It was approved in 1993 by decree of the country's first president, Boris Yeltsin. However, the symbols that are depicted on the coat of arms of Russia have a much longer history, rooted in the period of the formation of the Moscow principality. On the coat of arms of the Russian Federation is depicted double-headed eagle spreading its wings. What does it symbolize on the coat of arms of Russia?
Any state emblem is not only an image on banknotes, documents and police chevrons. First of all, the coat of arms is a national symbol designed to unite people living in a given territory.
What does the state emblem of the Russian Federation mean? When did he appear? Was there a coat of arms medieval Russia similar to modern? Why does the Russian eagle have two heads?
The history of the coat of arms of Russia is rich and interesting, but before talking about it, one should give a description of this national symbol.
The emblem of the Russian Federation is a red heraldic shield with the image of a golden double-headed eagle spreading its wings.
Each head of the eagle is topped with a crown, in addition, there is another crown above them, bigger size. The three crowns are connected by a golden ribbon. The double-headed eagle holds a scepter in its right paw, and an orb in its left paw. On the chest of the double-headed eagle there is another red shield depicting a rider slaying a dragon with a silver spear.
As it should be according to heraldic laws, each of the elements of the Russian coat of arms has eigenvalue. The double-headed eagle is a symbol of the Byzantine Empire, its image on the Russian coat of arms emphasizes the continuity between the two countries, their cultures and religious beliefs. It should be noted that the double-headed eagle is used in the state emblems of Serbia and Albania - in countries whose state traditions were also strongly influenced by Byzantium.
Three crowns in the coat of arms signify the sovereignty of the Russian state. Initially, the crowns meant three kingdoms conquered by the Moscow princes: Siberian, Kazan and Astrakhan. The scepter and orb in the paws of an eagle are symbols of the supreme state power (prince, king, emperor).
The horseman slaying the dragon (serpent) is nothing but the image of St. George the Victorious, a symbol of the bright principle that conquers evil. He personifies the warrior-defender of the Motherland and has been very popular in Russia throughout its history. No wonder George the Victorious is considered the patron saint of Moscow and is depicted on its coat of arms.
The image of a rider is traditional for the Russian state. This symbol (the so-called rider) was in use even in Kievan Rus, it was present on princely seals and coins.
Initially, the rider was considered an image of the sovereign, but during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the tsar on the coat of arms was replaced by St. George.
The central element of the Russian coat of arms is a double-headed eagle; this symbol first appeared during the reign of Ivan III, at the end of the 15th century (1497). The double-headed eagle was depicted on one of the royal seals.
Prior to this, seals most often depicted a lion tormenting a snake. The lion was considered a symbol of the Vladimir principality and passed from Prince Vasily II to his son Ivan III. Around the same time, the horseman became a common state symbol (later he would turn into George the Victorious). For the first time, the double-headed eagle as a symbol of princely power was used on the seal, which was sealed with a letter of ownership. land plots. Also in the reign of Ivan III, the eagle appears on the walls of the Faceted Chamber of the Kremlin.
Why it was during this period that the Moscow tsars began to use the double-headed eagle is still a matter of controversy among historians. The canonical version is that Ivan III took this symbol for himself because he married the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Sophia Palaiologos. In fact, for the first time this theory was put forward by Karamzin. However, it raises serious doubts.
Sophia was born in Morea - the outskirts of the Byzantine Empire and was never close to Constantinople, the eagle first appeared in the Moscow principality a few decades after the marriage of Ivan and Sophia, and the prince himself never declared any claims to the throne of Byzantium.
The theory of Moscow as the “Third Rome” was born much later, after the death of Ivan III. There is another version of the origin of the double-headed eagle: having chosen such a symbol, the Moscow princes wanted to challenge the rights to it from the strongest empire of that time - the Habsburg Empire.
There is an opinion that the Moscow princes borrowed the eagle from the South Slavic peoples, who quite actively used this image. However, traces of such borrowing have not been found. And the appearance of the Russian "bird" is very different from its South Slavic counterparts.
In general, why a double-headed eagle appeared on the Russian coat of arms, historians still do not know exactly. It should be noted that around the same time, a single-headed eagle was depicted on the coins of the Novgorod Principality.
The double-headed eagle becomes the official state emblem under the grandson of Ivan III - Ivan the Terrible. Initially, the eagle is complemented by a unicorn, but soon it is replaced by a horseman slaying a dragon, a symbol usually associated with Moscow. Initially, the horseman was perceived as a sovereign (“great prince on horseback”), but already during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, they begin to call him George the Victorious. Finally, this interpretation will be fixed much later, in the reign of Peter the Great.
Already during the reign of Boris Godunov, the coat of arms of Russia for the first time receives three crowns located above the heads of an eagle. They meant the conquered Siberian, Kazan and Astrakhan kingdoms.
From about the middle of the 16th century, the Russian double-headed eagle is often drawn in the “armed” position: at the same time, the beak of the bird is open, the tongue is stuck out. Such a double-headed eagle seems aggressive, ready to attack. This change is the result of the influence of European heraldic traditions.
At the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century, in the upper part of the coat of arms, between the heads of the eagle, the so-called Calvary cross often appears. Such innovation coincides with the moment when Russia gained ecclesiastical independence. Another version of the emblem of that period is the image of an eagle with two crowns and an eight-pointed Christian cross between its heads.
By the way, all three False Dmitrys during the Time of Troubles actively used seals depicting the Russian coat of arms.
The end of the Time of Troubles and the accession of the new Romanov dynasty led to some changes in the state emblem. According to the then heraldic tradition, the eagle began to be depicted with spread wings.
In the middle of the 17th century, during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, the State Emblem of Russia for the first time receives an orb and a scepter, the eagle holds them in its paws. These are traditional symbols of autocratic power. At the same time, the first official descriptions of the coat of arms appeared, they have survived to this day.
During the reign of Peter I, the crowns over the heads of the eagle acquire the well-known "imperial" look, in addition, the coat of arms of Russia changes its color scheme. The body of the eagle became black, and its eyes, beak, tongue and paws were golden. The dragon also began to be depicted in black, and George the Victorious - in silver. This design has become traditional for the entire period of the Romanov dynasty.
The coat of arms of Russia underwent relatively serious changes during the reign of Emperor Paul I. This was the beginning of the era Napoleonic Wars, in 1799 Britain captured Malta, whose patron was the Russian emperor. Such an act of the British infuriated the Russian emperor and pushed him to an alliance with Napoleon (which later cost him his life). It is for this reason that the coat of arms of Russia received another element - the Maltese cross. Its significance was that the Russian state claims this territory.
During the reign of Paul I, a draft of the Great Coat of Arms of Russia was prepared. It was made entirely in accordance with the heraldic traditions of its time. Around the state emblem with a double-headed eagle, the emblems of all 43 lands that were part of Russia were collected. The shield with coats of arms was held by two archangels: Michael and Gabriel.
However, soon Paul I was killed by conspirators and the large coat of arms of Russia remained in the projects.
Nicholas I adopted two main versions of the state emblem: full and simplified. Prior to this, the coat of arms of Russia could be depicted in different versions.
Under his son, Emperor Alexander II, a heraldic reform was carried out. Heraldmeister Baron Köhne was engaged in it. In 1856, a new small Russian coat of arms was approved. In 1857, the reform was finally completed: in addition to the small one, the medium and large emblems of the Russian Empire were also adopted. They remained virtually unchanged until the events February Revolution.
After the February Revolution, the question arose of a new coat of arms of the Russian state. To solve it, a group of the best Russian heraldry experts was assembled. However, the question of the coat of arms was rather political, so they recommended that before the convocation of the Constituent Assembly (where they were supposed to adopt a new coat of arms) use the double-headed eagle, but without the imperial crowns and George the Victorious.
However, six months later, another revolution happened, and the Bolsheviks took up the development of a new coat of arms for Russia.
In 1918, the Constitution of the RSFSR was adopted, and along with it, a draft of a new coat of arms of the republic was approved. In 1920, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee adopted a version of the coat of arms, drawn by the artist Andreev. The coat of arms of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic was finally adopted at the All-Russian Congress in 1925. The coat of arms of the RSFSR was used until 1992.
The current state emblem of Russia is sometimes criticized for the abundance of monarchical symbols, which are not very appropriate for a presidential republic. In 2000, a law was passed that establishes an accurate description of the coat of arms and regulates the procedure for its use.
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.
The word coat of arms comes from German word erbe, which means inheritance. The coat of arms is a symbolic image that shows the historical traditions of a state or city.
Coats of arms appeared a very long time ago. The totems of primitive tribes can be considered the forerunners of coats of arms. The coastal tribes had figures of dolphins and turtles as totems, the steppe tribes had snakes, the forest tribes had bear, deer, and wolf figures. A special role was played by the signs of the Sun, Moon, water. 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, Perm lands. The country began to actively develop ties with other European states, its foreign policy position strengthened. In 1497, the all-Russian Sudebnik was adopted - a single code of laws of the country.
It was at this time - the time of the successful construction of Russian statehood.
The Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III (1462-1505) married the Byzantine princess Sofya Palaiologos and, in order to increase his authority in relations with foreign states, takes the family coat of arms of the Byzantine kings - the Double-Headed Eagle. The double-headed eagle of Byzantium personified the Roman-Byzantine Empire, covering East and West. Emperor Maximilian II, however, did not give Sophia his Imperial eagle, the eagle depicted on the banner of Sophia Paleologus had not an Imperial but only a Caesar's crown.
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 turned from the Grand Duke into the Tsar of Moscow and taking for his state a new coat of arms - the Double-headed Eagle, Ivan III in 1472 puts Caesar's crowns on both heads, 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 independent. This circumstance is reflected in the modification of the Eagle, a sword and an Orthodox cross appear in its paws. 
collapsed Byzantine Empire makes the Russian Eagle the successor of the Byzantine one and the son of Ivan III, Vasily III (1505-1533) puts on both heads of the Eagle one common autocratic Cap of Monomakh. After death Basil 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). And here the Russian Eagle undergoes a very comic modification. 
Ivan IV is 16 years old, and he is crowned king, and immediately the Eagle undergoes a very significant change, as if personifying the entire era of the reign of Ivan the Terrible (1548-1574, 1576-1584). But during the reign of Ivan the Terrible there was a period when he renounced the Kingdom and retired to a monastery, handing over the reins of government to Semyon Bekbulatovich Kasimovsky (1574-1576), and in fact to the boyars. And the Eagle reacted to the ongoing events with another change.
The return of Ivan the Terrible to the throne causes the appearance of a new Eagle, the heads of which are crowned with one common crown of a clearly Western pattern. But that's not all, on the chest of the Eagle, instead of the icon of St. George the Victorious, the image of the Unicorn appears. Why? This can only be guessed at. True, in fairness it should be noted that this Eagle was quickly canceled by Ivan the Terrible. 
Ivan the Terrible dies and the weak, limited Tsar Fedor 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, a sign of the passion of Christ appears: the so-called Calvary cross. Cross on state seal was a symbol of Orthodoxy, giving a religious color to the coat of arms of the state. The appearance of the "Golgotha cross" in the coat of arms of Russia coincides with the time of the establishment in 1589 of the patriarchate and church independence of Russia. Another coat of arms of Fedor Ivanovich is also known, which is somewhat different from the above. 
In the 17th century, the Orthodox cross was often depicted on Russian banners. The banners of foreign regiments that were part of the Russian army had their own emblems and inscriptions; however, an Orthodox cross was also placed on them, which indicated that the regiment fighting under this banner served the Orthodox sovereign. Until the middle of the 17th century, a seal was widely used, on which a two-headed eagle with a rider on its chest was 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 have been 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 the Eagle reflects this public opinion.
The enemies of Russia took advantage of the Troubles, and the appearance of False Dmitry (1605-1606) under these conditions was quite natural, as was the appearance of a new Eagle. I must say that some of the seals depicted another, clearly not a Russian Eagle. Here, events also left their mark on the Orel, and in connection with the Polish occupation, the Orel becomes very similar to the Polish one, differing, perhaps, in a two-headed one. 
A shaky attempt to establish a new dynasty in the person of Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610), the painters from the command hut reflected in Orel one deprived of all sovereign attributes and, as if in mockery, either a flower or a cone will grow from the place of fusion of heads. Russian history says very little about Tsar Vladislav I Sigismundovich (1610-1612), however, he was not crowned in Russia, but he issued decrees, his image was minted on coins, and the Russian State Eagle had its own forms with him. And for the first time, the Scepter appears in the paw of the Eagle. The short and essentially fictitious reign of this king actually put an end to the Troubles.
The Time of Troubles ended, Russia repulsed the claims to the throne of the Polish and Swedish dynasties. Numerous impostors were defeated, the uprisings blazing in the country were suppressed. Since 1613, by decision Zemsky Cathedral Russia was ruled by the Romanov dynasty. Under the first tsar of this dynasty - Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), nicknamed by the people "The Quietest" - the State Emblem changes somewhat. In 1625, for the first time, a double-headed eagle is depicted under three crowns, George the Victorious returned on his chest, but not in the form of an icon, in the form of a shield. Also, on the icons, 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 give up their hopes to bring Russia to the Catholic faith. 
In 1645, under the son of Mikhail Fedorovich - Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich - the first Great State Seal appeared, on which a two-headed eagle with a rider on his chest was crowned with three crowns. Since that time, this type of image has been constantly used.
The next stage in the change of the State Emblem came after the Pereyaslav Rada, the entry of Ukraine into the Russian state. At the celebrations on this occasion, a new, unprecedented three-headed Eagle appears, which was supposed to symbolize the new title of the Russian Tsar: "All Great and Small, and White Russia Tsar, Sovereign and Autocrat."
To the charter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his descendants on the city of Gadyach dated March 27, 1654, a seal was attached, on which for the first time a two-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, possibly, under the influence of the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, the double-headed eagle, starting from 1654, began to be depicted with raised wings.
In 1654, a forged double-headed eagle was installed on the spire of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin.
In 1663, for the first time in Russian history, the Bible came out from under the printing press in Moscow - main book Christianity. It is no coincidence that the State Emblem of Russia was depicted in it and its poetic “explanation” was given:
The eastern eagle shines with three crowns,
Faith, hope, love for God shows,
The krill is extended, embraces all the worlds of the end,
North, south, from east to sunset
He covers well with outstretched wings. 
In 1667, after a long war between Russia and Poland over Ukraine, the Andrusovo truce was concluded. To seal this treaty, 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 Decree in the history of Russia of December 14 "On the royal title and the state seal" appeared, which contained official description coat of arms: “The double-headed eagle is the coat of arms of the sovereign Grand Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of All Great and Small 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 Persians (chest) the image of the heir; in pasnoktyah (claws) a scepter and an apple, and reveals the most merciful Sovereign, His Royal Majesty the Autocrat and Possessor.
Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich dies and the short and unremarkable reign of his son Fyodor Alekseevich (1676-1682) begins. The three-headed Eagle is replaced by the old two-headed Eagle, and at the same time does not reflect anything new. After a short struggle with the boyar choice for the kingdom of the young Peter, with the regency of his mother Natalya Kirillovna, the second tsar, 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. However, he did not last long. After a new outbreak of unrest - the Streltsy rebellion, a new Eagle appears. Moreover, the old Eagle does not disappear, and both of them exist for some time in parallel. 
In the end, Sophia, having been defeated, goes to the monastery, and in 1696 Tsar John V also dies, the throne goes solely to Peter I Alekseevich "The Great" (1689-1725).
And almost immediately the State Emblem dramatically changes its shape. The era of great transformations begins. The capital is transferred to St. Petersburg and Orel acquires 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 higher state awards 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 sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and the symbol of the Russian Navy. Since 1699, images of a double-headed eagle surrounded by a chain with the sign of the St. Andrew's Order have been found. And next year, the St. Andrew's Order is placed on an eagle, around a shield with a rider.
From the first quarter of the 18th century, the colors of the double-headed eagle were brown (natural) or black. 
It is also important to say about another Eagle, which Peter painted as a boy for the banner of the Amusing Regiment. This Eagle had only one paw for: "Who has only one ground army has - has one hand, but whoever has a fleet has two hands.
In the short reign of Catherine I (1725-1727), the Eagle again changes its forms, the ironic nickname "Queen of the Swamp" went everywhere and, accordingly, the Eagle simply could not change. However, this Eagle lasted a very short time. Menshikov, drawing attention to him, ordered to withdraw it from use, and by the day of the coronation of the Empress, a new Eagle appeared. By decree of Empress Catherine I of March 11, 1726, the description of the coat of arms was fixed: “A black eagle with outstretched wings, in a yellow field, on it is a rider in a red field.” 
After the death of Catherine I in the short reign of Peter II (1727-1730) - the grandson of Peter I, Orel remained virtually unchanged.
However, the reign of Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740) and Ivan VI (1740-1741) - the great-grandson of Peter I, does not cause practically any change in the Eagle, with the exception of an exorbitantly elongated body. However, the accession to the throne of Empress Elizabeth (1740-1761) entails a radical change in the Eagle. Nothing remains of the imperial power, and George the Victorious is replaced by a cross (moreover, not Orthodox). The humiliating period of Russia added the humiliating Eagle.
For a very short and extremely insulting 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) came to the throne and the Eagle changed, acquiring powerful and grandiose forms. In the minting of coins of this reign there were many arbitrary forms of the coat of arms. Most interesting shape- An eagle that appeared in the time of Pugachev with a huge and not quite familiar crown.
The Eagle of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) appeared long before the death of Catherine II, as if in opposition 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 Tsarevich 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 for itself - Napoleonic France. After the 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 chest of the eagle, under the Maltese crown, there was a shield with St. George (Paul interpreted it as the “root 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 coat of arms described above in the form of a double-headed eagle with a Maltese cross, larger than the rest. 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 appeared. The supporters, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, support the imperial crown over the knight's helmet and mantle (cloak). The whole composition is placed against the background of a canopy with a dome - the heraldic symbol of sovereignty. Two standards with two-headed and one-headed eagles emerge from behind the shield with coats of arms. This project has not been finalized. 
As a result of the conspiracy, on March 11, 1801, Pavel fell at the hands of palace regicides. The young Emperor Alexander I "Blessed" (1801-1825) takes the throne. By the day of his coronation, a new Eagle appears, already without the Maltese emblems, but, in fact, this Eagle is quite close to the previous one. The victory over Napoleon and almost complete control over all processes in Europe causes the emergence of a new Eagle. He had one crown, the wings of an eagle were depicted lowered (spread out), and in the paws 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-willed and aware of his duty to Russia, takes the throne. Nicholas contributed to the powerful, spiritual and cultural revival of Russia. This revealed a new Eagle, which changed somewhat over time, but still carried all the same strict forms.
In 1855-1857, during the heraldic reform, which was carried out under the leadership of Baron B.Kene, the type of the 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 emblems of Kazan, Poland, Tauric Chersonesos and the combined emblem of the Grand Duchies (Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod), on the left - shields with the emblems of Astrakhan, Siberia, Georgia, Finland. 
On April 11, 1857, the Supreme approval of the entire set of state emblems followed. It included: Large, Medium 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, Medium and Small state seals, arks (cases) for seals, as well as seals of the main and lower government places and persons were approved. In total, one act approved one hundred and ten drawings lithographed by A. Beggrov. On May 31, 1857, the Senate published a Decree describing the new emblems and the norms for their use.
Also known is another Eagle of Emperor Alexander II (1855-1881), where the gleam of gold returns to the Eagle again. The scepter and orb are replaced by a torch and a wreath. In the course of his reign, the wreath and torch are replaced several times by the scepter and orb, and several times they return again. 
On July 24, 1882, Emperor Alexander III approved the drawing of the Great Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire in Peterhof, on which the composition was preserved, but the details were changed, in particular the figures of the archangels. In addition, the imperial crowns began to be depicted like real diamond crowns used during the coronation.
The large Russian state emblem, approved by the Highest on November 3, 1882, is in a golden shield a black double-headed eagle crowned with two imperial crowns, above which is the same, but in a larger 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. The shield is crowned with the helmet of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. The namet is black with gold. Around the shield is the chain of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called; on the sides are the images of the holy Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel. The canopy is golden, crowned with the imperial crown, dotted with Russian eagles and lined with ermine. On it is a scarlet inscription: God is with us! Above the canopy is the state banner, with an eight-pointed cross on the staff. 
On February 23, 1883, the Middle and two variants of the Small Coat of Arms were approved. In January 1895, the royal command 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 the strict contours, it is the most elegant.
With minor changes made in 1882 by Alexander III, the coat of arms of Russia lasted 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 signs, therefore, deprived of a crown, scepter, orb, emblems of kingdoms, lands and all other heraldic attributes "left in the service." 
The Bolsheviks held a completely different opinion. By a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of November 10, 1917, along with estates, ranks, titles and old regime orders, the emblem and flag were abolished. But the decision turned out to be easier than the execution. State bodies continued to exist and function, so for another half a year the old coat of arms was used where necessary, on signboards with the designation of authorities and in documents. 
The new coat of arms of Russia was adopted along with the new constitution in July 1918. Initially, the ears were not crowned with a five-pointed star; it was introduced a few years later as a symbol of the unity of the proletariat of the five continents of the planet.
It seemed that the double-headed eagle was finally dismissed, but as if doubting this, the authorities were in no hurry to remove the eagles from the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. This happened only in 1935, when the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks decided to replace the old symbols with ruby stars. 
In 1990, the Government of the RSFSR adopted a resolution on the creation of the State Emblem and the State Flag of the RSFSR. After a comprehensive discussion, the Government Commission proposed to recommend to the Government a coat of arms - a golden double-headed eagle on a red field. 
In 1993, by decree of President B.N. Yeltsin, the double-headed Eagle was approved as the state emblem. And finally, on December 8, 2000, the two-headed Eagle was approved by the State Duma.
The coat of arms of Peter I is taken as the basis of the modern coat of arms. But the double-headed eagle is golden in color, not black, and it is placed on a red heraldic shield. 
Throughout the history of our state, each head of state has contributed to the development and formation of the coat of arms. At the same time, he tried to ensure that the historical events and achievements taking place at that moment were reflected on the coat of arms. The character and political views were also reflected in the coat of arms.
Initially, the eagle appeared in Russia from the collapsed mighty Roman Empire. It was necessary for the young Russian state as a symbol of power. The stronger Russia became, the more confident and stronger the eagle looked on the coat of arms. Over time, he had all the attributes of power: a crown, a scepter and an orb.
29.06.11 18:14
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, Perm lands. The country began to actively develop ties with other European states, its foreign policy position strengthened. In 1497, the all-Russian Sudebnik was adopted - a single code of laws of the country.
It was at this time - the time of the 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 Russia. It happened like this: the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III married the Byzantine princess Sophia Paleolog and, in order to increase his authority in relations with foreign states, he takes the family emblem of the Byzantine kings - the Double-headed Eagle. The double-headed eagle of Byzantium personified the Roman-Byzantine Empire, covering 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 had not an Imperial but only a 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 turned 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 puts 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 independent. 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) puts on both heads of the Eagle one common autocratic Cap of Monomakh (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) comes, and the actual autocracy of the boyars Shuisky, Belsky (1538-1548). And here the Russian Eagle undergoes a very comic modification (Fig. 6).
Ivan IV is 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 government to Semyon Bekbulatovich Kasimovsky (1574-1576), and in fact to the boyars. And the Eagle reacted to the events with another change (Figure 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 a single, common crown of a clearly Western pattern. But that's not all, on the chest of the Eagle, instead of the icon of St. George the Victorious, the image of the Unicorn appears. Why? This can only be guessed at. True, in fairness it should be noted that this Eagle was quickly canceled by Ivan the Terrible.
During the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich “Blessed” (1584-1587), a sign of the Passion of Christ appears between the crowned heads of a double-headed eagle: the so-called Calvary cross. The cross on the state seal was a symbol of Orthodoxy, giving a religious coloring to the coat of arms of the state. The appearance of the "Golgotha cross" in the coat of arms of Russia coincides with the time of the establishment in 1589 of the patriarchate and church independence of Russia. 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, on which a two-headed eagle with a rider on its chest was 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 have been 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 the Eagle (Figure 11) reflects this public opinion.
The enemies of Russia took advantage of the Troubles, and the appearance of False Dmitry (1605-1606) under these conditions was quite natural, as was the appearance of the new Eagle (Fig. 12). I must say that some of the seals depicted another, clearly not a Russian Eagle (Fig. 13). Here, events also left their mark on the Orel, and in connection with the Polish occupation, the Orel becomes very similar to the Polish one, differing, perhaps, in a two-headed one.
A shaky attempt to establish a new dynasty in the person of Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610), the painters from the command hut reflected in Orel deprived of all sovereign attributes (Fig. 14) and, as if in mockery, either a flower or a cone will grow from the place of fusion of heads. Russian history says quite little about Tsar Vladislav I Sigismundovich (1610-1612), however, he was not crowned in Russia, but he issued decrees, his image was minted on coins and the Russian State Eagle had its own forms (Fig. 15). And for the first time, the Scepter appears in the paw of the Eagle. The short and essentially fictitious reign of this king actually put an end to the Troubles.
The Time of Troubles ended, Russia repulsed the claims to the throne of the Polish and Swedish dynasties. Numerous impostors were defeated, the uprisings blazing in the country were suppressed. Since 1613, by decision of the Zemsky Sobor, the Romanov dynasty began to rule in Russia. Under the first tsar of this dynasty - Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), nicknamed by the people "The Quietest" - the State Emblem changes somewhat (Fig. 16). In 1625, for the first time, a double-headed eagle is depicted under three crowns, George the Victorious returned on his chest, but not in the form of an icon, in the form of a shield. Also , on the icons 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 give up their hopes to bring Russia to the Catholic faith.
In 1645, under the son of Mikhail Fedorovich - Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich - the first Great State Seal appeared, on which a two-headed eagle with a rider on his chest was crowned with three crowns. Since that time, this type of image has been constantly used.
The next stage in the change of the State Emblem came after the Pereyaslav Rada, the entry of Ukraine into the Russian state. At the celebrations on this occasion, a new, unprecedented three-headed Eagle appears (Fig. 17), which was supposed to symbolize the new title of the Russian Tsar : "All Great and Small, and White Russia Tsar, Sovereign and Autocrat".
To the charter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his descendants on the city of Gadyach dated March 27, 1654, a seal was attached, on which for the first time a two-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, possibly, under the influence of the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, the double-headed eagle, starting from 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 from under the printing press in Moscow. It is no coincidence that the State Emblem of Russia was depicted in it and its poetic "explanation" was given:
The eastern eagle shines with three crowns,
Faith, hope, love for God shows,
The krill is extended, embraces all the worlds of the end,
North, south, from east to sunset
He covers well with outstretched wings.
In 1667, after a long war between Russia and Poland over Ukraine, the Andrusovo truce was concluded. To seal this treaty, 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 Decree in the history of Russia dated December 14 "On the royal title and on the state seal" appeared, which contained an official description of the coat of arms: "The double-headed eagle is the coat of arms of the sovereign Grand Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of All Great and Small 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 Persians (chest) is the image of the heir; in the pasnokts (claws) is a scepter and an apple, and shows the most merciful Sovereign, His Royal Majesty 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, with the regency of his mother Natalya Kirillovna, the second tsar, 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 Streltsy 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 been defeated, goes to the monastery, and in 1696 Tsar John V also dies, the throne goes solely to Peter I Alekseevich "The Great" (1689-1725).
In 1696, Tsar John V also died, the throne goes 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 transferred 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 the 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 sign of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and the symbol of the Russian Navy. Since 1699, images of a double-headed eagle surrounded by a chain with the sign of the St. Andrew's Order have been found. And next year, the St. Andrew's Order is placed on an eagle, around a shield with a rider.
From the first quarter of the 18th century, the colors of the double-headed eagle were brown (natural) or black.
It is also important to mention one more Eagle (Fig. 21a), which Peter painted as a 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."
In the short reign of Catherine I (1725-1727), the Eagle (Fig. 22) again changes its forms, the ironic nickname "Queen of the Swamp" went everywhere and, accordingly, the Eagle simply could not help but change. However, this Eagle lasted a very short time. Menshikov drew attention to it and ordered to withdraw it 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, on it is a rider in a red field."
After the death of Catherine I in the short reign of Peter II (1727-1730) - the grandson of Peter I, Orel practically did not change (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 an exorbitantly elongated body. 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 George the Victorious is replaced by a cross (moreover, not Orthodox). The humiliating period of Russia added the humiliating Eagle.
The Eagle did not react in any way to the very short and extremely insulting reign of Peter III (1761-1762) for the Russian people. In 1762, Catherine II "The Great" (1762-1796) came to the throne and the Eagle changed, acquiring powerful and grandiose forms (Fig. 27). In the minting of coins of this reign there were many arbitrary forms of the coat of arms. The most interesting form is the Eagle (Fig. 27a), which appeared in the time of Pugachev with a huge and not quite familiar crown.
The eagle (Fig. 28) of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) appeared long before the death of Catherine II, as if in opposition 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 Tsarevich himself. This Eagle is created by Paul himself.
In the short time of the reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801), Russia pursued an active foreign policy, faced with a new enemy for itself - Napoleonic France. After the 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 (Fig. 28a). On the chest of the eagle, under the Maltese crown, there was a shield with St. George (Paul interpreted it as the "root 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 coat of arms described above in the form of a double-headed eagle with a Maltese cross, larger than the rest. 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 appeared. The supporters, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, support the imperial crown over the knight's helmet and mantle (cloak). The whole composition is placed against the background of a canopy with a dome - the heraldic symbol of sovereignty. Two standards with two-headed and one-headed eagles emerge from behind the shield with coats of arms. This project has not been finalized.
As a result of a Masonic conspiracy, on March 11, 1801, Paul fell at the hands of palace regicides. The young Emperor Alexander I "Blessed" (1801-1825) takes the throne. By the day of his coronation, a new Eagle appears (Fig. 29), already without the Maltese emblems, but, in fact, this Eagle is quite close to the former 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 wings of an eagle were depicted lowered (spread out), and in the paws 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-willed and aware of his duty to Russia, takes the throne. Nicholas contributed to the powerful, spiritual and cultural revival of Russia. This revealed a new Eagle (Fig. 31), which changed somewhat over time (Fig. 31a), but still carried all the same strict forms.
In 1855-1857, during the heraldic reform, which was carried out under the leadership of Baron B.Kene, the type of the 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 emblems of Kazan, Poland, Tauric Chersonesos and the combined emblem of the Grand Duchies (Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod), on the left - shields with the emblems of Astrakhan, Siberia, Georgia, Finland.
On April 11, 1857, the Supreme approval of the entire set of state emblems followed. It included: Large, Medium 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, Medium and Small state seals, arks (cases) for seals, as well as seals of the main and lower government places and persons were approved. In total, one act approved one hundred and ten drawings lithographed by A. Beggrov. On May 31, 1857, the Senate published a Decree describing the new emblems and the norms for their use.
Also known is another Eagle of Emperor Alexander II (1855-1881), where the gleam of gold returns to the Eagle again (Fig. 32). The scepter and orb are replaced by a torch and a wreath. In the course of his reign, the wreath and torch are replaced several times by the scepter and orb, and several times they return again.
On July 24, 1882, Emperor Alexander III approved the drawing of the Great Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire in Peterhof, on which the composition was preserved, but the details were changed, in particular the figures of the archangels. In addition, the imperial crowns began to be depicted like real diamond crowns used during the coronation.
The large Russian state emblem, approved by the Highest on November 3, 1882, is in a golden shield a black double-headed eagle crowned with two imperial crowns, above which is the same, but in a larger 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. The shield is crowned with the helmet of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. The namet is black with gold. Around the shield is the chain of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called; on the sides are the images of the holy Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel. The canopy is golden, crowned with the imperial crown, dotted with Russian eagles and lined with ermine. On it is a scarlet inscription: God is with us! Above the canopy is the state banner, with an eight-pointed cross on the staff.
On February 23, 1883, the Middle and two variants of the Small Coat of Arms were approved. In January 1895, the royal command was given to leave unchanged the drawing of the state eagle, made by Academician A. Charlemagne.
The most recent act - the "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 the strict contours it is the most elegant.
"derzava.com"
Russia is unique, among other things, in that over the centuries it has managed to unite in one state the most diverse peoples - each with its own culture, faith and language. Thanks to this, many peoples were not only able to survive as a separate ethnic group, but also were able to further develop their original culture.
A book about the friendship of peoples in a single state should definitely appear in the very near future. The whole current political environment is vehemently demanding it. However, in this moment there is no such book, or it is so deeply hidden that it cannot be found.
In search of such a book, this publication was born. I tried to make a very rough sketch of the history of the unification of peoples in one Russian state. To begin with, I just wanted to mark on the time scale when this or that nation joined, and also to find out, at least superficially, the reasons for such joining, and finally, - calculate the time spent living together in one state.
The structure of the publication was suggested to me by the Great Emblem of the Russian Empire. I recently stumbled upon it by chance and suddenly discovered that in it, in the form of a kind of map, the very story that I am looking for is encrypted!
Briefly - about the history of the coat of arms. In Russia, there never existed the concept of a knightly hereditary coat of arms, widely accepted in Western Europe. During the battles, battle banners with embroidered or painted images were carried over the army Orthodox cross or saints. The history of the coat of arms of Russia is, first of all, the history of the Grand Duke's press.
Ivan III the Great (1440-1505) eliminated the dependence of Russia on the Golden Horde and united around Moscow many of the original Russian territories, fragmented since the 12th century. To increase his authority in the eyes of foreign states, Ivan III married Princess Sophia Paleolog, the niece of the last emperor of Byzantium, and adopted the family coat of arms of the Byzantine kings - a double-headed eagle. Since then, the double-headed eagle has been the state emblem on the seals of Russian rulers.
A little later, the image of the Moscow coat of arms was added to the emblem: a horseman slaying a dragon with a spear. This rider was placed first on reverse side seal, and then migrated to the chest of an eagle. Then, first, the coats of arms of the kingdoms of Astrakhan, Kazan and Siberia, conquered by Ivan IV the Terrible (1530 - 1584), were attached to the Moscow coat of arms, and then the coats of arms of all the main regions and lands that became part of the empire in the subsequent time. Thus, the state emblem became the emblem of its entire territory.
The idea of the Great State Emblem, as we know it today, was originally proposed by Paul I (1754-1801), the son of Catherine II. In 1800, he published a manifesto on the "Complete State Emblem of the All-Russian Empire" with a detailed description of all parts of the coat of arms. In particular, this is what he writes:
One of the sheets of the manifesto of Paul I on the full coat of arms of the Russian Empire: a sheet with a list of coats of arms of the lands that are part of Russia.
“The current Russian Imperial Coat of Arms was assigned to our Empire in the fifth for ten centuries from now to our days by the providence of God the fate of the Kingdoms that determines, at different times different Powers and lands were attached to the Throne of Russia, whose names are included in our Imperial Title; but the coat of arms of Russia and the State seal have hitherto remained in their former form, disproportionate to the space of our possessions. Now we deign to include in the composition of the Russian Coat of Arms, in accordance with our full Title, all the Coats of Arms and signs of the Kingdoms and lands we possess, and therefore, affirming them in the form attached to this, we command the Senate to make their order appropriate in discussing the use of them.
Full title of Alexander II. As you can see, for different lands he can be king, sovereign, grand duke, prince, heir, duke.
Here it is important to pay attention to such a concept as the “imperial title”, which Paul I speaks about several times. The title in general is an honorary hereditary title in class societies (baron, count, prince). Sovereign's title - this is the most important title, the honorary title of the ruler Russian state. This title from the time of Ivan III was supposed to include a listing of all subject lands. This principle of title was preserved by the descendants and was filled with new content in the process of gain or loss of land. Over time, the title more and more turned into a modified, mobile formulation, with the help of which both large-scale and current political tasks were solved. The history of the sovereign's title is the history of the expansion of the territory of the state. Attaching new territory, the sovereign added to his title the title of the former ruler of this territory.
Unfortunately, Paul I was killed (not without the participation, by the way, of British intelligence), and he did not have time to bring his manifesto to life. His idea begins to embody his son, Nicholas I (1796-1855). He starts a heraldic reform, inviting Baron B. Kene for this. Again, due to death, Nicholas I did not have time to complete the reform, and his son Alexander II (1818-1881) finished the work. In 1857, the Great State Emblem was “highly affirmed”.
This coat of arms in its original form existed until 1917. Only in 1882, Alexander III (1845-1894) made a slight amendment to the coat of arms: in addition to purely stylistic and compositional changes, a shield was added with the coat of arms of Turkestan, which became part of Russia in 1867.
We will not give a detailed description of the entire emblem, so as not to deviate from our main topic, we will only say that the main shield with the emblem of Moscow is surrounded by shields with the emblems of kingdoms, principalities and regions, in different time attached to Russia.
The main shield is surrounded by nine shields from below. Coats of arms of kingdoms: I. Kazansky, II. Astrakhan, III. Polish, IV. Siberian v. Chersonese Tauride, VI. Georgian. VII. United coats of arms of the great principalities: Kiev, Vladimirsky And Novgorod. VIII. Coat of arms of the Grand Duchy Finnish. IX. The family coat of arms of His Imperial Majesty.
There are six shields above the main shield. X. Shield of the united coats of arms of the principalities and regions of the Great Russian. XI. Shield of the united coats of arms, principalities and areas of the southwestern. XII. Shield of the united coats of arms of principalities and regions of Belarusian and Lithuanian. XIII. Shield of United Coats of Arms regions of the Baltic. XIV. Shield of United Coats of Arms northeastern regions. XV. Coat of arms Turkestan.
It turns out that the state emblem is a kind of map that reflects both the political structure of Russia and its geography. Let's try to figure out what historical event is associated with each of the armorial shields, we will supplement the "map" given to us with historical content. In brackets, next to the name of the shield, we will indicate the number corresponding to the number of this shield in the diagram above.
Coat of arms Kyiv ( Saint Michael)
Vladimirsky ( lion leopard),
Novgorod ( two bears and fish).
These are the three most "root" old Russian grand principalities. The Kyiv coat of arms symbolizes the ancestral home of the Russian state Kievan Rus (formed in the middle of the 9th century). Also, Kyiv denotes the south-western Russia formed a little later, the Vladimir coat of arms - north-eastern Russia, and Novogorodsky - north-western (Novgorod Republic). All three Russ were formed in the XII century as a result of the fragmentation of Kievan Rus and the Tatar-Mongol invasion.
The titles of all the rulers of Russia, starting with Ivan III, always began with a listing of these three lands: “Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Vladimir, Novgorod ...” - this is how the title of the last Russian emperor Nicholas II began. Then followed all the other kingdoms, principalities and regions.
The history of Russia as a whole, starting with Kievan Rus, has more than 1000 years. Conventionally, all three Russ formed in the 12th century in connection with the collapse of Kievan Rus (before that, they had been together for 300 years). Under the influence Tatar invasion in the XIII century until the middle of the XV century they were separated (200 years), but since then they have been together again (more than 500 years). It will be interesting further to compare with these time intervals the time of the joint life of other peoples, gradually joining Russia.
Coat of arms Pskov ( golden leopard in the center) , coat of arms Smolensky ( a gun) , coat of arms Tverskoy ( golden throne) , coat of arms Yugorsky ( hands with spears) , coat of arms Nizhny Novgorod ( deer), coat of arms Ryazan ( standing prince) , coat of arms Rostov ( silver deer) , coat of arms Yaroslavsky ( bear) , coat of arms Belozersky ( silver fish) , coat of arms Udorsky ( fox).
As a result of the ensuing war with the Commonwealth, Russia returned the lands lost as a result of the Time of Troubles. And Alexei Mikhailovich (1629-1676) supplemented the title with a new wording: “Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Autocrat of All Great and Small and White Russia.
The territory of present-day central Ukraine was part of Russia/USSR from the middle of the 17th century to the end of the 20th (together for more than 300 years).
In 1654, the scepter and orb first appeared on the royal seal in the paws of an eagle. Forged double-headed eagle mounted on the spire of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. In 1667, Alexei Mikhailovich, in the first ever decree on the coat of arms (“On the royal title and on the state seal”), gave an official explanation of the symbolism of the three crowns over the heads of an eagle:
“The double-headed eagle is the coat of arms of the sovereign Grand Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of All Great and Small and White Russia, the autocrat, His Tsarist Majesty of the Russian reign, on which three crowns are depicted signifying the three great Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian glorious kingdoms. On the Persians (chest) the image of the heir; in pasnoktyah (claws) a scepter and an apple, and reveals the most merciful Sovereign, His Royal Majesty the Autocrat and Possessor.
More than 100 years later, in 1793, under Catherine II, as a result of the second partition of the Commonwealth, Podolsk and Volyn, along with the entire right-bank Ukraine, were ceded to Russia.
The territory of the current western, right-bank, Ukraine as part of Russia / CCCP with late XVI II century (together 200 years).
A significant part of modern Ukraine in the middle of the XIV century was included in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and from the middle 16th century - c the composition of the Commonwealth (i.e., before reunification with Russia, central Ukraine was Lithuanian for 200 years and Polish for another 100 years, and western Ukraine was Lithuanian for 200 years and Polish for another 200 years).
For the first time, Ukraine acquires a formally independent statehood, becoming a Soviet republic within the USSR. At the same time, the territory of modern Ukraine was formed. And the first sovereign state Ukraine forms in 1991 as a result of the collapse of the USSR. Those. This state is just over 20 years old.
Coat of arms Estonian ( three leopard lions) Livonian ( silver vulture with sword) , emblems - Courland ( lion) and Semigalsky ( deer) , coat of arms Karelian ( hands with swords).
Peter I (1672-1725) cut a window to Europe. In 1721, according to the Treaty of Nystadt, Estonia (today's server Estonia), Livonia (today's northern Latvia and southern Estonia) and Karelia passed from Sweden to Russia. Accordingly, at that time the title of sovereigns included: "Prince of Livonia, Estland and Karelia." And the phrase of the big title "Great Sovereign, Tsar of All Great and Small and White Russia, Autocrat" changes to "We, Peter the Great, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia."
Instead of royal crowns, imperial crowns appear on the coat of arms near the eagle, and the order chain of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the patron saint of Russia and the heavenly patron of the tsar himself, appears on his chest. On the wings of an eagle for the first time appear shields with the coats of arms of the Great Kingdoms and Principalities. On the right wing there are shields with coats of arms: Kiev, Novgorod, Astrakhan; on the left wing: Vladimir, Kazan, Siberian.
"Poltava battle". Louis Caravaque. 1717–1719
In 1795, under Catherine II, as a result, Courland and Semigallia (present-day western Latvia) were ceded to Russia. Catherine II adds "princess of Courland and Semigalle" to the title.
So. From the 13th to the 16th centuries (300 years), the peoples of present-day Estonia and Latvia were under the control of the Germans as part of the Livonian Order. According to the resultsLivonian War from the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 18th century (more than 100 more years), the territory of Estonia was part of Sweden, and the territory of Latvia was divided between Sweden and the Commonwealth.
From the beginning of the 18th to the beginning of the 20th centuries, Estonia and Latvia were part of the Russian Empire (200 years), and from the middle to the end of the 20th century they were part of the USSR (another 50 years).
For the first time in their centuries-old history, Estonia and Latvia became independent states in 1918 as a result of the collapse of the Russian Empire. And in 1940 entered to the USSR in connection with the threat of an attack by Nazi Germany. Estonia and Latvia regained their independence in 1991 due to the collapse of the USSR. Thus, the total history of sovereignty among these peoples is about 50 years old.
Coat of arms of the Grand Duchy Lithuanian ( silver rider - in the center) , coat of arms Bialystok ( eagle rider) , coat of arms Samogitsky ( bear) , coat of arms Polotsk ( rider on a white background) , coat of arms Vitebsk ( rider on a red background) , coat of arms Mstislavsky ( Wolf).
In 1772, under Catherine II, as a result of the first division of the Commonwealth, Belarusian lands, including Polotsk, Vitebsk and Mstislavl, were ceded to Russia. In 1795, as a result of the third partition of the Commonwealth, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ceded to Russia. In 1807, under Alexander I, according to the Treaty of Tilsit, Bialystok (Belarus) and Samogitia (Lithuania) were ceded to Russia.
It turns out that today's Belarus and Lithuania lived together with Russia/USSR for 200 years. Prior to that, Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. And the Grand Duchy of Lithuania itself was formed in the XIII century. 300 years later, in the middle of the 16th century, the Commonwealth was formed with Poland and stayed with it until joining Russia for almost 250 years. The history of Lithuanian independence spans over 500 years.
Belarus for the first time gained formal independence within the USSR. And it gained full independence for the first time in 1991 as a result of the collapse of the USSR. This state is just over 20 years old, like Ukraine.
"Storm of Prague" (1797). Alexander Orlovsky. The assault was commanded by General-in-Chief Suvorov and received the highest military rank of field marshal for this victory. The storming of Prague ended the suppression of the Polish uprising of 1794.
Coat of arms of Chersonese Tauride
As a result of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, according to the Kyuchuk-Kainarji peace treaty, under Catherine II, Novorossia and North Caucasus, and the Crimean Khanate came under its protectorate.
And already in 1783, Catherine II (1729-1796) issued a manifesto, according to which the Crimea, Taman and Kuban became Russian possessions. Thus, the Crimea finally became part of the Russian Empire. And Catherine II added to the sovereign title: "Queen of Tauric Chersonesus."
Crimea, North Caucasus and Novorossiya as part of Russia for 200 years.
The modern history of Crimea begins in the middle of the 15th century with the formation on its territory from a fragment of the Golden HordeCrimean Khanate , which quickly became a vassal of the Ottoman Empire (it turns out that Crimea was part of the Khanate for 300 years).
Coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Finland
As a result of the war with Sweden, under the Friedrichsham Peace Treaty in 1809, the lands of Finland passed from Sweden to Russia on the rights of a union. Alexander I (1777-1825) adds the title "Grand Duke of Finland" to the sovereign.
The territory of present-day Finland, for most of its history, from the 12th century to the beginning of the 19th century (600 years), was part of Sweden. After that, it became part of Russia as the Grand Duchy of Finland, having existed in this form until the collapse of the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century (they were together for 100 years). For the first time, Finland gained an independent statehood in 1917. Those. This state is less than 100 years old.
"Transition of Russian troops through the Gulf of Bothnia in March 1809"
Woodcut by L. Veselovsky, K. Kryzhanovsky after the original by A. Kotzebue, 1870s.
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland
After the final defeat of Napoleon, according to the results of the Vienna Congress in 1815 former lands Poland, which was at that moment under the protectorate of France, went to Russia and formed a union with it as the Kingdom of Poland. Alexander I adds to the sovereign title: "Tsar of Poland". After the coronation of Nicholas I to the Kingdom of Poland in 1829, since 1832, the coat of arms of this kingdom first appears on the wings of an eagle.
Poland was formed as independent state parallel to Kievan Rus, in the IX century. In the middle of the 16th century, Poland united with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to form the Commonwealth, which existed until the end of the 18th century. Then the state completely disappeared, being divided among neighboring states, including Russia. And from the beginning of the 19th century, Poland was revived as the Kingdom of Poland as part of Russia and existed in this form until the beginning of the 20th century and the collapse of the Russian Empire (100 years together). Before joining Russia, Poland had 900 years of independent history.
Trying to protect the country from the raids of Turkey and Iran, the Georgian kings repeatedly asked Russia for patronage. In 1783, under Catherine II, the Treaty of Georgievsky was concluded. Its essence was reduced to the establishment of a protectorate by Russia. In 1800, the Georgian side asked for closer cooperation. And Paul I (1754-1801) issued a manifesto according to which Georgia joined Russia as an independent kingdom. But already in 1801, Alexander I issued a new manifesto, according to which Georgia was directly subordinate to the Russian emperor. Accordingly, Paul I adds to the title: "Sovereign of Iver, Kartalinsky, Georgian and Kabardian lands." And Alexander I adds to the title already: "King of Georgia."
The formation of Georgia as a state dates back to the 10th century. From the 13th to the 14th centuries, the state was first invaded by the Mongols, and then by Tamerlane. From XV to XVII Georgia is torn apart by Iran and the Ottoman Empire, turning into an isolated Christian country, surrounded on all sides by the Muslim world. From the end of the 18th century to the end of the 20th century, Georgia was part of Russia/USSR (200 years together). Before that, it turns out that Georgia has an 800-year history of a separate state.
The conquest of Transcaucasia by Russia was completed in the first years of the reign of Nicholas I. As a result of the Russian-Persian war of 1826-1828, the Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates were annexed to Russia, which united into the Armenian region, where about 30 thousand Armenians moved from Persia. As a result Russian-Turkish war 1828-1829 Russia's power over Transcaucasia was recognized and Ottoman Empire, and about 25 thousand Armenians moved from its territory to Russia. As a result of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, Russia annexed the Kars region, inhabited by Armenians and Georgians, and occupied the strategically important Batum region. Alexander II (1855-1881) adds to the title: "Sovereign of the Armenian region." The annexation of Turkestan was preceded by the annexation of the Kazakh Khanate (present-day Kazakhstan). The Kazakh Khanate was formed from a fragment of the Golden Horde in the 15th century, and in the 19th century it consisted of three parts: the Younger (west), Middle (center) and Senior (east) zhuzes. In 1731, under the protectorate of Russia - for protection from the Khiva and Bukhara khanates - the Younger zhuz was asked and accepted. In 1740, the Middle Zhuz was adopted under the protectorate to protect against the Kokand Khanate. In 1818 - a part of the Great Zhuz. And in 1822 the power of the Kazakh khans was abolished. Thus, Kazakhstan has been together with Russia for more than 250 years.
"Parliamenters". Artist Vasily Vereshchagin
In 1839, Russia begins the fight against the Kokand Khanate. One of the most important reasons was opposition to the aggressive policy of the British Empire in Central Asia. This confrontation was called "The Great Game". In the 50s and 60s many Kokand cities were taken, and in 1865 Tashkent was taken and the Turkestan region was formed. In 1867, Emperor Alexander III (1845-1894) approved a project on the formation of a new governor-general - Turkestan Territory. It marked the end initial stage annexation of the Central Asian territories. Alexander III begins to be titled "Sovereign of Turkestan".
Formulated like this:
"By God's hastening mercy We ( name) , Emperor and Autocrat All-Russian, Moscow, Kyiv, Vladimir, Novgorod;Tsar Kazansky,Tsar Astrakhan,Tsar Polish,Tsar Siberian,Tsar Chersonis Tauride,Tsar Georgian;Sovereign Pskov andGrand Duke Smolensk, Lithuanian, Volyn, Podolsky and Finnish;prince Estonian, Livonian, Courland and Semigalsky, Samogitsky, Bialystok, Korelsky, Tver, Yugorsky, Perm, Vyatsky, Bulgarian and others;Sovereign and Grand Duke Novgorod Nizovsky lands, Chernigov, Ryazan, Polotsk, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Belozersky, Udorsky, Obdorsky, Kondia, Vitebsk, Mstislav and all northern countrieslord and sovereign Iver, Kartalinsky and Kabardian lands and regions of Armenia; Cherkasy and Mountain princes and othershereditary Sovereign and Possessor ; Sovereign Turkestan,Heir Norwegian,duke Schleswig-Holstein, Stornmarn, Dietmar and Oldenburg and others, and others, and others.
