today this emblem is present on the state of Karnataka.
The spread of the symbol of the double-headed eagle in European lands began in the 11th-15th centuries during the time of the Crusades. As a coat of arms, the image of a double-headed eagle was chosen by the first knights, the Templars. Historians suggest that they borrowed this pattern during their travels in South Asia, on the territory of the Ottoman Empire. After the attempts of the knights to conquer the Holy Sepulcher in the Holy Land, the symbol of an eagle with two heads became widely known. Mostly in the Byzantine and Balkan lands, it was used as a pattern. They were decorated with fabric, vessels, walls. Some territorial princes took it as their personal seals. The version that the eagle could be a symbol of the imperial family in Byzantium is stubbornly rejected by historians.
In 330, the autocratic emperor Constantine the Great, who transferred the capital of the Holy Roman Empire to Constantinople, thus making it the "Second Rome", replaces the one-headed eagle - the two-headed one, which personifies not only the power of the emperor (secular power), but also spiritual strength ( the authority of the Church). The second head balances the political component of this image. It denotes Christian morality. It reminds statesmen to act not only to please themselves, but also to act, thinking and caring for their people.
The two-headed eagle was adopted as the state emblem of the Holy (German) Roman Empire in 1434 during the reign of Emperor Sigismund. The bird was depicted as black on a golden shield. Halos were placed over their heads. However, this symbol, unlike a similar symbol in the ancient Roman Empire, did not have Christian motives under it. The double-headed eagle on the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire was rather a tribute to historical traditions dating back to the majestic Byzantium.
There are several versions of the appearance of the emblem of the double-headed eagle in Russia. Many historians argue that the emergence of this symbol is associated with the name of the successor of the fallen Byzantium, a highly educated princess, not without political overtones, which Pope Paul II took care of, becomes the wife of the Russian Tsar Ivan III. This inter-dynastic marriage allowed Moscow to acquire a new status - the "Third Rome", since the second - Constantinople - fell in 1453. Sophia not only brought with her the symbol of the white double-headed eagle, which was the coat of arms of her family - the Palaiologos dynasty. She and her entourage contributed to the cultural upsurge of Rus'. The eagle has been depicted on the state seal since 1497. This is confirmed in the text by the work of the Russian writer N. M. Karamzin “History of the Russian State”.
However, there is another opinion about the appearance of the Russian double-headed eagle. Many experts are inclined to believe that Ivan III chose it as a state sign, pursuing the goal of equating himself with European monarchs. Claiming equal size, the Russian prince put himself on a par with the Habsburg family, who at that time ruled the Holy Roman Empire.
A well-known reformer who “cut a window to Europe”, Peter I during his reign devoted a lot of time not only to foreign and domestic policy. The king also took care of the state symbols. Against the backdrop of ongoing wars, he decided to create a single symbol.
Since 1700, the coat of arms of the country has been transformed. Interesting changes related directly to the bird. Above her heads are now crowns. In her paws she has an orb and a scepter. Ten years later, in 1710, these adjustments were made to all seals. Later, on coins, as well as on any other objects depicting eagles, imperial crowns are placed above them. These symbols mean the complete independence and independence of Russia from other powers. No one can infringe on the state in its power rights. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the symbol took on this form ten years before Russia was called the Russian Empire, and Peter I its emperor.
In 1721, an important and last change under Peter was a change in color. The double-headed eagle turns black. The emperor decided to take this step, taking an example from the Holy Roman Empire. The beak, as well as the paws and attributes of the bird were depicted in gold. The background is made in the same shade. A red shield is placed on the eagle's chest, surrounded by the chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. On the shield, Saint George on horseback strikes the dragon with a spear. All these images symbolize the eternal problem of the struggle between Darkness and Light, Evil and Good.
After Nicholas II abdicated in 1917, the state sign loses its power and meaning. A problem arose before the new leaders and authorities - it was necessary to create a new heraldic symbol. This issue was dealt with by a group of specialists in heraldry. However, before the convocation of the Constituent Assembly, they did not see it necessary to create a radically new symbol. They considered it acceptable to use the same double-headed eagle, however, it should have been “deprived” of its former attributes and the image of St. George the Victorious should be removed. Thus, the seal of the provisional government was drawn by the specialist I. Ya. Bilibin.
In the struggle for the title of coat of arms with a double-headed eagle, the image of a swastika, meaning well-being and eternity, “beat”. Thanks to these qualities, perhaps the Provisional Government liked this symbol.
In 1918, when the constitution of the RSFSR was adopted, a new coat of arms was chosen, and the eagle was forgotten until 1993, when it becomes Now it is depicted in gold, it contains almost the same attributes that existed during the Russian Empire - there is no St. Andrew's Order on it. It is permissible to use this symbol without a shield.
President Boris N. Yeltsin in 1994 issued a decree "On the standard (flag) of the President of the Russian Federation." The flag of the president was a three-color canvas (three identical horizontal stripes white, blue, red) and in the center depicted on it a golden coat of arms. The standard is framed with gold fringe.
In the article we offer a detailed description of one of the main state attributes - the coat of arms of the Russian Federation: what it symbolizes and means for us and all of Russia, and what is the meaning of the double-headed eagle.
Images on banners and seals emphasize the independence and individuality of the people, demonstrate their historical identity. It is this national emblem that is depicted on banknotes, documents and government patches. The main function of this sign is the spiritual unification of all people living in Russia. Each event of past years has a certain level of influence on descendants. Creation of paraphernalia is no exception.
The first mention of the unified images of the country, their approval dates back to the tenth century. It was then that they began to use the image on the imprint of the state seal. At that distant time, the use of such a distinctive sign was already a great innovation, since church designations were mainly used for these purposes. Heraldry at that time was limited to the image of the Cross of the Savior or the Most Holy Theotokos. The eagle became one of the first "non-Christian" symbols of Russia and marked the beginning of the use of animalistic images in sovereign emblems.
This proud bird has long been a national attribute of the mighty Byzantine Empire. Its appearance in our open spaces was due to John III. Many experts argue that the reason for this was the conclusion of a marriage alliance with Princess Sofia. She was of Byzantine blood. The exchange of cultural heritage of different peoples led to the borrowing of a historically important object in the heraldry of our state.
Many researchers discussed the topic of what the coat of arms of the Russian Federation means and what is the meaning of its symbols. For a full-fledged analysis, it is necessary to obtain information about the origin of the sign and assess the authority of national attributes. Before the appearance of the double-headed eagle, the most common personification of the power of the country was a lion killing a snake. His image was associated with the Vladimir principality. Around the same time, the image of the horseman gained great popularity. A little later, he was transformed into George the Victorious.
It is worth noting the fact that ornithological motifs in heraldic signs are reflected in many states of the Old World. Historians say that John III simply liked this display of sovereign power. Most likely he saw it on some foreign order or contract. After researching the trends of those times, the monarch could establish this symbolism in his own country - this is how the new and original coat of arms was approved.
For alchemists, the eagle with two heads personified the mystical philosopher's stone and the process of its creation. Most doctors and foreign pharmacists worked at the court of the Russian emperor. Most likely, they suggested the idea of placing a proud bird on the coat of arms of the Moscow sovereign. This is another hypothesis, from where and with whose help the future image of sovereign power was borrowed.
The first use of an eagle-imprinted seal occurred in the bonding of deeds of land ownership. After that, this sign was used to decorate the interior of the Kremlin walls. It was during this period that the spread of the animalistic figure began. This symbol was used by many Russian rulers.
During the time of Boris Godunov, the emblem of the Russian Federation received three crowns. Under the influence of European customs and traditions, changes are taking place in the emblem. As a result, we can observe a more aggressive image of the bird itself. The beak is open and the tongue is sticking out of it, which shows her readiness for an attack at any moment. The royal headdresses have also changed over time. At the very beginning, the image did not have one heraldic crown, but two. Instead of the third, different variations of the cross were illustrated.
After the end of the Time of Troubles, with the rule of the Romanov dynasty, the eagle spread its wings on the coat of arms. It is worth noting that all False Dmitrys used a seal with an imprint of the coat of arms.
In the 17th century, the image of the national attribute of Russia is supplemented not only with a scepter, but also with a power. The king of birds securely holds these elements of royal power in his strong paws. Both components became a clear sign of autocratic power. Since those distant times, the first descriptions of the meaning of the symbols of the emblem have come down to us. Until now, all documents are stored in archives and carefully studied by scientists.
Serious changes in the coat of arms of the Russian Federation occur at the time of the reign of the great emperor - Paul I. At this time, the era of grandiose wars with the French began. Already in 1799, British troops captured Malta. Namely, our ruler acted as her patron.
The unforeseen act of the British brought the monarch into a state of great rage. The foreign policy conflict pushed him to an alliance with Napoleon himself and led to the signing of an agreement with the French emperor, which later served as one of the reasons for the death of Paul. After that, the image of a cross appeared as part of the state sign - evidence of claims on the territory of Malta.
During the life of Paul I, the greatest project was prepared for the manufacture of the Great Emblem of the future Russian Federation - it contained information about what it symbolizes, what every detail means. It was performed in full compliance with the heraldic norms and standards characteristic of those times. Around the product with the exact image of an eagle in the center, all 43 symbols included in the general composition of the lands were collected. The whole shield with all the emblems was held by two main archangels. But the grandiose idea was not destined to become a reality. The emperor was killed by conspirators and the plan remained only on paper.
After the events described, the sign of the state has come a long way in external changes. The image of a two-headed bird appears from the beginning of 1497 as an updated version.
The theory comparing Moscow with mighty Rome appeared after the death of the ruler John III. There are many well-known versions about the origin of the image of the greatness of the country, immortalized on the elements of paraphernalia. The choice of this image could have caused a dispute over the ownership of the image with the strongest Habsburg empire. Scientists have established that before the appearance of this sign on our territory, it already appeared on the state seals of Frederick III. The German Holy Empire also considered itself the rightful successor to the mighty Rome.
These theories have many weaknesses.
If we consider the latest version more carefully, it will turn out to be the most plausible. The territorially close neighbor of the Russian Federation is the Golden Horde, which for some time issued coins with the image of an eagle. There is a strong possibility that John III saw this money. After the collapse of the Ulus Jochi, the king borrowed the designations he liked for our country.
Scientists have considered all theories of heraldic origin and found out what the state symbolism of the coat of arms of Russia historically means and what is the main meaning of the double-headed eagle depicted on it.
Officially, the appearance of the emblem was approved only in 1993. The corresponding decree was signed by the first ruler of modern Russia - Boris Yeltsin. Later, in 2005, the image was enshrined in the main constitutional law and became the main emblem of the state. The country entered a new era with historically established traditional signs.
Outwardly, it is presented in the form of an interconnected system of color combinations and traditional images. At the same time, they are inextricably linked with the national mentality. This is a quadrangular heraldic shield with rounded edges and a slightly pointed center. The coat of arms is executed strictly in red, on the background of which an eagle with two spread wings is depicted. Each of the two heads is crowned with a heraldic crown. Between them is also the royal dress, but of a larger size. All of them are connected together with a golden ribbon. The right clawed paw holds the scepter, and the left holds the orb.
On the chest of this proud bird there is another canvas. It is also made in red and outwardly repeats the silhouette of the main one, but differs in smaller sizes. It depicts a rider dressed in a blue cloak, who strikes a terrible black snake with a silver spear. We all know the legend about how George the Victorious killed the dragon. There are many icons on this subject.
Heraldry, the science of the origin of signs, helps to decipher emblems and supplement existing information with new facts. Scientists have established the value of each of the elements of the state attribute.
Initially, the coat of arms included the image of a unicorn, but later it was replaced by a silver rider. A warrior on a horse was perceived as an image of the sovereign himself. Under the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the power of Moscow was approved, and the cavalry was removed from the coat of arms. It is worth noting that St. George is considered the patron saint of the capital. Now it can be argued that the image on the coat of arms carries information about the main faith for the people of Russia - about Orthodoxy. The author of the modern sign adorning banners, seals, coins is Evgeny Ilyich Ukhnalev. The artist himself is from St. Petersburg.
When creating a new image of the national emblem, he left the main elements. The holistic version includes details from different eras and emphasizes the long-term and inseparable connection between the events of Russian history. The appearance of the modern coat of arms is strictly regulated by law.
Color is the brightest and at the same time the easiest way to emphasize the greatness of the overall image of statehood. Only in 2000 did they decide to return the golden plumage to the double-headed eagle, emphasizing the power and wealth of a great country. The noble tone also has another meaning - it testifies to the justice and mercy of the Orthodox Church.
The Silver Rider indicates the nobility and purity of origin, depicts a special desire for righteous deeds, shows the struggle for truth, the desire to achieve it at any cost.
The red field speaks of spilled blood. The people inhabiting the Russian territories did not spare her in protecting their native land. Red is also courage, love for the Motherland, a sign of the multinationality of the state, where various fraternal peoples peacefully live.
But the depicted dragon or, as it is also called, the snake is made in black. Most heraldic specialists lean towards a single version. This image denotes constant trials in the fate of the state, eternal memory and sorrow for the innocent victims.
At the legislative level, a list of possible areas of application of the coat of arms of Russia is defined. It is placed on all structures of the Supreme State Power.
On the days of important holidays for the whole country, it is customary to decorate houses and buildings with flags with a proud bird.
The images of the main attributes of our state were created in different eras and by different people, starting from the first ancient mentions in the annals of the 10th century. The double-headed eagle depicted on the coat of arms of Russia, and what it symbolizes, is a sign with a long history of creation. Historians still cannot determine the final theory of the appearance of the image: whether it was borrowed from Europeans or Asians, whether its creators were the Slavs, who brought the sovereign attribute in its original form to Russian soil.
Over time, the development of heraldry makes its own adjustments to the picturesque image of the sovereign designation of the country. But in general, the emblem reflects the eternal unity and cohesion of all peoples and nationalities living peacefully on the territory of the state.
Versions Details Approved Crown Shield Other elements Number in GGR Team of authors Emblem author Emblem idea Leader| Coat of arms of Russia | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
three crowns of Peter the Great |
|
|
quadrangular, with rounded lower corners, a red heraldic shield pointed at the tip |
|
|
rider slaying a dragon |
|
|
E. I. Ukhnalev |
|
|
E. I. Ukhnalev |
|
|
E. I. Ukhnalev |
|
|
E. I. Ukhnalev |
|
|
E. I. Ukhnalev |
|
|
Commission on Heraldry of the Russian Federation |
|
| Coat of arms of Russia at Wikimedia Commons | |
State Emblem of the Russian Federation- the official state symbol of the Russian Federation; one of the main state symbols of Russia, along with the State Flag of the Russian Federation and the State Anthem of the Russian Federation. Approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation on November 30, 1993.
The State Emblem of the Russian Federation is a quadrangular, with rounded lower corners, pointed at the tip, a red heraldic shield with a golden double-headed eagle that raised its outstretched wings. The eagle is crowned with two small crowns and - above them - one large crown, connected by a ribbon. In the right paw of the eagle is a scepter, in the left - orb. On the chest of the eagle, in a red shield, is a silver rider in a blue cloak on a silver horse, striking with a silver spear a black dragon, overturned and trampled by a horse.
Seal of Alexander Nevsky (after 1236) The very concept of a knightly hereditary coat of arms, adopted in Western Europe, did not exist in Rus'. During the battles, most often embroidered or painted images of Christ, the Virgin, saints or the Orthodox cross served as banners. The images found on ancient Russian military shields were also not hereditary. Therefore, the history of the coat of arms of Russia is, first of all, history grand ducal seal.
On their seals, the Old Russian princes depicted, first of all, their patron saints (as, for example, St. Simeon is depicted on the seal of Simeon the Proud, and St. Demetrius is depicted on the seal of Dmitry Donskoy), as well as an inscription indicating to whom exactly this seal belongs ( usually in the form "Seal of the (Grand) Prince such and such"). Beginning with Mstislav Udatny and the grandchildren of Vsevolod the Big Nest, a “rider” began to appear on seals (as well as on coins) - a symbolic image of the ruling prince. The rider's weapon could be different - a spear, a bow, a sword. On the coins of the time of Ivan II the Red, for the first time, a foot warrior appears, striking a snake (dragon) with a sword. The image of the rider was inherent in the seals not only of the princes of Vladimir and Moscow, but also of others. In particular, during the reign of Ivan III, the image of a horseman slaying a snake was not on the seal of the Grand Duke of Moscow (there was just a rider with a sword), but his brother-in-law, Grand Duke of Tverskoy Mikhail Borisovich. Since the Moscow prince became the sole ruler of Rus', the rider on horseback, slaying the dragon with a spear (a symbolic image of the victory of good over evil) has become one of the main symbols of the Russian state along with the double-headed eagle.
In addition to Russia, the "rider" became a symbol of the neighboring state - the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, however, the rider was depicted there with a sword galloping to the right and without a snake (see Chase).
For the first time, the double-headed eagle as a state symbol of the Moscow Russian state is found on the reverse side of the state seal of Ivan III Vasilyevich in 1497, although images of a double-headed eagle (or bird) were found in ancient Russian art and on Tver coins before.
The placement of the rider on the chest of the eagle can be explained by the fact that there were two sovereign seals: Large and Small. The small one was bilateral and attached to the document, on each side of it were placed an eagle and a rider separately. The Great Seal was one-sided and applied to the document, and therefore it became necessary to combine the two symbols of the state in one. For the first time, such a combination is found on the large seal of Ivan the Terrible in 1562. Then, instead of the horseman, a unicorn began to appear. Although the tsar did not consider the unicorn a necessary symbol of the state, he nevertheless met on some seals of Boris Godunov, False Dmitry (1605-1606), Mikhail Fedorovich, Alexei Mikhailovich.
On the Great Seal of Ivan IV in 1577, instead of two crowns, one appeared with a cross over an eagle. During the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich, two crowns returned, but an Orthodox cross was placed above the heads of the eagle (possibly as a symbol of an independent Russian Orthodox Church).
On the small seal of False Dmitry (1604), the eagle was first depicted under three crowns, and the rider on the eagle's chest was turned to the right side according to Western European heraldic traditions. However, after False Dmitry, the image of the rider returned to its previous state, and two crowns were depicted above the heads of the eagle for a long time. The date of the official establishment of three crowns on the coat of arms can be considered 1625, when, under Mikhail Fedorovich, a third crown appeared on the small state seal between the heads of the eagle instead of the cross (unlike the seal of False Dmitry, which was probably made in Poland, this seal was already purely Russian ). On the Great State Seal of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, son of Mikhail Fedorovich, the same was done in 1645.
The scepter and orb were absent until the time of Mikhail Fedorovich, but their addition was not considered strictly necessary. In 1667 they appeared already on the state seal of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. On June 4, 1667, the sovereign for the first time gave an official explanation of the symbolism of the three crowns - three kingdoms: Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberia, and the scepter and orb were supposed to mean "Autocrat and Possessor". On December 14, 1667, the first ever Decree on the Coat of Arms (“On the Royal Title and on the State Seal”) appeared, it provided a description of the royal coat of arms:
In 1672, the first Russian armorial "Titulyarnik" was compiled. The double-headed eagle (without a rider on the chest) was called the Moscow emblem in it. The color of the eagle in the pre-Petrine era was mainly gold, although black was also used.
One of the most complex coats of arms in the history of the states of the world. It was finally formed in 1882 (Great Coat of Arms) and 1883 (Small Coat of Arms).
The Great Coat of Arms depicted “in a golden shield a black double-headed eagle crowned with two imperial crowns, above which is the same, but in a large form, a crown, with two fluttering ends of the ribbon of the St. Andrew's Order. The state eagle holds a golden scepter and orb. On the chest of the eagle is the coat of arms of Moscow: in a scarlet shield with gold edges, the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George, in silver weapons and azure drag (mantle), on a silver, covered with crimson cloth with gold fringe, a horse striking gold, with green wings, a gold dragon, with an eight-pointed cross at the top, a spear.
The shield crowned the helmet of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. Around the shield is the chain of the order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called; on the sides of the image of the saints Archangel Michael and Archangel Gabriel.
The main shield from below is surrounded by eight shields of principalities and "kingdoms", as well as the "Clan coat of arms of His Imperial Majesty". Above the canopy of the main shield were placed six shields of principalities and regions.
The small coat of arms was a black double-headed eagle, on the wings of which eight shields of principalities and "kingdoms" were depicted.
Coat of arms eagle on the seal of the Provisional Government. 1917 The sketch of the temporary emblem of Russia (since September 14, 1917 - the Russian Republic) was developed by a group of specialists, which included well-known heraldists and artists V.K. Lukomsky, S.N. Troinitsky, G.I. Narbut and I.Ya. Bilibin. Considering that only the Constituent Assembly could approve the new emblem of the Russian state, they proposed using the two-headed eagle of the era of Ivan III without the attributes of royal power as a temporary emblem.
The drawing of the emblem, made by I. Ya. Bilibin, was approved by the chairman of the Provisional Government, Prince G. E. Lvov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, P. N. Milyukov, as a model for printing. Although the emblem was never officially approved, it was in circulation until the adoption of the Constitution of the RSFSR on July 10, 1918, which introduced the coat of arms of the new state. On the territory controlled by the white forces, this emblem was also used later - in particular, it was present on banknotes issued by the Ufa Directory. The coat of arms served as the basis for one of the projects of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation. Subsequently, a similar version became the emblem of the Central Bank of Russia.
Coat of arms of the Russian state (project by G. A. Ilyin). 1918 On September 23, 1918, by the Act of the Ufa State Conference “on the formation of the All-Russian supreme power” in the name of “restoring the state unity and independence of Russia”, the Provisional All-Russian Government (“Ufa Directory”) was created and it was established that it would be “until the convening of the All-Russian Constituent Assembly ... the only bearer of supreme power in the entire space of the Russian state. On November 4, the executive body of the Directory was formed - the All-Russian Council of Ministers. On November 18, the Council of Ministers announced the assumption of all the fullness of the supreme power and then decided to transfer it to the Supreme Ruler of Russia, who elected Admiral A. V. Kolchak. A new government was formed, which went down in history as Omsk, or Kolchak's government, which lasted until January 4, 1920.
At the beginning of 1919, a competition was held in Omsk to develop a new Russian coat of arms. In accordance with the terms of the competition, its participants were required to keep the image of the double-headed eagle, replacing " emblems of the tsarist era"(crown, scepter and orb) on emblems," characteristic of the new resurgent statehood».
The coat of arms created by the Kazan artist G. A. Ilyin, who left the power and the chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, replacing the crown and scepter with a cross and a sword, was considered the main contender for victory out of about a hundred submitted projects. The coat of arms was crowned with the inscription " Sim win» on the azure Andreevskaya ribbon.
Although the emblem was not officially approved and existed in several variations, it was used on documents and banknotes issued by the Russian government of Kolchak.
Emblem of the Soviet Union from 1958 to 1991 
Coat of arms of the RSFSR from 1978 to 1992 On July 10, 1918, the V All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers', Peasants', Soldiers' and Cossacks' Deputies adopted the first Constitution of the RSFSR, which officially approved its first coat of arms. Officially, the Constitution of the RSFSR came into effect on July 19, 1918.
On July 20, 1920, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee approved a new version of the coat of arms, designed by the artist N. A. Andreev. The new emblem was finally legalized by the Constitution of the RSFSR, adopted by the XII All-Russian Congress of Soviets on May 11, 1925
With minor changes, this coat of arms lasted until 1992.
Coat of arms of the Russian Federation from May 16, 1992 to November 30, 1993 On November 5, 1990, the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR adopted a resolution on the organization of work on the creation of a new state flag and emblem of the RSFSR and instructed the Committee for Archives under the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR to develop a concept for new state symbols and, together with the Ministry of Culture of the RSFSR, create projects for new state emblems and flags of the RSFSR. At the beginning of 1991, a number of projects were proposed for consideration by the commission for the creation of new state symbols of the RSFSR (including a hybrid version: it was proposed to depict a golden or white double-headed eagle on the coat of arms of the RSFSR (the coat of arms of 1917, but with the color of the eagle replaced by another one); coat of arms it was proposed to surround with wreaths of ears of corn or branches of birch, tied with a ribbon with the motto "Unity and sovereignty.") Following the consideration of proposals, the Committee for Archives of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR recommended using the golden double-headed eagle on a red field as the coat of arms of the RSFSR, but introducing the relevant bills to the Supreme Council RSFSR, it was decided to postpone until the end of the election campaign for the election of the President of the RSFSR. The tricolor state flag was approved in November 1991 by the Congress of People's Deputies, but the coat of arms remained unchanged. And after the renaming of the RSFSR to the Russian Federation on December 25, 1991, the old coat of arms continued to be used.
In May 1992, a minor amendment was made to the description of the coat of arms: the inscription "RSFSR" was changed to "Russian Federation", in connection with amendments to Article 180 of the Constitution). At the same time, despite the rejection of the communist ideology, the hammer and sickle, as well as the slogan "Proletarians of all countries, unite" were left. The new coat of arms was used relatively rarely (for example, in the office of the Chairman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and on the podium of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, where the inscription was made in two arcs); on letterheads, the coat of arms of the RSFSR with the old name of the state was used. No changes were made to the Regulations on the State Emblem of the RSFSR, according to Article 2 of the Regulations, the coat of arms of 1978 was provided (with the inscription "RSFSR")
The use of the old coat of arms with communist symbols in an already de facto capitalist country carried a logical and ideological contradiction. In this regard, the development of new state symbols continued.
The projects of the coat of arms presented by the government of the Russian Federation (one of them, based on the coat of arms of 1917, later began to be used by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation) carried the golden double-headed eagle without a scepter, orb, crowns and other elements as the main figure. They were considered at the beginning of March 1992 by the Commission on Culture of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and were sharply criticized for not being stately enough. The Constitutional Commission proposed its own version of the emblem: the draft Constitution of March 17, 1992 established the following description of the emblem (repeating, with a number of exceptions, the description of the pre-revolutionary state emblem, established in the first part of Article 61 of the Fundamental Laws of 1906):
Article 136
(2) The Russian State Emblem has a black double-headed eagle in a golden shield, crowned with two crowns, above which is a third, in a larger form, the same crown; the state eagle holds a golden scepter and orb; on the breast of the eagle is the coat of arms of Moscow.
This coat of arms was also preserved in a later version of the draft Constitution of the Russian Federation (the main provisions of which were approved on April 18, 1992 by the VI Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation), but the style of the description was changed: the term "Russian State Emblem", taken directly from the Basic State Laws of 1906 , was replaced by the term "State Emblem of the Russian Federation", which was used in the current legislation, and in relation to the coat of arms on the eagle's chest, a clarification was made that this historical The Moscow coat of arms, since the Soviet coat of arms of Moscow that existed at that time was radically different from the pre-revolutionary one; in addition, several changes of a purely editorial nature were made, changing only the presentation of the description, but not the proposed coat of arms itself. The provision of the draft Constitution on the State Emblem was stated as follows:
Article 130
(2) The State Emblem of the Russian Federation is a black double-headed eagle in a golden shield, crowned with two crowns, above which there is a third similar crown in a larger form; the state eagle holds a golden scepter and orb; on the chest of the eagle is the historical Moscow coat of arms.
On November 27, 1992, this coat of arms project received preliminary approval from the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation; in the future, with minor changes, it was retained in the draft Constitution until July-August 1993.
On December 4, 1992, the Constitutional Commission recommended the VII Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation to approve the coat of arms proposed by the project before the adoption of the new Constitution of the Russian Federation. Article 180 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation of 1978 was proposed to be stated similarly to the corresponding provision of the draft Constitution:
Article 180. The State Emblem of the Russian Federation - there is a black double-headed eagle in a golden shield, crowned with two crowns, above which there is a third similar crown in a larger form; the state eagle holds a golden scepter and orb; on the chest of the eagle is the historical Moscow coat of arms.
However, at a meeting on December 5, the Congress did not approve this proposal, since it did not receive the required number of votes, only 479 deputies voted for the establishment of the double-headed eagle as the state emblem of Russia.
By May 1993, the Department of Heraldry of the Russian Archive prepared a new drawing of the coat of arms, taking into account the proposals of the Constitutional Commission and the Government of the Russian Federation. As the State Emblem of the Russian Federation, it was proposed to approve a golden double-headed eagle on a red field, as in the options previously presented by the government of the Russian Federation, but in contrast to them, it was proposed to additionally place three crowns above the heads of the eagle, and on the chest of the eagle - a red shield with the image of a rider striking a dragon spear, which brought the proposed coat of arms closer to the version of the Constitutional Commission.
The new design of the coat of arms was supported by the Working Group of the Constitutional Commission, which, among other amendments, proposed to include its description (subsequently approved, with a number of minor changes, by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 30, 1993) in the official (“parliamentary”) draft Constitution:
However, in subsequent editions of the draft Constitution of the Russian Federation (in particular, the versions of July 16, 1993 and August 1993), prepared by the Constitutional Commission, the description of the coat of arms was excluded and replaced by a reference to the federal law (as it was in the editions before March 17, 1992).
(2) The description of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation and the procedure for its official use are established by federal law.
In the draft Constitution, prepared by a group of lawyers on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation by the end of April 1993 and finalized at the Constitutional Conference on July 12, 1993, there was no description of state symbols (coat of arms, flag and anthem), they were supposed to be fixed by federal constitutional laws. After the events of September 21 - October 4, 1993, the issue of state symbols of Russia was returned only in November 1993. The President of the Russian Federation was presented with two projects of the coat of arms, depicted by E. I. Ukhnalev. The drawing of both was identical, but the colors were different: one of them was the current emblem (a golden eagle on a red shield, above the eagle - golden crowns connected by a golden ribbon, in the paws of the eagle - a golden scepter and orb, on the chest of an eagle in a red shield - a silver a rider in a blue cloak on a silver horse, striking with a silver spear a black dragon overturned and trampled on his horse), the other was based on the colors of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire and at the same time differed from it (a black eagle on a golden shield, above the eagle - golden crowns (not imperial ones) , tied with a red ribbon, in the paws of an eagle - a golden scepter and orb, on the chest of an eagle in a red shield - a silver rider in a blue cloak on a silver horse, striking with a silver spear a black dragon overturned and trampled by a horse).
On December 6, 1993, the Regulations on the State Emblem of the Russian Federation came into force, approved on November 30, 1993 by decree of the President of Russia in order to restore the historical symbols of the Russian state and taking into account the fact that the State Emblem of the RSFSR has lost its symbolic meaning. It fixed the following description of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation:
Draft coat of arms of the Russian Federation proposed by the Constitutional Commission of the Russian Federation 
One of the alternative coat of arms projects proposed in 1991 combined the symbols of the Russian Republic and the RSFSR. The project of the state emblem of the Russian Federation, proposed by deputies from the factions of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Agrarian dep. groups, LDPR and dep. groups "People's Power" The provision approved by the president was temporary and should have become invalid with the adoption of the relevant law. Twice (in 1994 and 1997) the relevant federal constitutional law was submitted to the State Duma, but each time it was rejected. At the same time, deputies from the factions of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Agrarian Deputy Group, the Liberal Democratic Party and the deputy group "People's Power" proposed the restoration of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation (RSFSR) of the Soviet era in a modified form:
Article 1 The State Emblem of the Russian Federation is a coat of arms of red color, in which a golden crossed hammer and sickle are placed, with handles down, against the background of the rays of the rising sun. The shield is framed with golden spikes and a red ribbon (the color of the flag) at the bottom with the motto "Glory to Russia!"
Article 2 It is allowed to reproduce the State Emblem of the Russian Federation in a one-color version, as well as its reproduction in the form of the main figure - a sickle and a hammer.
However, this proposal was also repeatedly rejected by the Duma.
On December 25, 2000, the Federal Constitutional Law "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation" was adopted, which confirmed the coat of arms of the 1993 sample (current) as the state one and approved the rules for its use. The description in the law was set as follows:
Article 1 The State Emblem of the Russian Federation is the official state symbol of the Russian Federation.
The State Emblem of the Russian Federation is a quadrangular, with rounded lower corners, pointed at the tip, a red heraldic shield with a golden double-headed eagle that raised its spread wings. The eagle is crowned with two small crowns and - above them - one large crown, connected by a ribbon. In the right paw of the eagle is a scepter, in the left - orb. On the chest of the eagle, in a red shield, there is a silver rider in a blue cloak on a silver horse, striking with a silver spear a black dragon overturned and trampled by a horse.
Article 2 Reproduction of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation is allowed without a heraldic shield (in the form of the main figure - a two-headed eagle with the attributes listed in Article 1), as well as in a one-color version.The three crowns represent the sovereignty of both the entire Russian Federation and its parts, the subjects of the federation. The scepter with the orb, which the double-headed eagle holds in its paws, symbolizes state power and a single state.
Attentive attitude to the image in the shield on the chest of the double-headed eagle.
The shield on the chest of the double-headed eagle depicts a rider slaying a dragon with a spear. This image is often erroneously called the image of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George and is identified with the coat of arms of Moscow. This position is incorrect. The rider of the State Emblem is not an image of St. George and differs from the coat of arms of Moscow: - the image of the saint should be accompanied by an attribute of holiness - a halo or a spearhead in the form of a cross; these elements are not in the State Emblem; - the rider of the coat of arms of the city of Moscow has weapons different from the rider of the State Emblem (armament in this case is a generalized term that includes both the actual weapon and the costume); - the horse of the rider of the State Emblem stands on three legs, with one front leg raised (while the horse of the Moscow rider gallops - that is, it rests only on two hind legs); - the dragon of the State Emblem is overturned on its back and trampled on by a horse (in the Moscow emblem, the dragon stands on four legs and turns back).
In this regard, it must not be allowed that when using the image of the State Emblem in the shield on the chest of the double-headed eagle, an image of the coat of arms of the city of Moscow or another image that does not correspond to the approved one is placed.
The description of the coat of arms of Russia in the Regulation of the same name approved by Decree of the President of Russia of November 30, 1993 No. 2050 “On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation” differs from the description of the coat of arms of Russia in the Federal Constitutional Law of December 25, 2000 No. 2-FKZ “On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation ”, however, in both laws, in the annexes, the same drawing of the coat of arms of Russia by Evgeny Ukhnalev is given.
Element of the coat of arms Description in the "Regulations ..." of 1993 Description in the law of 2000
| heraldic shield | Red heraldic shield | Quadrangular, with rounded lower corners, a red heraldic shield pointed at the tip |
| double-headed eagle | golden double-headed eagle | Golden double-headed eagle with outstretched wings |
| Crowns over an eagle | Three historical crowns of Peter the Great (above the heads - two small ones and above them - one larger one) | The eagle is crowned with two small crowns and - above them - one large crown, connected by a ribbon |
| Objects in the paws of an eagle | In the paws of an eagle - a scepter and orb | In the right paw of the eagle - a scepter, in the left - orb |
| Rider | Silver rider in a blue cloak on a silver horse | |
| Rider's Spear | A spear | Silver spear |
| The Dragon | Black dragon overturned and trampled by a horse |
| 15th century |  |
The reverse side of the seal of Ivan III, 1497 | mid 16th century |  |
Tsar Ivan IV Vasilyevich, 1577-1578 |
| 1580s-1620s |  |
Coat of arms from the Middle State Seal (with a cross) Tsar Fedor I Ivanovich, 1589 |
1620s-1690s |  |
Coat of arms with the Great State Seal Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, 1667 (drawing from the Tsar's title book) |
| 1st quarter of the 18th century |  |
Coat of arms of Peter I | 40-90s of the XVIII century |  |
Coat of arms of the times of Elizabeth I Petrovna |
| 10 (21) August 1799 |  |
Coat of arms of Russia under Paul I (with the Maltese cross) | 1st quarter of the 19th century |  |
Coat of arms of Nicholas I |
| Mid 19th century |  |
1883-1917 |  |
Small coat of arms of the Russian Empire | |
| 1882-1917 |  |
Great coat of arms of the Russian Empire | 1917-1918 |  |
Emblem of the Russian Republic |
| 1918-1920 | Emblem of the RSFSR | 1919-1920 |  |
Coat of arms of Russia (project) | |
| 1920-1978 |  |
Emblem of the RSFSR | 1978-1992 |  |
Emblem of the RSFSR |
| 1992-1993 |  |
Emblem of the Russian Federation | Since 1993 |  |
Emblem of the Russian Federation |
Almost every country in the world has its own coat of arms. Depending on the basis on which the state arose, its history can either be calculated for centuries or completely absent, and the symbol of the state itself can only be a more or less modern creation that takes into account the current political situation in the country and the peculiarities of its emergence. The eagle appeared on the emblem of Russia a very long time ago, and although such a symbol was not used for a long time of the existence of the Soviet Union, now the situation has changed, and it has returned to its rightful place again.
In fact, the eagle appeared on the coats of arms of many princes long before becoming the official symbol of the state. Officially, it is believed that in the version that is as similar as possible to the modern one, the coat of arms first began to appear around the time of Ivan the Terrible. Prior to this, the same symbol was present in the Byzantine Empire, which was considered the Second Rome. The double-headed eagle on the coat of arms of Russia is intended to show that it is the direct successor of Byzantium and the Third Rome. In different periods, up to the appearance of the large coat of arms of the Russian Empire, this symbol constantly changed and acquired various elements. The result was the most complex coat of arms in the world, which existed until 1917. Historically, the flag of Russia with the coat of arms has been used in many situations, from the personal standard of the sovereign to the designation of state campaigns.
The main element is a double-headed eagle, which is designed to symbolize Russia's focus on both the West and the East, while it is understood that the country itself is neither West nor East and combines their best qualities. Located in the middle of the coat of arms, a rider on a horse, killing a snake, has a rather ancient history. Almost all ancient princes in Rus' used similar images on their symbols. At the same time, it was understood that the rider himself was the prince. Only later, already in the time of Peter the Great, it was decided that the horseman was St. George the Victorious.
An interesting fact is that on some coats of arms of the ancient princes images of foot soldiers were also used, and the direction in which the rider is located also changed. For example, on the coat of arms of False Dmitry, the horseman is turned to the right, which is more in line with the traditional symbolism of the West, while earlier he was turned to the left. Three crowns, which are located on top of the coat of arms, did not appear immediately. In different periods of time, there were from one to three crowns, and only the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was the first to give an explanation - the crowns symbolized three kingdoms: Siberian, Astrakhan and Kazan. Later, the crowns were recognized as symbols of the independence of the state. This is a sad and interesting moment. In 1917, by decree of the provisional government, the coat of arms of Russia was once again changed. Crowns were removed from it, which were considered symbols of tsarism, but from the point of view of the science of heraldry, the state independently abandoned its own independence.
The orb and scepter, which the double-headed eagle holds in its paws, traditionally symbolize a single power and state power (and they were also removed in 1917). Despite the fact that traditionally the eagle was depicted in gold on a red background, during the time of the Russian Empire, without thinking twice, they took the colors traditional not for our state, but for Germany, because the eagle turned out to be black and on a yellow background. Eagle gold symbolizes wealth, prosperity, grace, and so on. The red color of the background symbolized in ancient times the color of sacrificial love, in a more modern interpretation - the color of courage, courage, love and blood that was shed during the battles for the homeland. The flag of Russia with the coat of arms is also sometimes used.
In most cases, coats of arms do not exist in cities, but in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. However, there are some exceptions, for example: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol. They bear little resemblance to the official coat of arms of Russia. All of them are considered cities of federal significance and have the right to their own coat of arms. In Moscow, this is a rider on a horse, slaying a snake, similar to the one located on the state symbols, but still somewhat different. The image that exists at the moment is as close as possible to the one that existed in Moscow and its princes back in the days of Ancient Rus'.
St. Petersburg's coat of arms is much more complex. It was approved back in 1730 and relatively recently returned to exactly the state in which it was originally accepted. The emblem of the Vatican served as the prototype of this symbol. The scepter with the state eagle and the crown symbolize that this city was the capital of the Russian Empire for a long time. Two crossed anchors indicate that St. Petersburg is both a sea and a river port, and the red background symbolizes the blood shed during the war with Sweden.
After the emergence of the USSR, the standard version of the coat of arms with a double-headed eagle was abandoned, and from 1918 to 1993 a different symbol was used, which was gradually refined and modified. At the same time, many coats of arms of Russian cities were significantly altered or even completely changed. The main colors are red and gold, traditions in this regard were observed, but everything else has changed dramatically. In the center, against the background of the sun's rays, a crossed hammer and sickle are depicted, at the top - a red star (it was not in the first variations of the coat of arms). On the sides are ears of wheat, and below the symbol on a red background is written in black letters "Proletarians of all countries, unite!". In this version, the coat of arms of Russia, or rather the Soviet Union, was used for a very long time, until the collapse and is still used in one form or another by various communist parties.
In the version in which the coat of arms of Russia exists at the moment, it was adopted in 1993. The symbolism and general meaning remained approximately the same as long before the emergence of the USSR, the only thing is that the blood shed during the wars was added to the interpretation of the red color.
In general, the coat of arms of Russia has a very long history, and the specific reasons for using just such symbols were invented rather upon the fact of application. The reasons why they were chosen by some ancient ruler is unlikely to ever be established for certain.
"Royal titular", Page from a copy of the RGADA.History of the coat of arms of Russia- the history of the appearance and change of the state symbol of the state from the time of the first image of the double-headed eagle on the state seal (the symbol of the Moscow principality) to the 21st century (the coat of arms of modern Russia).
Seal of Ivan III, 1497 The seal of Ivan III the Great, inherited from Vasily II Vasilyevich the Dark, originally depicted a lion tormenting a snake (the lion is a symbol of the Vladimir principality). However, at the end of the 15th century, a new symbol of the state was chosen - the rider, who was still used in Kievan Rus. The double-headed eagle was chosen as the second symbol, copying the symbolism of the Holy Roman Empire - the strongest state in Western Europe, the Moscow prince portrayed himself as the heir to the eastern part of the collapsed Roman Empire - Byzantium. Ivan III had a formal reason - he was married to Sophia Paleolog, who came from the last dynasty ruling in Byzantium, the daughter of a Morean despot. This symbol was not a family, but a generic sign of the entire dynasty.
After the final liquidation of dependence on the Golden Horde, the grand ducal seal of Ivan III appears for the first time. The first reliable evidence of the use of the double-headed eagle as a state emblem is the seal that in 1497 sealed his charter on the land holdings of the specific princes. At the same time, images of a gilded double-headed eagle on a red field appeared on the walls of the Faceted Chamber in the Kremlin.
Seal of Ivan IV, 1539 
Coat of arms from the seal of Alexei Mikhailovich, 1667 The double-headed eagle becomes the coat of arms under Ivan the Terrible, the first Russian tsar. The coat of arms of the Russian state is supplemented in the center first with a unicorn, and then - instead of it - with a Moscow symbol - a snake-rider. Orthodox symbolism also appears, reflecting the role of the official religion.
The rider was traditionally perceived as an image of the sovereign. From the time of Ivan the Terrible and earlier, the rider on Russian coins and seals was interpreted as "the great prince on horseback, and having a spear in his hand." This interpretation of the image remained unchanged until the beginning of the 18th century, and only in the time of Peter the Great (from about the 1710s) was it first called “Saint George”. This was due to the establishment of imperial emblems. (See also the Order of the Garter of Ivan the Terrible).
On the large seal of Boris Godunov (not later than 1604), the double-headed eagle is depicted with three crowns. Three crowns meant the conquered Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberian kingdoms.
During the time of unrest, the Russian state symbol was actively used by the False Dmitrys (I, II, III). Unlike the previous ones, in one of the seals of False Dmitry I the rider was turned to the right according to the Western European heraldic tradition (which indicates the foreign origin of the seal).
During the time of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the eagle receives symbols of power: a scepter and an orb.
During the reign of Peter I, the secretary of the Austrian ambassador to Russia I.-G. Korb keeps a "Diary of a Journey to Muscovy", in which he describes Peter's associates and the massacre of the archers. The diary is interesting as another look at Russia through the eyes of a foreigner, including a detailed drawing of the state seal.
After 1699, the coat of arms is depicted with elements of the St. Andrew's Order, introduced by Peter. source unspecified 161 days] The eagle, which did not have a permanent color before, becomes black until the end of the Romanov dynasty. [ source unspecified 161 days] The “rider” on the coat of arms is sometimes referred to as the “sovereign” (decree of 1704), but in fact George the Victorious is depicted, which is recorded in later documents of the 1730s.[ source unspecified 161 days]
Coat of arms approved by Paul I in 1799. 
Large state emblem of Russia, 1882 For more information on this topic, see Coat of arms of the Russian Empire. In the 1730s and 1740s, the coat of arms received a permanently fixed form. In 1736, Empress Anna Ioannovna invited a Swiss by birth, a Swedish engraver I.K. After the conquest of Malta by Napoleon, Emperor Paul I becomes the head of the Order of Malta. In 1799, Paul I signed the "Decree on the inclusion in the Russian coat of arms of the Maltese cross under the crown." The cross was placed on the chest of the eagle, under the Moscow coat of arms (which was called the "root coat of arms of Russia"). Also, the emperor is making an attempt to develop and introduce a complete coat of arms of the Russian Empire. In 1800, he proposed a complex coat of arms, on which forty-three coats of arms were placed in a multi-field shield and on nine small shields. However, they do not have time to accept this coat of arms before the death of Paul.
By this time, various variants of the coat of arms appeared: for example, an eagle could have one crown and hold a wreath, lightning bolts or a torch. Emperor Nicholas I adopts two official types of coats of arms: on one, simplified, the eagle has only the main elements. On the second official version of the coat of arms, title coats of arms appear on the wings of the eagle: on the right - Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian, on the left - Polish, Tauride, Finland.
Under Emperor Alexander II, a heraldic reform was carried out under the leadership of the King of Arms, Baron Köhne. The eagle in the drawing received new features borrowed from Western Europe - for example, the coat of arms with George the Victorious was turned to the left of the viewer. The Small State Emblem was approved on December 8, 1856. It also added shields with the coats of arms of the territories within the Russian Empire.
In total, by April 11, 1857, a whole set of emblems was created and adopted, including the Large, Medium and Small state emblems, and others - a total of one hundred and ten drawings. The coat of arms will remain practically unchanged until the February Revolution itself, only minor changes will be made: for example, under Emperor Alexander III, the coat of arms of Turkestan, another province of the Russian Empire, will be added.
In 1917, after the abdication of Nicholas II, the question arose of a new state emblem. “To clarify” this issue, a group of specialists gathered: V. K. Lukomsky, S. N. Troinitsky, G. I. Narbut, I. Ya. Bilibin. They were excellent connoisseurs of heraldry, but their decision was notable for expectation. They did not recognize it as possible before the convocation of the Constituent Assembly to decide on the state emblem of Russia, but they believed that it was permissible to use "in all cases provided for by law" a double-headed eagle without any attributes and without George the Victorious on his chest. This eagle was painted by Bilibin: a two-headed bird without attributes adorned the seal of the provisional government.
During the period of the Provisional Government, the swastika also competed with the double-headed eagle - a running cross, once a solar sign and a symbol of eternity, prosperity, and progress. Apparently, it was in this capacity that she "liked" the Provisional Government, which chose her, along with the double-headed eagle and the image of the Tauride Palace (where the State Duma was located), as symbols of the new, democratic Russia.
White governments used variations either on the theme of the royal coat of arms (but without the crown), or the emblem of the Russian Republic of 1917.
The coat of arms was first described in the constitution of the RSFSR of 1918: "The coat of arms of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic consists of images on a red background in the rays of the sun of a golden hammer and sickle, placed crosswise with handles down, surrounded by a crown of ears and with the inscription: "Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic" and "Proletarians of all countries, unite!"
The emblem of the sample of 1978 has not undergone significant changes - only a red star has been added.
In 1992, Russia continued to use the emblem of the 1978-1991 model, but the inscription "RSFSR" on the shield was replaced by "Russian Federation" (in connection with the renaming of the state).
The modern state emblem was adopted in 1993. He replaced the coat of arms of the RSFSR (and before that the coat of arms of the USSR) as a state one. The modern coat of arms contains the main historical elements of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire, except for the Order of St. Andrew, however, most of the royal symbols are devoid of any meaning in the presidential republic. The coat of arms is allowed to be depicted without a heraldic shield.
In 2000, a new law "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation" was adopted, establishing the description and procedure for using the coat of arms.
Natalia
In Russia, the double-headed Byzantine eagle superimposed on the ancient folk tradition of protection on the right and left, having received a completely new geopolitical meaning in the state emblem. The symbolism of the double-headed eagle, one head of which looks to the West, the other to the East, protecting Russia from different sides, unusually well suited the great state, spread over the expanses of Europe and Asia and connecting the two parts of the world. If we talk about the drawing of an eagle in the Russian coat of arms, then it has changed over the centuries. The number of crowns above their heads also changed - two, one, three. The wings were lowered almost until the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich (XVII century). Since that time, the eagle straightened and raised them. It was under Alexei Mikhailovich that the Russian state emblem with all its attributes finally took shape. On the Persians (chest) of the eagle, the Moscow coat of arms was established - a horseman striking a serpent. Above the heads - three crowns under Peter 1, who took the title of emperor, grand ducal, royal crowns were replaced by imperial ones). In the right paw - a scepter, in the left - an orb, which were supposed to mean "the most gracious sovereign, autocrat and owner." By the way, according to the laws of heraldry, the left side of us, the audience, is considered to be the right side - this is, as it were, part of the shield protecting the right shoulder of the warrior, which is located opposite us.
http://simvolika.home.nov.ru/gerb.htm –
