This is a special emblem, made in accordance with heraldic canons.

It is an interconnected system of images and colors, which carries the idea of ​​the integrity of the state and is inextricably linked with its history, traditions and mentality.

The appearance of this official sign is enshrined in the Constitution.

Brief description and meaning of the symbols of the coat of arms of Russia

This sign of state distinction is a red heraldic shield, in the middle of which is a golden double-headed eagle. In the left clawed paw, the bird holds an orb, and in the right - a scepter.

On each of the heads is a crown, and at the top is another, larger one. All three royal attire are connected by a gold ribbon.

In the center of the shield, on the chest of the eagle, there is another red cloth. On it is a plot familiar to every Russian person: George the Victorious kills a snake.

There are many icons and paintings illustrating this legend. This is the most recognizable image of the saint. On the emblem, he is represented as a silver rider on a silver horse, dressed in a blue cloak. A monster under the hooves of a black horse.

How did they form and what do the symbols on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation mean?

Today, heraldry is an auxiliary branch of historical science. Emblems of countries, along with annals and chronicles, are the most important historical evidence.

In Western Europe during the days of chivalry, every noble family had a symbol inherited from generation to generation. He was present on the banners and was an insignia by which she recognized the representative of the family both on the battlefield and at the feast. In our country, this tradition has not been developed. Russian wars carried with them embroidered images of the great martyrs, Christ or the Mother of God into battle. The Russian heraldic sign originates from princely seals.

What do the main elements of the Russian coat of arms mean: George the Victorious

The princely seals had the patron saints of the rulers and an inscription indicating who owns the symbol of power. Later, a symbolic image of the head began to appear on them and on coins. Usually it was a horseman holding some kind of weapon in his hand. It could be a bow, sword or spear.

Initially, the “rider” (as this image was called) was not only familiar to the Moscow principality, but after the unification of the lands around the new capital in the 15th century, it became an official attribute of the Moscow sovereigns. He replaced the lion who defeats the snake.

What is depicted on the state emblem of Russia: a double-headed eagle

It should be noted that this is a popular symbol that is used as the main one not only by the Russian Federation, but also by Albania, Serbia, Montenegro. The history of the appearance of one of the main elements of our emblem goes back to the time of the Sumerians. There, in this ancient kingdom, he personified God.

Since antiquity, the eagle has been considered a solar symbol associated with the spiritual principle, liberation from bonds. This element of the coat of arms of Russia means courage, pride, the desire for victory, royal origin and greatness of the country. In the Middle Ages, it was a symbol of baptism and rebirth, as well as Christ in his ascension.

In ancient Rome, the image of a black eagle was used, which had one head. Such a bird was brought as a generic image by Sophia Paleolog, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine, whom the grandfather of Ivan the Terrible, Ivan III, known as Kalita, married. In Russia, the history of the famous double-headed eagle dates back to the period of his reign. Together with his marriage, he received the right to this symbol as a state emblem. It confirmed that our country had become the heir of Byzantium and began to claim the right to be a world Orthodox power. Ivan III received the title of Tsar of All Russia, the ruler of the entire Orthodox East.

But at the time of Ivan III, the official emblem in the traditional sense still did not exist. The bird was emblazoned on the royal seal. It was very different from the modern one and looked more like a chick. This is symbolic, since Russia at that time was a young, fledgling country. The wings and beak of the eagle were closed, the feathers smoothed.

After the victory over the Tatar-Mongol yoke and the liberation of the country from centuries of oppression, the wings open wide, emphasizing the might and power of the Russian state. Under Vasily Ioanovich, the beak also opens, emphasizing the strengthening of the country's position. At the same time, tongues appeared at the eagle, which became a sign that the country could stand up for itself. It was at this moment that the monk Philotheus put forward a theory about Moscow as the third Rome. Spread wings appeared much later, in the early years of the Romanov dynasty. They showed the neighboring hostile states that Russia was awakened and awakened from sleep.

The double-headed eagle also appeared on the state seal of Ivan the Terrible. There were two of them, a small one and a large one. The first was attached to the decree. It had a rider on one side and a bird on the other. The king replaced the abstract rider with a specific saint. George the Victorious was considered the patron saint of Moscow. Finally, this interpretation will be fixed under Peter I. The second seal was applied and made it necessary to combine two state symbols into one.

So a double-headed eagle appeared with a warrior on a horse depicted on his chest. Sometimes the rider was replaced by a unicorn, as a personal sign of the king. It was also an Orthodox symbol taken from the Psalter, like any heraldic sign. Like the hero defeating the snake, the unicorn meant the victory of good over evil, the military prowess of the ruler and the righteous power of the state. In addition, this is an image of monastic life, striving for monasticism and solitude. This is probably why Ivan the Terrible highly valued this symbol and used it on a par with the traditional "rider".

What do the elements of the images on the coat of arms of Russia mean: three crowns

One of them also appears under Ivan IV. She was on top and was decorated with an eight-pointed cross, as a symbol of faith. The cross appeared before, between the heads of the bird.

During the time of Fyodor Ioanovich, the son of Ivan the Terrible, who was a very religious ruler, it was a symbol of the passion of Christ. Traditionally, the image of a cross on the coat of arms of Russia symbolizes the country's gaining ecclesiastical independence, which coincided with the reign of this tsar and the establishment of the patriarchate in Russia in 1589. The number of crowns has changed over time.

Under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, there were three of them, the ruler explained this by the fact that then the state absorbed three kingdoms: Siberian, Kazan and Astrakhan. The appearance of three crowns was also associated with the Orthodox tradition, and was interpreted as a sign of the Holy Trinity.

At the moment, it is known that this symbolism on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation means the unity of the three levels of power (state, municipal and regional), or its three branches (legislative, executive and judicial).

Another version suggests that the three crowns mean the brotherhood of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. The ribbon of the crown was fastened as early as 2000.

What does the coat of arms of the Russian Federation mean: scepter and orb

They were added at the same time as the crown. In earlier versions, the bird could hold a torch, a laurel wreath, and even a lightning bolt.

Currently, the eagle, which holds a sword and a wreath, is on the banner. The attributes that appeared on the image personified autocracy, absolute monarchy, but also pointed to the independence of the state. After the revolution of 1917, these elements, like the crowns, were removed. The provisional government considered them a relic of the past.

Seventeen years ago, they were returned and now adorn the modern state insignia. Scientists agree that in modern conditions this symbolism of the coat of arms of Russia means state power and the unity of the state.

What did the coat of arms of the Russian Empire mean under Peter I

After coming to power, the first Russian emperor decided that the double-headed eagle should not only decorate certain official papers, but also become a full-fledged symbol of the country. He decided that the bird should become black, like the one that was on the banners of the Holy Roman Empire, of which Byzantium was the heir.

Signs of local large principalities and kingdoms that are part of the country were painted on the wings. For example, Kyiv, Novgorod, Kazan. One head looked to the West, the other to the East. The headdress was a large imperial crown, which replaced the royal one and hinted at the specifics of the established power. Russia asserted its independence and freedom in rights. Peter I chose this type of crown a few years before he proclaimed the country an Empire, and himself an emperor.

The order of St. Andrew the First-Called appeared on the chest of the bird.

Until Nicholas I, the official emblem of the country retained the form established by Peter I, undergoing only minor changes.

The meaning of the colors on the coat of arms of Russia

Color, as the brightest and simplest sign, is an important part of any symbolism, including the state.

In 2000, it was decided to return the golden color to the eagle. It is a symbol of power, justice, wealth of the country, as well as the Orthodox faith and Christian virtues such as humility and mercy. The return to the golden color emphasizes the continuity of traditions, the preservation of historical memory by the state.

The abundance of silver (cloak, spear, horse of George the Victorious) indicates purity and nobility, the desire to fight for a righteous cause and truth at any cost.

The red color of the shield speaks of the blood that was shed by the people in the defense of their land. It is a sign of courage and love not only for the Motherland, but also for each other, it emphasizes that many fraternal peoples peacefully coexist in Russia.

The snake that the rider kills is painted black. Heraldry experts agree that this symbol on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation means the constancy of the country in trials, as well as the memory and sorrow for the dead.

The meaning of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation

The drawing of the modern state symbol was made by St. Petersburg artist Evgeny Ukhnalev. He left the traditional elements, but created a new image. The fact that the signs of different eras were included in the final version emphasizes the long history of the country. The type of this personification of state power is strictly regulated and described in the relevant laws.

The shield is a symbol of the protection of the earth. At the moment, the meaning of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation is interpreted as a fusion of conservatism and progress. Three rows of feathers on the bird's wings refer to the unity of Kindness, Beauty and Truth. The scepter became a sign of state sovereignty. It is interesting that it is decorated with the same double-headed eagle, squeezing the same scepter and so on ad infinitum.

Briefly, we can say that the coat of arms of Russia symbolizes eternity, means the unity of all the peoples of the Russian Federation. The state acts as an emblem of power and integrity.

We hope our article has helped you to penetrate the secrets of state symbols. If you are interested in the history of not only your country, but your family, then you should learn it.

Our specialists have access to rare archival documents, which allows:

• Verify the authenticity of the data.
• Organize the received information.
• Make a genealogical tree.
• Help with family tree.

If you want to know who your ancestors were, what they did and how they lived, please contact the Russian House of Genealogy.

Almost every country in the world has its own coat of arms. Depending on the basis on which the state arose, its history can either be calculated for centuries or completely absent, and the symbol of the state itself can only be a more or less modern creation that takes into account the current political situation in the country and the peculiarities of its emergence. The eagle appeared on the emblem of Russia a very long time ago, and although such a symbol was not used for a long time of the existence of the Soviet Union, now the situation has changed, and it has returned to its rightful place again.

Coat of arms history

In fact, the eagle appeared on the coats of arms of many princes long before becoming the official symbol of the state. Officially, it is believed that in the version that is as similar as possible to the modern one, the coat of arms first began to appear around the time of Ivan the Terrible. Prior to this, the same symbol was present in the Byzantine Empire, which was considered the Second Rome. The double-headed eagle on the coat of arms of Russia is intended to show that it is the direct successor of Byzantium and the Third Rome. In different periods, up to the appearance of the large coat of arms of the Russian Empire, this symbol constantly changed and acquired various elements. The result was the most complex coat of arms in the world, which existed until 1917. Historically, the flag of Russia with the coat of arms has been used in many situations, from the personal standard of the sovereign to the designation of state campaigns.

The meaning of the coat of arms

The main element is a double-headed eagle, which is intended to symbolize Russia's focus on both the West and the East, while it is understood that the country itself is neither West nor East and combines their best qualities. Located in the middle of the coat of arms, a rider on a horse, killing a snake, has a rather ancient history. Almost all ancient princes in Russia used similar images on their symbols. At the same time, it was implied that the horseman himself is the prince. Only later, already in the time of Peter the Great, it was decided that the horseman was St. George the Victorious.

An interesting fact is that on some coats of arms of the ancient princes images of foot soldiers were also used, and the direction in which the rider is located also changed. For example, on the coat of arms of False Dmitry, the horseman is turned to the right, which is more in line with the traditional symbolism of the West, while earlier he was turned to the left. Three crowns, which are located on top of the coat of arms, did not appear immediately. In different periods of time, there were from one to three crowns, and only the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was the first to give an explanation - the crowns symbolized three kingdoms: Siberian, Astrakhan and Kazan. Later, the crowns were recognized as symbols of the independence of the state. This is a sad and interesting moment. In 1917, by decree of the provisional government, the coat of arms of Russia was once again changed. Crowns were removed from it, which were considered symbols of tsarism, but from the point of view of the science of heraldry, the state independently abandoned its own independence.

The orb and scepter, which the double-headed eagle holds in its paws, traditionally symbolize a single power and state power (and they were also removed in 1917). Despite the fact that traditionally the eagle was depicted in gold on a red background, during the time of the Russian Empire, without thinking twice, they took colors that were traditional not for our state, but for Germany, because the eagle turned out to be black and on a yellow background. Eagle gold symbolizes wealth, prosperity, grace, and so on. The red color of the background symbolized in ancient times the color of sacrificial love, in a more modern interpretation - the color of courage, courage, love and blood that was shed during the battles for the homeland. The flag of Russia with the coat of arms is also sometimes used.

Coats of arms of Russian cities

In most cases, coats of arms do not exist in cities, but in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. However, there are some exceptions, for example: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol. They bear little resemblance to the official coat of arms of Russia. All of them are considered cities of federal significance and have the right to their own coat of arms. In Moscow, this is a rider on a horse, slaying a snake, similar to the one located on the state symbols, but still somewhat different. The image that exists at the moment is as close as possible to the one that existed in Moscow and its princes back in the days of Ancient Russia.

St. Petersburg's coat of arms is much more complex. It was approved back in 1730 and relatively recently returned to exactly the state in which it was originally accepted. The emblem of the Vatican served as the prototype of this symbol. The scepter with the state eagle and the crown symbolize that this city was the capital of the Russian Empire for a long time. Two crossed anchors indicate that St. Petersburg is both a sea and a river port, and the red background symbolizes the blood shed during the war with Sweden.

Coat of arms of the USSR

After the emergence of the USSR, the standard version of the coat of arms with a double-headed eagle was abandoned, and from 1918 to 1993 a different symbol was used, which was gradually refined and modified. At the same time, many coats of arms of Russian cities were significantly altered or even completely changed. The main colors are red and gold, traditions in this regard were observed, but everything else has changed dramatically. In the center, against the background of the sun's rays, a crossed hammer and sickle are depicted, at the top - a red star (it was not in the first variations of the coat of arms). On the sides are ears of wheat, and below the symbol on a red background is written in black letters "Proletarians of all countries, unite!". In this version, the coat of arms of Russia, or rather the Soviet Union, was used for a very long time, until the collapse and is still used in one form or another by various communist parties.

The modern coat of arms of the Russian Federation

In the version in which the coat of arms of Russia exists at the moment, it was adopted in 1993. The symbolism and general meaning remained approximately the same as long before the emergence of the USSR, the only thing is that the blood shed during the wars was added to the interpretation of the red color.

Results

In general, the coat of arms of Russia has a very long history, and the specific reasons for using just such symbols were invented rather upon the fact of application. The reasons why they were chosen by some ancient ruler is unlikely to ever be established for certain.

Coat of arms of Russia

April 11, 1857 Emperor Alexander II approved the state emblem of Russia - the double-headed eagle

Coat of arms of the Moscow kingdom of the times of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich Coat of arms of Russia since Boris Godunov Coat of arms of Russia from the time of Paul I Coat of arms of Russia from the time of Alexander I The last coat of arms of the Russian Empire

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

In the 17th century, in its paws, the eagle already held a scepter and an orb - the regalia of royal, imperial power, generally accepted in all monarchical states.
In general, the coat of arms of Russia changed under many tsars. This happened under Ivan the Terrible, Mikhail Fedorovich, Peter I, Paul I, Alexander I and Nicholas I. Each of these monarchs made some changes to the state emblem.
For example, during the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich "Blessed" (1584-1587), a sign of the Passion of Christ appears on the coat of arms of Russia 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.
And during the reign of the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty - Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), the two-headed eagle was first depicted under three crowns, George the Victorious returned in the form of a shield on his chest. 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.
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. 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. But this draft coat of arms was never finally approved. As a result of the Masonic conspiracy, March 11, 1801. The young Emperor Alexander I "Blessed" (1801-1825) comes to 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 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.

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

Also, under the leadership of Kene, the design of the eagle and St. George was changed, and the state emblem was brought into line with international rules of heraldry.
On April 11, 1857, Alexander II approved the coat of arms of the Russian Empire - the double-headed eagle. The entire set of state emblems was also approved - Big, Medium and Small, which were supposed to symbolize the unity and power of Russia. In May 1857, the Senate published a Decree describing the new coats of arms and the norms for their use, which existed without any changes until 1917.
By the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars "On the destruction of estates and civil ranks" (1917), Russian insignia, orders, flags and coats of arms were abolished. The double-headed eagle returned to the coat of arms of the country only in 1993, when a new state emblem was introduced by Decree of the President - a double-headed eagle, the drawing of which was made based on the coat of arms of the Russian Empire.

February 12th, 2013

The word coat of arms comes from the 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 double-headed eagle is one of the oldest heraldic figures. There is still a lot of obscurity in the appearance of the double-headed eagle as a symbol. It is known, for example, that he was portrayed in the Hittite state, the rival of Egypt, which existed in Asia Minor in the second millennium BC. In the VI century BC. e., as archaeologists testify, the image of a double-headed eagle can be traced in Media, east of the former Hittite kingdom.

From the end of the XIV century. the golden double-headed Eagle, looking at the West and East, placed on a red field, becomes the state symbol of the Byzantine Empire. He personified the unity of Europe and Asia, divinity, greatness and power, as well as victory, courage, faith. Allegorically, the ancient image of a two-headed bird could mean a vigilant guardian who sees everything both in the east and in the west. The golden color, meaning wealth, prosperity and eternity, in the latter meaning is still used in icon painting.

There are many myths and scientific hypotheses about the reasons for the appearance of the double-headed eagle in Russia. According to one hypothesis, the main state symbol of the Byzantine Empire - the double-headed Eagle - appeared in Russia more than 500 years ago in 1472, after the marriage of the Grand Duke of Moscow, John III Vasilyevich, who completed the unification of the Russian lands around Moscow, and the Byzantine princess Sophia (Zoya) Paleolog - nieces of the last Emperor of Constantinople Constantine XI Palaiologos-Dragas.

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 Code of Laws was adopted - a single code of laws of the country.

It was at this time - the time of the successful construction of the Russian statehood.

Double-headed eagle of the Byzantine Empire, c. 15th century

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.

The twinning of dynasties not only symbolized the succession of the power of the Moscow princes from Byzantium, but also put them on a par with European sovereigns. The combination of the coat of arms of Byzantium and the more ancient one - the coat of arms of Moscow, formed a new coat of arms, which became a symbol of the Russian state. However, this did not happen immediately. Sophia Paleolog, who ascended the Moscow Grand Duke's throne, brought with her not a golden Eagle - the emblem of the Empire, but a black one, meaning the family coat of arms of the dynasty.

This eagle had not an imperial, but only a Caesar's crown above its heads and did not hold any attributes in its paws. The eagle was woven in black silk on a golden banner that was carried at the head of the wedding train. And only in 1480, after “Standing on the Ugra”, which marked the end of the 240-year Mongol-Tatar yoke, when John III became autocrat and sovereign of “All Russia” (in a number of documents he is already called “king” - from the Byzantine “Caesar” ), the former Byzantine golden double-headed Eagle acquires the significance of a Russian state symbol.

The head of the Eagle is crowned with the autocratic hat of Monomakh, he takes in his paws a cross (not a four-pointed Byzantine, but an eight-pointed - Russian) as a symbol of Orthodoxy, and a sword, as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for the independence of the Russian state, which only the grandson of John III, John IV, manages to complete ( Grozny).

On the chest of the Eagle is an image of St. George, who was revered in Russia as the patron of warriors, farmers and the whole Russian land. The image of the Heavenly Warrior on a white horse, striking the Serpent with a spear, was placed on the grand ducal seals, banners (banners) of the princely squads, on the helmets and shields of Russian soldiers, coins and printed rings - insignia of military leaders. Since ancient times, the image of St. George has adorned the coat of arms of Moscow, because St. George himself has been considered the patron of the city since the time of Dmitry Donskoy.

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The liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke (1480) was marked by the appearance of the now Russian double-headed eagle on the spire of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. A symbol that personifies the supreme power of the autocratic sovereign and the idea of ​​​​unifying Russian lands.

Double-headed eagles, found in coats of arms, are not so rare. Since the 13th century, they appear in the coats of arms of the counts of Savoy and Würzburg, on Bavarian coins, and are known in the heraldry of the knights of Holland and the Balkan countries. At the beginning of the 15th century, Emperor Sigismund I made the double-headed eagle the coat of arms of the Holy Roman (later German) Empire. The eagle was depicted in black on a golden shield with golden beaks and claws. The heads of the Eagle were surrounded by halos.

Thus, an understanding was formed of the image of the double-headed Eagle as a symbol of a single state, consisting of several equal parts. After the collapse of the empire in 1806, the double-headed eagle becomes the coat of arms of Austria (until 1919). Both Serbia and Albania have it in their coats of arms. He is in the coats of arms of the descendants of the Greek emperors.

How did he appear in Byzantium? In 326, the emperor of the Roman Empire, Constantine the Great, makes the double-headed eagle his symbol. In 330, he transferred the capital of the empire to Constantinople, and since that time the double-headed eagle has been the state emblem. The empire splits into western and eastern, and the double-headed eagle becomes the coat of arms of Byzantium.

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. After the death of Vasily III, because. his heir Ivan IV, later called 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.

It should be noted that 1497 is considered the year of the emergence of the State Emblem of Russia, despite its quarter-century distance from the marriage of Ivan III and Sophia Paleolog. This year is dated the charter of Ivan III Vasilyevich to his nephews, the princes of Volotsk Fedor and Ivan Borisovich, to the volosts of Buigorod and Kolp in the Volotsk and Tver districts.

The diploma was sealed with a double-sided hanging red wax seal of the Grand Duke, which has been perfectly preserved and has survived to this day. The front side of the seal depicts a rider slaying a snake with a spear, and a circular inscription (legend) “John b (o) with mercy the ruler of all Russia and the great prince (i) z”; on the reverse - a double-headed Eagle with outstretched wings and crowns on their heads, a circular inscription listing possessions.

Seal of Ivan III Vasilyevich, obverse and reverse, late 15th century.

One of the first to pay attention to this seal was the famous Russian historian and writer N. M. Karamzin. The seal differed from the previous princely seals, and most importantly - for the first time (from the material sources that have come down to us) it demonstrated the “reunification” of the images of the double-headed Eagle and St. George. Of course, it can be assumed that such seals were sealed with letters before 1497, but there is no confirmation of this. In any case, many historical studies of the last century converged on this date, and the 400th anniversary of the Russian coat of arms in 1897 was celebrated very solemnly.

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. 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 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 of the Zemsky Sobor, the Romanov dynasty began to rule in Russia. Under the first tsar of this dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), nicknamed the “Quiet One” by the people, 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 began to be depicted with raised wings starting from 1654.

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 of 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, under 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 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 say about another Eagle, 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 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.”

Under Empress Catherine I, the colors of the coat of arms were finally established - a black Eagle on a gold (yellow) field, a white (silver) Rider on a red field.

State banner of Russia, 1882 (Reconstruction by R.I. Malanichev)

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.

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. 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, which appeared during 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.

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. 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 (Kyiv, 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 coats of arms 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. During the continuation of the reign, the wreath and torch are replaced several times by a scepter and an 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 of the image of the saints Archangel Michael and 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 regarding 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 six months the old coat of arms was used where necessary, on signboards with the designation of government bodies 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 retired, 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.

The eagles were removed from the Kremlin towers in 1935. The revival of the Russian Eagle became possible after the collapse of the USSR and with the return of Russia to true statehood, although the development of state symbols of the Russian Federation had been carried out since the spring of 1991, when the USSR existed.
Moreover, from the very beginning, there were three approaches to this issue: the first was to improve the Soviet symbols, which were alien to Russia, but which had become familiar; the second - the adoption of fundamentally new, without ideology, symbols of statehood (birch leaf, swan, etc.); and, finally, the third - the restoration of historical traditions. The image of the two-headed Eagle with all its traditional attributes of state power was taken as a basis.

However, the symbolism of the coat of arms was rethought and received a modern interpretation, more in line with the spirit of the times and democratic changes in the country. In the modern sense, the crowns on the State Emblem of the Russian Federation can be considered in the same way as symbols of the three branches of power - executive, representative and judicial. In any case, they should not be identified with the symbols of empire and monarchy. The scepter (originally as a striking weapon - a mace, a mace - a symbol of military leaders) can be interpreted as a symbol of the protection of sovereignty, orb - to symbolize the unity, integrity and legal nature of the state.

The Byzantine Empire was a Eurasian power; Greeks, Armenians, Slavs, and other peoples lived in it. The eagle in her coat of arms with heads looking to the West and to the East symbolized, among other things, the unity of these two principles. This is also true for Russia, which has always been a multinational country, uniting the peoples of both Europe and Asia under one coat of arms. The sovereign eagle of Russia is not only a symbol of its statehood, but also a symbol of our ancient roots, a thousand-year history.

As early as the end of 1990, the Government of the RSFSR adopted a Decree on the creation of the State Emblem and the State Flag of the RSFSR. Many specialists were involved in the preparation of proposals on this issue. In the spring of 1991, officials came to the conclusion that the State Emblem of the RSFSR should be a golden double-headed Eagle on a red field, and the State Flag should be a white-blue-red flag.

In December 1991, the Government of the RSFSR at its meeting considered the proposed options for the coat of arms, and the approved projects were sent for revision. Established in February 1992, the State Heraldic Service of the Russian Federation (since July 1994 - the State Heraldry under the President of the Russian Federation) headed by Deputy Director of the State Hermitage Museum for Research (State King of Arms) G.V. Vilinbakhov had one of the tasks to participate in the development of state symbols.

The final version of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation was approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 30, 1993. The author of the sketch of the coat of arms is the artist E.I. Ukhnalev.

The restoration of the centuries-old, historical symbol of our Fatherland - the Double-Headed Eagle - can only be welcomed. However, a very important point should be taken into account - the existence of a restored and legalized coat of arms in the form in which we now see it everywhere imposes a considerable responsibility on the state.

He also writes about this in his recently published book “The Origins of Russian Heraldry”, A.G. Silaev. In his book, the author, based on a painstaking study of historical materials, very interestingly and widely reveals the very essence of the origin of the image of the Double-Headed Eagle, its basis - mythological, religious, political.

In particular, we are talking about the artistic embodiment of the current coat of arms of the Russian Federation. Yes, indeed, many specialists and artists were involved in the work on the creation (or reconstruction) of the coat of arms of the new Russia. A large number of well-executed projects were proposed, but for some reason the choice fell on a sketch made by a person who is actually far from heraldry. How else to explain the fact that in the current image of the double-headed eagle there are a number of annoying, noticeable to any professional artist, flaws and inaccuracies.

Have you ever seen narrow-eyed eagles in nature? What about parrot beaks? Alas, the image of a double-headed eagle is not decorated with very thin paws and rare plumage. As for the description of the coat of arms, unfortunately, it remains inaccurate and superficial from the point of view of the rules of heraldry. And all this is present in the State Emblem of Russia! Where, after all, is the respect for one's national symbols and one's own history?! Was it really so difficult to more carefully study the heraldic images of the predecessors of the modern eagle - the old Russian emblems? After all, this is the richest historical material!

sources

http://ria.ru/politics/20081130/156156194.html

http://nechtoportal.ru/otechestvennaya-istoriya/istoriya-gerba-rossii.html

http://wordweb.ru/2011/04/19/orel-dvoeglavyjj.html

And I will remind you

The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy is made -

Acceptance date: 30.11.1993, 25.12.2000

In the scarlet field is a golden double-headed eagle surmounted by two golden imperial crowns and above them the same imperial crown with infuls, holding a golden scepter in its right paw, in its left paw a golden orb, having a shield on its chest, in the scarlet field of which a riding silver rider in azure cloak, striking with a silver spear a converted, overturned and trampled black dragon by a horse.

Official description in constitutional law:
The State Emblem of the Russian Federation is a quadrangular, with rounded lower corners, pointed at the tip, a red heraldic shield with a golden double-headed eagle that raised its spread wings. The eagle is crowned with two small crowns and - above them - one large crown, connected by a ribbon. In the right paw of the eagle is a scepter, in the left - orb. On the chest of the eagle, in a red shield, there is a silver horseman in a blue cloak on a silver horse, striking with a silver spear a black dragon overturned and trampled on his horse.

Reproduction of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation is allowed without a heraldic shield (in the form of the main figure - a double-headed eagle with all the attributes).

Since 2000, the saddle under the rider is usually depicted in red, although this is not specified in the description (but such an image is given in Appendix 1 to the Federal Constitutional Law "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation"). Prior to this, the saddle was usually depicted in white.

Approved Decree of the President of the Russian Federation (#2050) "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation" dated November 30, 1993; Federal constitutional law (# 2-FKZ) "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation", adopted on December 8, 2000 by a resolution (# 899-III) of the State Duma of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, approved on December 20, 2000 by the Federation Council and signed by the President of the Russian Federation on December 25, 2000 of the year.

Rationale for the symbolism:
The coat of arms of the Russian Federation is based on the historical coat of arms of the Russian Empire. The golden double-headed eagle on a red field retains historical continuity in the colors of the coats of arms of the late 15th-17th centuries. The drawing of the eagle goes back to the images on the monuments of the era of Peter the Great. Three historical crowns of Peter the Great are depicted above the heads of the eagle, symbolizing in the new conditions the sovereignty of both the entire Russian Federation and its parts, subjects of the Federation; in the paws - a scepter and an orb, personifying state power and a single state; on the chest is an image of a horseman slaying a dragon with a spear. This is one of the ancient symbols of the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, the defense of the Fatherland. The restoration of the double-headed eagle as the State Emblem of Russia embodies the continuity and continuity of Russian history. Today's coat of arms of Russia is a new coat of arms, but its components are deeply traditional; it reflects different stages of national history and continues them on the eve of the third millennium.