Family and personal coats of arms. History of medieval shields (23 photos)

A ceremony of solemn presentation of the certificate of registration of the coat of arms and flag of the region took place in Pskov | 01.03.2019
On March 1, 2019, at a ceremony that took place in the morning at the Pskov Academic Drama Theater named after A. S. Pushkin, the regional governor, Mikhail Vedernikov, was presented with certificates of state registration of the official symbols of the Pskov region - the flag and coat of arms.

Members of the Heraldic Council under the President of Russia, heads of departments of the regional administration, participants in competitions for the design of official symbols, deputies of the Pskov Regional Assembly, heads of federal bodies were invited to the ceremony executive power, organs local government, representatives of political parties and religious organizations, scientific and creative community, heads of veteran organizations and representatives of the media.

The solemnity of the moment when presenting certificates of state registration of the official symbols of the region - the flag and coat of arms - was duly emphasized: the event was opened by stately standard bearers who brought the official symbols of the region into the hall, the anthem of the Russian Federation was played, and then those gathered saw an impressive video about the symbols of the Pskov region.

Chairman of the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation - State Master of Arms, Deputy Director of the State Hermitage for scientific work Georgy Vilinbakhov, speaking to those gathered at the ceremony, especially emphasized that today’s event has both historical and personal significance for him, since his grandparents lived in the Pskov region before the Great Patriotic War. “It is a great honor for me to be in Pskov and participate in this ceremony. The Pskov land is the most important part of Russia and history. In 3 years you can celebrate the anniversary - it will be 350 years since the Pskov coat of arms was depicted in the title card. The image that has come down to us is connected with the great history of Pskov,” said Georgy Vilinbakhov. According to the king of arms, there is a “deep truth and connection of times” in this.

Photo: Pskov Information Agency (PAI)

Governor Mikhail Vedernikov, in turn, stated that the final result in the development of symbols corresponds to the history and traditions of the Pskov region. He also announced the declaration of February 20 as the Day of the Coat of Arms and Flag of the Pskov Region (the date was chosen due to the fact that on February 20, 2019, the symbols of the region were included in the State Heraldic Register of the Russian Federation).

The Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District, Alexander Gutsan, emphasized that residents of the Pskov region had been waiting for this event for 25 years and this day will forever be inscribed in the history of the Pskov region.

Based on materials from the Administration of the Pskov Region, the Pskov Information Agency, Komsomolskaya Pravda and the online publication "Geraldika.ru"

Anastasia Kryzhanovskaya // [04/19/2018] [size: 14782 characters]

The coat of arms of a family or city does not have to be serious and pretentious. Sometimes you can behave like a hooligan, believe the creators of the new coat of arms of Petrozavodsk, Ilya Emelin and Alexey Maksimov. The main symbol of the capital of Karelia has a birthday on April 19. Journalist of the Respublika news agency Anastasia Kryzhanovskaya spoke with the authors of the coat of arms of Petrozaodsk.

What is a family coat of arms?

The coat of arms, together with the other components (family tree, pedigree) forms modern concept The genealogy is a symbol of your family, and sometimes a symbol of just one person (then we are talking about a Personal Coat of Arms). The family coat of arms is a set of heraldic symbols that represent the main features of the family line. The family coat of arms used to be a privilege of the nobility, but now it is designed to highlight the family, unite all its members, and become a strong link for generations.

Family coat of arms (family coat of arms)- compiled by the whole family and reflects the essence family life gender, its place in society and basic values.

Coat of Arms Personal- describes the personality of a particular person.

The coat of arms is an artistic reflection of the basis of a person, his set of beliefs and views on the family, the world, and life. Very often, a coat of arms is drawn up in order to better understand your family and your place in it.

Coming up with a coat of arms is not an easy task. There is a whole science - heraldry, which knows all the rules for drawing up coats of arms. We will give just a few rules for creating a coat of arms that will help you draw the coat of arms of your family.

Rules for creating a coat of arms

1. Shape of the coat of arms

Any coat of arms or emblem is usually composed of certain parts.

The main part of the coat of arms is shield. The image of a shield is intended to protect a family or a person from enemies both in ancient times and in our time. The heraldic shield was initially no different from the real shield. In ancient times, in the Middle Ages, the shapes of military shields were simply amazing in their diversity - round, oval, pointed towards the bottom, rectangular, crescent-shaped, etc. A diamond-shaped shield usually indicated that the owner of such a coat of arms was a lady.
Suitable materials for making a family coat of arms include whatman paper, cardboard from boxes, and thick colored paper. Together with your child, choose the shape of the future family coat of arms and draw it on whatman paper.

2. Color of the coat of arms

The coat of arms could be of different colors, and each color had its own meaning. In heraldry, colors can reflect natural phenomena, qualities human soul, human character and even complex philosophical concepts:

Colors	Name of color adopted in heraldry	Natural phenomenon	Qualities of character, human soul	Philosophical concepts
			Generosity, generosity	Justice
		Moon, water, snow		Innocence
	Chervlen		Bravery, courage, bravery
			Loyalty, truthfulness
		Plants	Youth, joy
			Education, modesty	Humility
Violet			Nobility, dignity	Wisdom (prudence)

The shield can be painted in one color. If we want to use several colors, then the shield needs to be divided, for example, into two parts: vertically, horizontally, diagonally. Despite its apparent simplicity, the geometric divisions of the shield field form many options. Following these division rules, the shield can be divided into three, four or more parts.

3.Coat of arms figures

The figures that are placed on top of the shield field are traditionally divided into heraldic and non-heraldic.
In turn, heraldic figures can be main or secondary.
There are eight main heraldic figures– this is the head (occupies the upper part of the shield), the extremity (located at the bottom of the shield), the pillar (located vertically in the middle of the shield), the belt (placed horizontally in the middle of the shield), the belt (located diagonally on the shield and has two options: from left to right and from right to left), rafter, cross and border.

Minor heraldic figures quite a lot - a square, a rhombus, a shield, etc.

Images of people, animals, plants, natural phenomena, and objects play an important role in the symbolism of coats of arms. They refer to non-heraldic figures, which are divided into natural (natural phenomena, heavenly bodies, plants, animals, humans), artificial (weapons, tools, household items) and mythical (dragons, unicorns, griffins).
Symbolism of the figures:
-leo - strength, courage, generosity;
-eagle - strength, power, independence;
-bear means wisdom and strength;
-dog - loyalty and devotion;
-snake - wisdom, caution;
-the dove symbolizes peace and purity;
- falcon - beauty, courage and intelligence;
-bee – hard work;
-rooster is a symbol of battle;
-dragon - power;
-oak means strength and durability;
-laurel and palm branches - glory, victory;
- olive branches - peace;
- a torch, an open book - symbolize knowledge
The combination of heraldic figures, symbolic images and their colors can serve constant sign, a distinctive sign of a person, family, class, group or institution.

4. Motto of the family coat of arms

Motto- a short saying, usually written on a ribbon at the bottom of the shield. Sometimes mottos are placed in the coat of arms without a ribbon; if the shield is round, the motto is usually written around the shield. Obviously, the basis for the motto could originally have been a knight's war cry (such as "Crom boo", the motto of the Dukes of Fitzgerald, meaning "Crom (the old ancestral castle) forever!"), but the motto could be a short statement reminiscent of something important historical event or expressing the creed of the owner of the coat of arms. The text of the motto can be encrypted and understandable only to initiates.
Family motto passed down from generation to generation, can guide a person’s actions and model his behavior. The family motto is an analogue of a surname, a family calling card. The verbal motto of the family briefly, in a few words, expresses the family credo, the life rules of the family.
Wonderful mottos for the family have already been invented, or rather, formulated in popular proverbs.
Mottos about family:
“Where there is agreement, there is victory,”
"Family is the pillar of happiness"
“Where there is love and advice, there is no grief”
“A family is strong when there is only one roof over it,”
“The family is in a heap, not even a cloud is scary.”
Mottos about honor:
"The more difficult the matter, the higher the honor"
“Where there is honor, there is truth.”
Labor mottos:
"The master's work is afraid"
“Skill and labor will grind everything down.”
“The one who walks will master the road”
Mottos about friendship:
“In a herd that agrees, even a wolf is not afraid”
"There is safety in numbers".
Mottos about defending the Motherland:
"If the people are united, they are invincible"
"Courage is the sister of victory."

DIY family coat of arms. This is how children aged 5-7 years old came up with a family coat of arms.

Family, school, group coat of arms templates

Musician family coat of arms template

Coat of arms template download

The shield is the main element of any coat of arms, but shields can be of various shapes. The very first to be used was a triangular shield (close to the Varangian shield), but due to the fact that such a shield could not fit very a large number of figures, it was gradually replaced by other forms.

The most common forms of shields:

French shield

Spanish shield

Varangian shield

Polish shield

German shields

English shields

Oval (Italian) and round (Eastern) shields

According to the rules of heraldry, the shape of the shield in a blazon is never described, because It is believed that a shield of any shape can be taken as the basis for the coat of arms. According to the rules of heraldry, the blazon (i.e., the description of the coat of arms) is always primary, according to which the design itself is reproduced. Therefore, it is possible that there may be several artistically different drawings of the same coat of arms, each of which is equal to the others, if they all exactly follow the verbal heraldic description. Accepting any image as a standard according to the canons of classical heraldry is considered unacceptable.

In addition, the shield is always depicted as if looking at the observer - therefore, the right side of the shield will be to the left of the observer (and, accordingly, vice versa). This is why heraldic left/right mirrors the usual practice.

The shield can be not only solid, but also divided. There are three main ways of dividing a shield - intersection, dissection and bevel; they can be combined.

Intersection

dissection

Bevel left and right

Often the shield has an irregular, rounded rather than quadrangular shape, however top corner even in a complex shield shape it is possible to determine it, even if it lies outside the contour of the shield. The line should be drawn from this point. Sometimes shields are depicted not only as complex in shape, but also slightly concave, as a result of which the dividing lines take on a curved shape. But in any case, the bevel line should pass through the center of the shield.

These four main divisions are called simple divisions of the shield. However, there are many other ways to divide the shield, using several dividing lines at once and combining lines from different directions. Such divisions are called composite. The two most common of these are four-part shield divisions.

Four-part shield

Divisions can be made not only by straight lines, but also by teeth, points, waves, and other lines - such divisions are considered secondary.

Three-part division of the shield

When blazoning a three-part shield, the order in which the direction of division is mentioned is important. In accordance with the accepted hierarchy, what is called first is what is on the right or (if there is nothing on the right) on top. When recreating the coat of arms according to the description, the division that is mentioned first is carried out first. This order allows you to avoid overloading the blazon text with instructions from the right, left, above, below. When blazoning three-part shields separated by bevels and half-bevels (except for two types belonging to the same genus - straight and inverted forked), it is important to pay attention to the following circumstance: half-bevels found in the lower part of the shield are not called according to the starting point (right or left ), i.e. from top to bottom, and from bottom to top: right and left. The principle of the order in which the colors of the fields of a three-part shield are mentioned in the blazon is explained below.


	The shield is divided into scarlet, gold and silver.	The shield is inverted and fork-shaped, divided into azure, scarlet and silver.	The shield is half-crossed and cut into niello, scarlet and gold	The shield is cut and half-cut into scarlet, niello and gold	The shield is crossed and half-cut into scarlet, niello and gold

The shield is half-cut and cut into niello, gold and scarlet	The shield is beveled on the right and half-beveled on the left into niello, scarlet and gold	The shield is beveled on the right and half-beveled to the left into scarlet, niello and gold	The shield is beveled on the left and half-beveled to the right into scarlet, niello and gold	The shield is half beveled on the right and beveled on the left into niello, gold and scarlet

BLAZING OF A SPLIT SHIELD

General view

Blazoning should always be drawn up as briefly as possible but also as accurately as possible, so that from a verbal description alone one can make a drawing of the coat of arms being described or imagine it mentally.

In the Middle Ages, a verbal description (oral or written down in a book without illustrations) was the only way to record a coat of arms in memory or a document, since it was not always possible to add a drawing to the verbal description. For this purpose, in Western Europe, heralds developed a special heraldic language - blazon, designed to describe any coat of arms as accurately and briefly as possible using special terms. Now, thanks to the achievements of printing, it is almost always possible to accompany a story about a coat of arms with a color drawing, so the importance of the description has faded into the background.

English, French and German blazons are time-tested, polished and laconic. These special languages will make it possible to describe any coat of arms much more briefly than the Russian language can, albeit using special terminology. At the same time, concern for the brevity of a blazon should never overcome concern for its accuracy. Accuracy is the main thing in the description of a coat of arms, and in the name of accuracy it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice brevity.

Features of blazoning of a divided shield.

Unlike the English blazon, the Russian heraldic language does not count the number of stripes formed by dividing lines, but the number of dividing lines themselves. Therefore, if a shield is divided, for example, into four parts, it is indicated that it is a shield that has been cut three times, crossed three times or beveled three times (on the left or on the right). This is followed by a mention of the colors in which the resulting parts are painted. There is no need to separately describe each such part - it is enough to simply name first one and then another color (if the divided shield is painted with two tinctures, as is most often the case). For example: a shield cut three times into azure and silver. It is important to follow the following principle:

	if the shield is cut, then the color of the right field is called first The shield is cut into scarlet and silver		if the shield is crossed, then the color of the top field is called first. The shield is crossed into scarlet and silver.
	if the shield is beveled on the left, then the first is the color of the field occupying the area of the upper right corner. The shield is beveled three times on the left into scarlet and silver.		if the shield is beveled on the right, then the color of the field occupying the area of the upper right corner is called first; when the corner is divided into two parts, the main half is considered to be the upper half, that is, bordering the upper edge of the shield. The shield is beveled three times on the right into silver and greenery
	if the upper right corner is divided into two parts, then the main part is considered to be its upper part, that is, bordering the upper edge of the shield. The shield is beveled on the right and five times on the left into alternating greens and silver		if the upper right corner is divided into two parts, then the main part is considered to be its upper part, that is, bordering the upper edge of the shield. The shield is beveled five times on the right and once on the left into alternating scarlet and silver

Here you can see that the greatest difficulty for blazoning is represented by complexly divided shields. Which color should be called first in such cases, from which section of the shield should the countdown begin? You need to start again from the upper right corner of the shield. But it often happens (for example, in the case of diamond-shaped panels) that this corner is divided diagonally into two parts. Of these two halves, the main one is the one on top, or adjacent to the upper edge of the shield. When we need to paint such a complex shield (or when we need to paint a new one), we first divide the shield into quarters. Then we select the first quarter of the shield, and mentally bevel it to the right, regardless of how it is divided in reality. After this, we receive an exact indication of the area from which to start counting - that is, as in the case of a simple bevel on the right, the first color is the one on top. This principle can be illustrated by the following diagram:

Even more difficult can be caused by non-standard shields, painted in several colors, for example, a shield, beveled three times on the right, but painted not with two, but with four tinctures. Such a shield has to be described - contrary to obvious logic - from the middle, and then returned to this place through the top. But heraldry has its own logic:

According to the hierarchy of directions of division of the shield and parts of the shield, shields divided into three parts are also described. In the first two examples given, a vertical line that extends only to the center of the shield is described as a half-cut. In the first case, the half-cut is mentioned first, since it is located in the primary upper part of the shield, and in the second case, after the intersection, it divides the lower, second most important part of the shield. In the third and fourth examples, for simplicity, it is advisable to use the term fork-shaped division (straight and inverted), although this division is a combination of half-bevels on the right and left with half-dissection (Fig. 3) and half-section with half-bevels to the right and left (Fig. 4).

In general, preference is always given to the right over the left and the upper over the lower. In this case, the dissection is more important than the intersection, the dissection and intersection are more important than both bevels, and the right bevel is more important than the left.

All this, of course, applies specifically to the divisions of the shield, that is, to the areas obtained as a result of dissection, intersection, bevel of the shield, or a combination of these divisions. The divisions should not be confused with the main armorial figures, the blazoning of which has its own rules. Strictly speaking, there is no difference between, for example, a silver pillar in a scarlet field and a shield twice cut into scarlet and silver. Or between a silver belt in a scarlet field and a shield crossed twice into scarlet and silver. The same applies to cases with a sling and double bevel. However, the simple divisions of the shield differ from the main heraldic figures in that the former always form an equal number of vertical, horizontal and diagonal stripes of each color. A shield, cut, crossed or beveled twice, in reality is always a shield carrying, respectively, a pillar, a belt or a belt. The same applies to all shields divided an even number of times. Any even number of cuts, intersections or bevels always forms not stripes, but pillars, belts and slings in the corresponding number. Stripes that are not heraldic figures are formed only with an odd number of cuts, intersections or bevels. For example, a shield "cut four times into gold and niello" should actually read "two black pillars in a field of gold."

Compound true divisions (examples)

The divisions that divide the shield into an equal number of fields of each color are called true. Here is what the main types of such shield divisions look like:




The shield is cut five times into scarlet and gold.	The shield is cut seven times into azure and silver	The shield is beveled three times on the right into silver and greenery	The shield is beveled three times on the left into scarlet and silver


The shield is beveled five times on the right into niello and gold	The shield is beveled five times on the left in azure and gold	The shield is beveled seven times on the right into silver and scarlet	The shield is beveled seven times on the left into green and silver


The shield is cut three times and crossed three times into azure and argent.	The shield is cut and crossed, the first and fourth quarters are cut and crossed into niello and silver, and the second and third into scarlet and gold	The shield is crossed, the upper and lower parts are beveled on the left and right in silver and niello	The shield is cut and crossed, the first and fourth quarters are beveled on the right and left into scarlet and silver, and the second and third - into silver and niello


The shield is beveled five times on the right and once on the left into alternating scarlet and silver	The shield is beveled on the right and five times on the left into alternating greens and silver	The shield is beveled twice on the right and five times on the left into alternating greens and silver	The shield is beveled five times on the right and twice on the left in alternating gold and azure


The shield is beveled three times on the left and right into scarlet and silver	The shield is crossed and beveled on the left and right into green and gold	In the shield, beveled on the right in azure and gold, there is a variably colored pillar	In the shield, beveled on the left in azure and gold, there is a variably colored pillar


The shield is crossed three times and beveled on the right and left into alternating azure and gold	The shield is cut twice and beveled five times on the left into alternating silver and niello	The shield is cut twice and beveled five times on the right into alternating scarlet and gold	The shield is divided diamond-shaped into scarlet and silver


The shield is cut twice and crossed and beveled five times on the left into alternating azure and silver	The shield is twice cut and crossed and beveled five times on the right into alternating azure and silver	The shield is cut, the right and left parts are beveled on the right and left into scarlet and niello
Divisions can be made not with straight lines, but with arcuate lines:

The shield is divided six times in an arc shape into silver and niello	The shield is divided eight times in an arc into azure and gold.	The shield is divided twelvefold in an arc-shaped scarlet and silver	The shield is divided sixteen times in an arc shape into green and gold.
More rare, but very original, characteristic of German heraldry are the following divisions:

Snail-shaped right The shield is snail-shaped beveled on the right in niello and gold	Snail-shaped left The shield is snail-shaped beveled on the left with gold and niello	Snail-shaped lower Shield crossed snail-shaped into gold and niello	Snail-shaped upper shield crossed snail-shaped into niello and gold

Leaf-shaped Shield beveled on the right with two sheets of silver and scarlet	Clover-shaped (trefoil) The shield is beveled on the right with two trefoils for gold and greenery	Liliform The shield is beveled on the right with two lilies in azure and gold

False divisions

False divisions are those that divide the shield into parts of unequal area:


Yoke-shaped Shield crossed by a yoke into azure and argent (this division exists only in the horizontal version)	Inverted yoke The shield is crossed by an inverted yoke into argent and scarlet (this division exists only in the horizontal version)	Crescent right The shield is cut crescent-shaped to the right into azure and gold (this division exists only in the vertical version)	Crescent left The shield is cut crescent-shaped to the left into gold and azure (this division exists only in the vertical version)

	Arched left The shield is cut by a left arc into gold and azure


Stepped ascending The shield is crossed by two ascending steps into scarlet and silver
Division by concave point
There is also another way to complexly divide a shield: using a concave point - simple, overturned and pressed. The main division is obtained by drawing two concave lines from the center of the upper edge of the shield to both lower corners. The resulting triangular area can, on the one hand, be considered a highlighted part of the shield field, and on the other hand, a secondary heraldic figure (concave point). French heraldry adheres to the first point of view, German – to the second. In any case, a type of three-part division is obtained, which allows each of the three parts to be filled with its own content, independent of the other two. The field of the shield, in which the concave point is located, is not always the same color: it is often divided into two or four parts by cutting and crossing. In these cases, the concave tip turns out to be superimposed on a multi-part field, and sometimes the color of the triangular area coincides in kind with the color of one of the other two parts. However, the heraldic rule of colors is not violated. The description of the coat of arms depends on the point of view, for there is no actual difference between a shield with a concave tip and a shield divided into parts along the line of the same tip - regardless of the method of blazoning, the field is marked in the same way. However, Russian heraldry defines this specially shaped triangular area as a figure<вогнутое остриё>, therefore, in all cases, in whatever composition and in whatever form the concave tip is used, it must be blazoned as a figure, and first (but after describing the main division of the shield itself) the tip is mentioned, and then the contents of the parts of the multipart field, to which this tip is applied (see below Fig. 7).	In a dissected and crossed shield with a scarlet pressed concave tip, burdened with a silver lily, there are two golden keys in the niello, and two scarlet fish in the silver.

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The basis of the coat of arms is the shield. With a description of this main element we will begin our presentation of the rules of heraldry. In heraldry there are shields of the most different forms- from simple to very intricate. The most common form of a knight's shield in the era of the birth of heraldry was triangular, which became the main one. But other configurations also appeared in different historical periods. Today, the shape of the shield can serve as a starting point for the examination of the coat of arms.

Since the coat of arms is fundamentally an attribute of chivalry, the heraldic shield is primarily the shield of an equestrian knight, and its shape changed along with the development of military art. This is how P. von Winkler talks about it in his book “Weapons” (St. Petersburg, 1894)

“In the history of the development of weapons in Europe, there is not a single period that would be of greater importance than the period of the X and XI centuries. The reason and reason for this was given by the northern people, who already in the VIII century terrified all of ancient Europe with their brave raids. These were the Normans. Having established themselves in the north of the Frankish state (912), they took an active part in the development of chivalry, thanks to their abilities, activity and enterprise, they soon became the first people in military affairs, they were seen everywhere as an example and example of everything that concerns war, its means and method of waging.Back in the 9th century, the Normans were in Andalusia, landed on the African coast, passed through Italy, gained extraordinary military experience from these campaigns and, under fire and sword, did not lose sight of anything that was new to them and useful from other peoples.Thus, they made significant transformations in military affairs, transformations that became the basic position for all the Middle Ages and which, in their organization and offensive tactics, corresponded to the feudal system, elements for these transformations they mostly borrowed from the eastern peoples. On Bayo's wallpaper, depicting pictures of the conquest of England, at first glance the influence of the East is noticeable in the armament, although further development, one cannot but admit, is carried out according to peculiar national beliefs. There we find for the first time, next to the ancient pilum, a sharp helmet with a characteristic nosepiece, a tight-fitting shell, but, at the same time, we notice that the Norman, like the Saxon, retains the use of his large national shield with a long sword."

The ancient Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman conquest of England - a 73-metre long scroll made using appliqué - has become a valuable source of information about the Normans for historians. In the tapestry you can see that the Anglo-Saxons, like their opponents, were armed with large, elongated shields, specially designed to protect as much area of the body as possible. During this period and in the following centuries, warriors fought mainly on foot, and “bodylength” shields elongated in height provided good protection from archers. However, cavalry is becoming increasingly important. The Normans, immigrants from Scandinavia, were sailors, but quickly mastered the art of mounted combat. Their ancestors, the Vikings, conquered the peninsula in northern France, now called Normandy, and settled there. The Normans created a strong state and sought to expand their possessions. Under the leadership of Duke William the Conqueror, they invaded England. On October 14, 1066, at the Battle of Hastings, a battle took place between William's nine thousand-strong army and ten thousand English infantry led by King Harold. The Anglo-Saxons successfully defended themselves, but a thousand-strong detachment of Norman horsemen, launching a false attack, lured them out of their positions, after which they were completely defeated, and King Harold himself died in battle.

At the end of the 9th century, the warlike Normans enthusiastically embraced the idea of conquering the Holy Land. The era of the Crusades began, which had a huge impact on military tactics and weapons. The role of cavalry in European wars increased. The shape of the shield underwent significant changes, since the knight now needed protection not from frontal, but from side blows, since with the advent of new small arms, such as a crossbow, capable of piercing steel armor with its “bolts,” the importance of the shield as a means of protection from shooters decreased . It should be noted here that the mounted knights held the shield obliquely, which is why many artists depict the heraldic shield “couche”, that is, inclined at an angle between 25 and 45 degrees. So the height of the shield decreased and the shield eventually took on a shape known as a "heater". The classic "heater" has precise dimensions and is depicted according to a specific pattern.

Initially, the shape of heraldic shields repeated the shape of actually existing ones, and changed along with the development of weapons. But over time, the heraldry began to move away from the classical (plausible) forms. Wide possibilities for the imagination of artists were opened by the appearance of the "bouche" - a round neckline with right side a shield that served as a support for a spear.

Can be distinguished by at least nine main forms of heraldic shields: “Varangian”, “Spanish”, “Italian”, “French”, “English”, “Byzantine”, “German”, rhombic, square. However, these “national” names are purely conventional, and in the description of the coat of arms the shape of the shield is not mentioned at all. The most convenient in terms of free space is the so-called French shield, which provides, in comparison with shields of more complex shapes, the maximum area for filling. This shield has long been used in heraldry as the main one. It is a rectangle with a base equal to 8/9 of the height, with a protruding point in the middle lower part and rounded lower corners.

The helmet is placed above the shield. The shape of the heraldic helmet changed over time, depending on fashion and improvements in armor. Gradually, rules were developed according to which the helmet was depicted in accordance with the title, dignity or rank of the owner of the coat of arms. This is what this system looks like in English heraldry. A golden helmet with a lattice visor, turned straight - for the coats of arms of sovereigns and princes of royal blood. A silver helmet with a gold lattice visor, facing heraldic to the right - for peers. Silver helmet with a raised visor, turned straight - for baronets and knights. Silver tournament helmet, facing heraldic right - for squires and gentlemen. The multi-part coat of arms of the princes of Barclay de Tolly-Weimarn was formed in the process of merging several noble families with their own coats of arms. An integral part of these coats of arms were also crests, which in certain cases were also inherited, which is why the coat of arms has five helmets with different pommels. It is easy to determine which part of the shield each of them corresponds to (we add that in this case the central helmet, unlike the other four, is crowned with a princely crown corresponding to the title of the owner of the coat of arms).

pommel

A pommel, crest or helmet crest is a decoration fixed to the top of a helmet, originally made from animal horns and bird feathers. This element was developed during knightly tournaments. It served as an additional identification mark by which one could recognize a knight in the general scrum of a tournament battle, since from a distance this figure was visible better than the coat of arms depicted on the shield. Crests were made of light wood, leather and papier-mâché, but over time they began to be made from more valuable materials. Crests did not immediately become an indispensable part of the coat of arms. In England, heralds in the 16th century legalized this element in order to be able to charge for it additional fee. Currently, crests are automatically included in new coats of arms. The helmet and crest should be turned in the same direction. The crest is attached to the helmet, usually together with a burlet or a helmet crown. The crest itself is a repetition of the main figure of the coat of arms, but can often be a separate, independent sign. Some of the earliest coats of arms do not have crests, as they were approved before crests came into fashion.

Crests should, if possible, match the coloring of the coat of arms, although this is not always observed.

According to the conventional classification, crests are auxiliary And independent.

Auxiliary crests completely repeat the image on the coat of arms. For this purpose, so-called panel boards And wings, providing an area often equal to the area of the shield itself. Independent crests do not repeat the image on the shield, but in most cases they correspond to it in tinctures.

The main types of crests are as follows: 1. Horns 2. Wings 3. Feathers and flags 4. Natural figures (human or animal) 5. Artificial figures 6. Shield boards 7. Headdresses

There are two types of horns: ox horns, crescent-shaped, and bull horns, S-shaped. They are always depicted in pairs, protruding from either side of the helmet. Until the 14th century, helmets were decorated with sickle-shaped pointed horns, and later acquired a more curved shape with sawed off ends. This is where the second type of heraldic horns came from - S-shaped, open, that is, having small bells at the ends, which makes them look like elephant trunks. They also resemble hunting horns, which has led some heraldists to confuse the two terms. However, hunting horns were sometimes depicted in the likeness of horns, in pairs, extending from the sides of the helmet, with the mouthpiece up. Already on the earliest coats of arms, the horns are decorated with twigs, feathers and bells embedded in them; branches, feathers, etc. were stuck into the holes of the open horns.

The horns are colored in accordance with the coloring of the shield. Sometimes a minor figure from the coat of arms is placed between the horns: some animal, a human figure, some object.

Other types of horns are often found: the horns of the goat, the deer and the unicorn, the latter, always single, serrated and bent back. These horns are independent crests and do not bear the image of armorial figures.

Wings are usually depicted in pairs, and their position - straight or profile - depends on the position of the helmet. If the helmet is facing straight, the wings are depicted outstretched; on a helmet facing in profile, the wings are depicted parallel to each other, with sharp ends facing back.

On ancient coats of arms with pot-shaped helmets, the wings were depicted in a stylized manner, looking more like boards painted to resemble feathers or seated with individual feathers. With the development of heraldry and the departure from primitive Gothic forms the wings took on a more natural appearance.

The wings are painted in accordance with the coloring of the shield and, like the shield boards, sometimes completely repeat the primary and secondary figures depicted on it. Sometimes a minor coat of arms figure (such as a star or rose) is placed between the wings, depicted in the coat of arms itself.

There are three types of feathers - rooster, peacock, ostrich. They are depicted separately, in threes, in fives, etc., usually in the form of a fan.

Cocktails, depicted as a bunch of narrow long feathers of unequal length, are the most ancient. They are attached to the tops of headdresses worn on a helmet, or inserted into special quivers.

Peacock feathers are depicted both individually and in the form of a whole peacock tail, fan-shaped. The feathers have a natural coloring - green with yellow-red-blue “eyes”.

Ostrich feathers, which appeared in heraldry later than the previous two, are depicted separately, but most often in threes, curved at the top. Ostrich feathers have shield tinctures. If there is one feather, it is painted in several colors, or painted with the metal tincture of the shield; if there are three feathers, then their coloring alternates: metal-enamel-metal, or enamel-metal-enamel.

Feathers are often inserted into quivers that have a cylindrical, elongated or pointed bottom, painted with armorial figures in accordance with the coloring of the shield.

The feathers cannot be shown coming straight out of the helmet, so they always come out of either the quiver or the crown.

Natural figures (human and animal)

The most diverse and picturesque family is formed by crests bearing images of humans and animals. There are the following types of such crests:

1. Separate parts of the human or animal body. These are primarily the heads, and also full hands, hands and feet.

2. Torso or busts of humans and animals. This is first of all top part bodies with a head, neck and chest, but without arms or front legs (and the neck and chest are depicted unusually elongated, the neck bent back in the shape of the letter S).

3. Increasing figures. Unlike the above, this method involves depicting a figure of a person or animal from the waist up or below, with arms or front paws, as if growing out of a helmet.

4. Full figures of a person or animal. In this case, the figures are depicted as they are represented in the shield, although animals, such as a lion, are sometimes shown sitting on a helmet.

Artificial figures

Heraldry has a large number of so-called non-heraldic figures, any of which can be transferred to a crest either separately or in combination with other figures, forming a complex structure. Particularly interesting are those crests in which, with the help of several figures, some plot is encrypted, repeating or complementing the image on the coat of arms.

Panel boards

Panel boards have a round, hexagonal or fan-shaped shape. They are large enough to fully reproduce the image on the coat of arms. The edges and corners of these boards are often decorated with tassels, bells, and feathers. The boards themselves are sometimes mounted on a cushion, decorated with tassels at the corners, which rests on the helmet.

Hats

The crown is placed on the helmet or, as in state coats of arms, directly above the shield (for example, the princely crown in the coat of arms of Liechtenstein). The crown in the coat of arms indicates the title of the owner of the coat of arms. There are many types of crowns, and any of them can be found in coats of arms, placed on a helmet, above a shield or above a mantle. The following types of heraldic crowns can be distinguished: imperial, royal and princely crowns, which are depicted in the coats of arms of monarchs and in state emblems (as well as in the coats of arms of administrative regions), symbolizing sovereignty; crowns of marquises, counts, viscounts, barons; noble tiaras; tiaras, miters and clergy hats; wall crowns, composed of fortress towers and walls, placed in city coats of arms.

The mantle (lambrequin, mantling), reminiscent of a whole or tattered cloak, is depicted in the form of matter attached to the helmet. The origin of the heraldic marking is described in the section “History of Heraldry”. External and inner surface mantles should be painted alternately with enamel and metal, and in modern heraldry it is customary to paint the surface of the mantle with the main color of the shield, and the back (lining) with the main metal of the shield. The last rule is considered to be artificially introduced into heraldry during the period when “living heraldry” gave way to “clerical” (“paper”). Thus, the principles of classical heraldry will not be violated if:
a) the surface of the basting will be metal, and the lining will be enamel;
b) the color of the mantle will not match the color of the coat of arms.

The mantle can be painted using furs. Sometimes the mantle is covered with shield figures embroidered on its surface, and sometimes the surface of the mantle is dotted with small non-heraldic figures, for example, linden leaves, stars, hearts, etc.

If two, three or more helmets are used in the coat of arms, each of them must have a personal inscription. The mantle can be painted not in two, but in four colors (especially when the shield is made up of two coats of arms). In this case, the right side of the mantle is painted in the colors of the more honorable part of the coat of arms - the right, and the left - in the colors of the left part of the coat of arms.

Three types of helmet markings can be distinguished, each of which corresponds to a specific period in the development of heraldry.

The mantle (mantling, lambrequin) is a traditional part of the monarch's ceremonial attire. In heraldry, this attribute of sovereignty is present in the coats of arms of monarchs and sovereigns, as well as representatives of the highest aristocracy. The heraldic mantle can be seen as a piece of clothing, but probably also as a reminder of the tent in which the knight rested and changed clothes during the tournament, and of the tents in which the crusaders sheltered their weapons and armor from the weather during military campaigns. The mantle is usually depicted as purple, lined with ermine and tied at the corners with gold cords and tassels. On some large state emblems (for example, on the large coat of arms Russian Empire) on top of the mantle is depicted a canopy - a round tent made of the same material.

Shield holders

Shield holders are the figures located on the sides of the shield and supporting it. As a rule, these are the same heraldic animals - lions, eagles, griffins, unicorns, or human figures - savages with clubs, angels or warriors. However, shield holders may not be taken from classical heraldry, but act as independent symbols of something. For example, in many state emblems of relatively young countries in Africa, Asia and America, the shield holders are the most characteristic representatives of the local fauna - kangaroos, ostriches (Australia), antelopes, tigers, zebras.

The choice of shield holders for the coat of arms is not limited by any special rule of heraldry, although in Russian heraldry, which is thoroughly clerical, it is accepted that only representatives of the highest aristocracy can have shield holders.

In Western heraldry, the same principle applies to shield holders as to mottos - they can be changed at the request of the owner of the coat of arms.

Coat of arms of the Austrian lands of the Austrian Empire (drawing by H. Streul)

Base

The base is the platform on which the shield holders stand and on which the entire coat of arms is located. It could be a hill or lawn, as on the coat of arms of Great Britain, an ice floe, as on the coat of arms of Iceland, a carved slab, as on the coats of arms of Greece and Sweden, a mountain, as on the coat of arms of Malawi, or an island in the sea, as on the coat of arms of Malta. The base can also be a fancifully curved branch, similar to a detail of a cast-iron lattice, as on the coat of arms of the princes Barclay de Tolly-Weimarn. The base is not a mandatory element of the coat of arms; it is often served by a motto ribbon. Shield holders must always stand on a base, no matter what shape it may be. The only exceptions are shield holders floating in the air, that is, flying angels.

The motto is a short saying, usually written on a ribbon at the bottom of the shield. Sometimes mottos are placed in the coat of arms without a ribbon; if the shield is round, the motto is usually written around the shield. Obviously, the basis for the motto could originally have been a knight's war cry (such as "Crom boo", the motto of the Dukes of Fitzgerald, meaning "Crom (the old ancestral castle) forever!"), but the motto could be a short statement reminiscent of some important historical event . or expressing the credo of the owner of the coat of arms. The text of the motto can be encrypted and understandable only to initiates. In Western heraldry, it was customary to write mottos in Latin, although this rule is not obligatory. The meaning of some ancient mottos is generally impossible to understand - either history has not preserved data about the events about which the motto spoke, or due to various circumstances the phrase was distorted, errors crept into it. The motto is not a mandatory and permanent part of the coat of arms, so the owner can change it at will. When drawing up new coats of arms, the motto is always included in their design. In state monarchist coats of arms The motto is sometimes placed on the canopy - a tent located above the mantle.The colors of the ribbon and letters should correspond to the main colors and metals of the coat of arms. Here are examples of heraldic mottos. "God is with us" - state motto of the Russian Empire. "Gott mit uns" (German) - German imperial state motto of similar content. "Dieu et mon droit" (French) - "God and my right" - Great Britain's motto... "Dieu protege la France" (French) - old French motto "God bless France" .
On the modern French coat of arms are the words:
"Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" (French) - "Freedom equality Brotherhood" . "Je maintiendrai" (French) - "I'll save it" - The Netherlands.. "Nihil sine Deo" (lat.) - "Nothing without God" - Romania.. "L"union fait la force" (French) - "Unity gives strength" - Belgium. "Providentiae memor" (lat.) - "I remember predestination" - Saxony.

The following examples can be given from noble mottos. "Treu auf Tod und Leben" - the motto of the German counts Totlebenov, which plays on their surname -
"Faithful in death and in life" . "Labor et Zelo" - Latin motto of the Arakcheev counts - "With labor and diligence" . "Semper immota fides" - the motto of Count Vorontsov - "Loyalty is always unwavering" . "Deus conservat omnia" - the motto of the Sheremetev counts - "God preserves everything" . "Honor and Loyalty" - the motto of the Most Serene Princes of Warsaw, Counts Paskevich-Erivan.

The motto ribbon is usually located at the bottom of the coat of arms, under the base or in its background (except in Scottish heraldry, in which the motto is placed above the crest).

Although flags are found in some large coats of arms, they are not a heraldic element. However, they are worth mentioning because of their close connection with heraldry.

Flags and banners have long been used as identification marks, clearly visible from a distance. They were indispensable on the battlefield, but also during knightly tournaments. With the development of military technology, tournament armor became so massive and durable that knights could abandon the shield as the main element of protection. In this regard, it was necessary to transfer the image of the coat of arms from the shield to the pennant, which replaced the shield with the coat of arms as an identification mark.

There are three main types of coat of arms flags: the actual flag (banner), standard (standard) and flag, or pennant (pennon).

Banner

The medieval flag, bearing the image of the owner's coat of arms, was a vertically elongated rectangle with a width-to-height ratio of 2 to 3. The edge of the flag opposite the flagpole could be equipped with numerous “tongues”, or one large “tongue” in the upper right corner (then called a “schwenkle” ").

No one below the rank of Knight Banneret had the right to a flag (Knight Banneret is a now-defunct ancient title that gave the privilege of leading his men under his own flag during battle, unlike Bachelors, lower-ranking knights who did not have a sufficient number of vassals, to gather them under your banner). The rank of banneret was inferior to that of the Knights of the Order of the Garter when it was awarded by the king in time of war, and in normal times it followed the title of baronet. The picture shows the royal banner of Scotland.

Standard


Thomas Howard	Henry Stafford (1475)

Ser Robert Welles (1470)	Ser Maester Guilford

Count Edmund Roos (1460)	Lord Robert Willoughby (1440)

The standard is a long panel, tapering towards the end and rounded. Moreover, the rounded end bifurcated if the standard did not belong to a prince of royal blood. The standard, the size of which varied from 11 yards (10 meters) for the emperor to 4 yards (1.5 meters) for the baron, was usually divided into three parts: the first contained the knightly or national coat of arms, the second - the armorial badge, and the third part - an image of its pommel (there were other options). These parts were separated by stripes on which was inscribed a knight's battle cry or motto. The color of the standard corresponded to the knight's family colors or the colors of his coat of arms.

During the battle, the standard served as a reference point for the troops. It did not show the physical presence of the commander-in-chief, but the location of his headquarters. The picture shows the standards of Sir Henry Stafford (1475) and Thomas Howard, a participant in the Wars of the Roses (from 1455 to 1485). The cross of St. George on the rise (the area near the shaft) shows the national (English) affiliation.

Checkbox (pennon)

This is a flag, or pennant, of medium size (about three feet or one meter), having triangular shape and attached to the shaft of a spear. Like the banner, it indicated the physical presence of the person whose coat of arms it carried. The smaller triangular flag was called a "pavon pennon". Shown here is a flag with a forked end - the pennant of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

The drawings of coats of arms and crests placed on the page were made by I. Louda.

The subject of theoretical heraldry is a set of rules and techniques for drawing up coats of arms, without knowledge of which it is impossible to correctly “read” and define them. In accordance with these rules, the coat of arms was composed of various parts: shield, helmet, crown, crest, mantle, shield holders, mottos, mantle and various decorations around the shield. However, not every coat of arms required the simultaneous presence of all these parts. Some of them were main and obligatory, others were not. The main part of the coat of arms is the shield. There are several types of heraldic shields: French- quadrangular in shape with a point at the bottom in the middle. The height of such a shield should be equal to 9/8 of its width; Spanish- the same dimensions as the French one, but with a smoothly rounded lower part; Varangian- triangular, with smoothly curving sides; Italian- oval and German- an elaborately carved shield. In addition to them, there were round, oblique and square shields. In Russian heraldry, the French form of the shield became the most commonly used.

Heraldic sides. Parties in heraldry are defined in terms of who stands behind and holds the armorial shield; thus, from the viewer, the right heraldic side is to the left, the left heraldic side is to the right. A shield divided in half vertically is called dissected; divided in half horizontally - crossed; divided into two parts from corner to corner - beveled on the right or left. A shield divided simultaneously vertically and horizontally is both dissected and crossed. Other types of divisions were also used, for example, fork-shaped and wedge-shaped. The divisions of the shield could also be formed by curved lines. In this case, they had the corresponding names - jagged-intersected, concave-dissected, pointed-dissected. The division of the coat of arms with jagged lines was characteristic of German coats of arms.

Heraldic colors. The colors of all details (shapes, fields, etc.) must be defined. It is advisable to limit yourself to the main heraldic colors: two “metals” - gold and silver (in heraldry there is no distinction between gold and yellow, between silver and white), five “enamels” ("enamels") - azure (this concept unites various shades of blue and blue, between which there is also no distinction), scarlet (red, scarlet), green, black and purple (can be conveyed in various shades of violet, cold crimson, lilac); A stylized image of some furs is also allowed (ermine, squirrel, “anti-ermine”; each of the furs is considered a separate color in heraldry) and flesh color (when depicting people, angels, centaurs, sphinxes and other humanoid monsters). When reproducing the coat of arms in one color, conventional shading is used for scarlet. Silver is represented by an unshaded surface, gold by a surface covered with dots. Black color is represented by a surface painted over completely, and when reproduced in relief - by intersecting strokes. The anti-ermine fur has a black background with white "tails" depicted in the same way as the ermine. Sable fur is equivalent to black. The main figures placed on a metal background must be enamel, and vice versa - the figures in the enamel field must be metal. Metal on metal, enamel on enamel are not applied. This is the so-called “basic rule of heraldry”.

Graphic image. Silver is empty space, gold is dots, azure is horizontal lines, and scarlet is vertical. The black parts of the coat of arms can be painted over completely or covered with vertical and horizontal lines like a lattice. Green and purple enamel correspond to oblique lines; It’s just important not to confuse which slope corresponds to green and which to purple. If the shield is depicted as inclined, the shading tilts along with it.

Theoretical heraldry: basic rules of heraldic images, names of parts of the shield, methods of dividing the shield and hierarchy of armorial fields, heraldic and non-heraldic figures, names various forms their relative position.

Among the armorial figures, abstract geometric ones stand out, which are called heraldic, or honorary figures. The most important heraldic figures are a pillar (vertical stripe), cross (connected pillar and belt), right and left baldrics (diagonal stripes), extremity (stripe along the lower edge of the shield), border (stripe along all edges of the shield), rafter (two inclined stripes , connected by a “house”). The column can be shifted to the right and left, the belt can be raised or lowered, the head and end can be beveled to the right or left. The rafter, unless otherwise specified, rests on the lower corners and does not reach the middle of the upper edge of the board. If it reaches the middle of the shield, it is called lowered; if it rests not on the corners, but on the sides of the shield, then it is raised. It can be overturned (upside down), right (resting against the left corners and the middle of the right side of the shield), left, beveled to the right (resting against the middle of the base and left side of the shield and the upper right corner) or beveled to the left. If there is only one heraldic figure, it usually has a width of ½ to 1/3 of the width of the shield; if there are several of them in the coat of arms, then the width becomes smaller.

The remaining figures are called non-heraldic and are divided into natural (images of living beings) and artificial (images of a wide variety of objects created by man).

The coat of arms, in addition to the shield, may include status symbols that make up the frame. These include a helmet, crest, mantle or mantle, crown (or a burlet or cap replacing it), shield holders, a motto, as well as awards and insignia. The arrangement of two or more figures above each other is called “in a pillar”, with each other – “in the belt”, the arrangement along the diagonal of the shield is “in a sling”. By default, the figures in the coat of arms are arranged as follows: one - in the middle of the shield field, two - side by side, three - two in a row above one, four - two in a row. When there is a large indefinite number of identical figures, the field is said to be strewn with these figures. A larger figure may be accompanied by smaller ones. Accompaniment on the sides and corners is possible, and on each side there should be the same number of accompanying figures. A larger figure may be burdened or covered by smaller ones. In both cases, small figures are superimposed on a large one, but when encumbered they fit entirely on it, and when covered, the edges of the small figures protrude beyond the edges of the large one. Even if another figure is placed on the upper edge of one figure, then the first figure is called perfected by the second. Creatures and weapons are oriented to the right by default. Figures turned to the right are called reversed. Converted figures are not specified if it is due to the so-called heraldic courtesy, i.e. turning towards another figure. An inverted figure is called overturned, located above or below the normal location - elevated or decreased. The figure of an animal, partially depicted in the field of the coat of arms, is called increasing when approximately half of the figure is visible, and arising when only the head and neck are visible from behind the edge of the shield or other figure, sometimes with part of the paw or tail. Heraldic animals can be depicted in strictly defined poses. Quadrupeds are rebellious (rising on their hind legs), galloping (with a horizontal body position, but supported by two hind legs), walking (on all four paws, with the first one raised), standing (on all four paws), sitting or lying down.

Russian family heraldry. Tribal, personal and family coat of arms in Russia. Principles of constructing family coats of arms. The coats of arms are granted and “original”. Coats of arms of various categories Russian nobility. Coats of arms of foreign origin.

In pre-revolutionary Russia, only nobles had the right to a family coat of arms - this is what distinguished Russia from European countries, where not only the coats of arms of the clergy were common, but also those of the burghers and even the peasants. Noble coats of arms in Russia were generic, as were noble surnames and most titles. The coat of arms of a nobleman passed to all his legitimate descendants of both sexes according to male line. The transfer of the coat of arms through the female line was formalized as a new award. The basis for it could be the suppression of the family. There were no clear rules for the arrangement of two coats of arms merging into one; the most common ones were in a dissected shield, in a shield with a heart shield, or in a four-part shield.

A feature of granted coats of arms is their immutability. Only the monarch has the right to make changes to the coat of arms by repeated grant; arbitrary changes are unacceptable. This principle was introduced by Paul 1.

At the will of the monarch, special honorary additions could be made to the coats of arms. Most often, a double-headed eagle or part of it was included, but there could also be elements of local coats of arms, signs of awards, indications of distinction, as well as abstract symbols of honor. This is called augmentation. “Original” coats of arms are coats of arms adopted independently; they are valid unless prohibited by the state.

The general armorial of the noble families of the Russian Empire is a set of coats of arms of the Russian noble families, established by decree of Emperor Paul I of January 20, 1797. Twenty volumes of the armorial include 3,066 family and several personal coats of arms. The generally accepted abbreviation is OG. All coats of arms included in the armorial book must be left forever indispensable, so that without a special order from us or our successors, nothing under any circumstances is excluded from them and nothing is added to them again.

Each nobleman of the family whose coat of arms is in the armorial is to be given, secured on parchment, exact copies of the coat of arms of that family and the description thereof. Three centuries ago, as today, family coats of arms began to be used spontaneously in Russia. At first, with late XVII century, the Moscow state recognized only coats of arms of foreign origin (belonging to families “traveling to Rus'”) and confirmed them through the Ambassadorial Order. During Peter's reforms, with the unification of the noble class and the establishment of the Heraldry Office, an attempt was made to use family coats of arms as an attribute of the formalized "gentry", and in this capacity to put them under the control of the state. Initially, the Office of the King of Arms was authorized not only to submit new coats of arms and honorary additions to them for royal approval, but also to independently confirm the coats of arms already in use, subjecting them to editing if necessary. Over time, however, the self-certification procedure was left in force only for coats of arms previously granted in Russia. There was no need for any corrections or editing of coats of arms. This order was consolidated successively by Paul I and Alexander II.

Russian city and regional heraldry. City emblems of the 17th century. Principles of constructing provincial and city coats of arms. Correlation of county coats of arms with provincial ones. City coats of arms in Soviet times. City coats of arms in modern Russia.

Early land emblems are known only from seals. Big State seal Ivan the Terrible, dating from the last quarter of the 16th century, contained 24 land emblems. The Great State Book of 1672 already contained 33 lands, the names of which were at that moment included in the title of the Russian Tsar. Under Catherine 2, all cities were granted coats of arms. The city coats of arms granted by Catherine did not contain any elements other than shields. In city heraldry there are also vowel coats of arms (an eagle in the coat of arms of the city of Orel; a wolf in the coat of arms of Volchansk; partridges in the coat of arms of Kursk, etc.). In addition to vowel coats of arms, “old” coats of arms occupy a prominent place; some of them reflect local ancient cults. But most often the city coat of arms granted by Catherine reflected nature, economy or political life county or city. Sometimes the meaningful and the “telling” elements merged in one symbol. For example, the bell in the coat of arms of Zvenigorod can be perceived both as a vowel coat of arms and as an inclusion in the coat of arms of an element for which Zvenigorod is actually famous. In Soviet times, interest in city heraldry was revived only in the second half of the 1960s. And in about a quarter of a century, about 250 coats of arms of USSR cities were developed. At the same time, heraldic literacy among the compilers of coats of arms, as well as among those who approved these coats of arms, as a rule, was absent. It has become very common to place the name of the city in the coat of arms, which is not at all accepted in traditional heraldry. Meanwhile, almost half of Soviet city emblems contain this element. The idea arose that the coat of arms must necessarily reflect the city’s past, its present and future. This led to the overload of the coat of arms, compiled in accordance with such a premise. In addition, the symbolism of modernity was, as a rule, monotonous - industry was symbolized by a gear or a jackhammer, agriculture by an ear of grain, science by a flask, a model of an atom. In other matters, a number of cities (Tula, Pskov, Smolensk, Zubtsov, Novgorod, Riga, Yaroslavl) took old coats of arms as a basis. The Soviet coats of arms of the cities of the Murmansk region, which have a very short history, are original. The compilers of coats of arms managed to avoid standard “industrial” solutions. The coat of arms of Monchegorsk, famous for its nickel plant, contains symbols of the chemical elements copper, nickel and cobalt. At the end of the 80s, interest in historical heraldry grew, and cities began to return their former coats of arms. In modern Russia, continuity to pre-revolutionary heraldry has been proclaimed. But coats of arms retain their importance: firstly, many cities existing today have never had coats of arms before; secondly, new graphic versions of old coats of arms are being created; thirdly, despite the reform of 1857, many local coats of arms until 1917 were used in the version of Catherine’s time, although this was contrary to the law. Since 1992, a heraldic department has been operating in the Russian Federation; in 1996, the unity of heraldic policy in the country was proclaimed and federal registration of coats of arms was introduced. Personal coats of arms, coats of arms of societies, associations, and companies are also created.

State heraldry. State emblem and its features. Coat of arms of the Russian Empire, its history and evolution. Large, Middle and Small State Emblem of the Russian Empire. State symbols of the Provisional Government. Coat of arms of modern Russia.

For the first time, a double-headed eagle appeared on the seal of Grand Duke Ivan 3 around 1490. But the coat of arms itself (a double-headed eagle in a shield under a helmet with a royal crown and mantle) appears for the first time in Russia on the personal seal of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, although this is a unique case in the 17th century. At the threshold of the 18th century, the royal emblem was heralded (a double-headed eagle, usually with a horseman on the chest). The details are fixed (the eagle holds the scepter and the orb, the horseman strikes the serpent with a spear), the colors are determined (a black eagle in a golden field, a “natural” horseman in a scarlet shield) and the orientation of the figures (the horseman in a breastplate is turned). The crowns above the eagle were replaced by “imperial” ones (similar to the side crown of the Holy Roman Empire) even before Peter 1 took the imperial title. Initially, in some images, the eagle in the shield wore two crowns, and a third, larger crown began to be located directly above it. Under Peter 1, a chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was placed around the shield on the eagle's chest, and the rider was interpreted as St. Georgy. Heraldization also affected emblems that designated individual principalities and possessions according to the full title of the monarch. But the development of a large imperial coat of arms, which included all the coats of arms of the domains, was not carried out during these years. Such a coat of arms was developed under Paul 1, but was not approved. But under Paul 1, the Maltese cross, placed on the chest of an eagle behind a shield with a rider, and the Maltese crown were introduced into the state emblem. Alexander 1 removed the Maltese symbolism, but experimented a lot with the position of the eagle’s wings, with the number of crowns, and with the objects that the eagle holds in its paws. In 1856, Alexander 2 approved the large, medium and small state emblems, coats of arms of titular possessions, large and small coats of arms for all members of the dynasty. Some changes were made to the coats of arms, in particular, the rider was turned to the right, and a thin gold border was applied to the shield with the rider (to avoid the scarlet shield being placed on the black chest of the eagle). In the coats of arms of the senior members of the dynasty, a canopy was introduced instead of a mantle. The younger members of the dynasty crowned their coats of arms with an imperial crown. The Provisional Government abolished the imperial coat of arms and began to use a double-headed eagle on seals without any attributes, without a heraldic shield and a fixed color. It was assumed that the new coat of arms would be drawn up after the adoption Constituent Assembly decisions on state structure. But instead, the double-headed eagle completely disappeared from Russian state symbols for 75 years. On November 30, 1993, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the coat of arms was again established in the form of a double-headed eagle under three crowns, albeit of a different color. Another seven years later, this coat of arms was re-approved by constitutional law. According to Art. 1 of the Federal Constitutional Law “On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation”, adopted on December 25, 2000, “The State Emblem of the Russian Federation is a quadrangular red heraldic shield with rounded lower corners, pointed at the tip, with a golden double-headed eagle raising 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 is an orb. On the eagle’s chest, 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 on its back and trampled by its horse.