History of the State Emblem of Russia. What is depicted on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation: description and meaning of the symbolism of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation. The history of the Russian coat of arms, photo, description and meaning of each element and symbol on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation

10.10.2019

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 on the coat of arms of Russia appeared a very long time ago, and although the long time of existence Soviet Union such a symbol was not used, now the situation has changed, and he has again returned to his rightful place.

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 most similar 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. AT different periods, up to the appearance of a large coat of arms Russian Empire, this symbol was constantly modified and overgrown with 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 the orientation of Russia both to the West and to the East, while it is understood that the country itself is neither West nor East and combines them best qualities. Located in the middle of the coat of arms, a rider on a horse who kills 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 Russian tsar Alexey 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 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 for cities, but for subjects 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 federal significance and are entitled 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. Existing on this moment the image 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 for a long time was the capital of the Russian Empire. 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 another 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. Centered in the background sun rays a crossed hammer and sickle are depicted, at the top is 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. 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.

The word coat of arms comes from the German word erbe, which means inheritance.

Each state has its own symbols that reflect its internal structure: power, territory, natural features and other priorities. One of the symbols of the state is the coat of arms.The coat of arms of each country has its own history of creation. Exist special rules drawing up a coat of arms, this is done by a special historical discipline HERALDY, which was formed back in the Middle Ages.

Seal of Ivan III the Great

The history of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire is quite interesting and original.

Officially, Russian heraldry begins with the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov (XVII century). But the forerunner of the emblem was the personal seals of the Russian tsars, so the primary sources Russian coat of arms should be sought in the XV century, in the reign of Ivan III the Great. Initially, on the personal seal of Ivan III, George the Victorious was depicted, striking a snake with a spear - a symbol of Moscow and the Moscow principality. double headed eaglewas adopted on the state seal after the wedding in 1472 of Ivan III the Great with Sophia (Zoya) Palaiologos, the niece of the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine Palaiologos. It symbolized the transfer of the heritage of the fallen Byzantium. But before Peter I, the Russian coat of arms was not subject to heraldic rules; Russian heraldry was developed precisely during his reign.

History of the coat of arms double-headed eagle

The eagle in the coat of arms originates from Byzantium. Later he appeared on the coat of arms of Russia. The image of an eagle is used in the coats of arms of many countries of the world: Austria, Germany, Iraq, Spain, Mexico, Poland, Syria, USA. But the double-headed eagle is present only on the coats of arms of Albania and Serbia. The Russian double-headed eagle has undergone many changes since its appearance and formation as an element state emblem. Let's consider these steps.
As mentioned above, coats of arms appeared in Russia a long time ago, but they were only drawings on the seals of the kings, they did not obey heraldic rules. Due to the lack of chivalry in Russia, coats of arms were not very common.Until the 16th century, Russia was a disparate state, so the state emblem of Russia was out of the question. But under Ivan III (1462-
1505) his seal acted as a coat of arms. On its front side is depicted a rider piercing a snake with a spear, and on the back - a double-headed eagle.

Ivan III and his seal. 1497

The first known images of a double-headed eagle date back to the 13th century BC. - This is a rock image of a double-headed eagle grabbing two birds with one stone. This was the coat of arms of the Hittite kings.
The double-headed eagle was a symbol of the Median kingdom - an ancient power in the territory of Asia Minor under the Median king Cyaxares (625-585 BC). Then the double-headed eagle appeared on the emblems of Rome under Constantine the Great. After the foundation in 330 of the new capital - Constantinople - the double-headed eagle became the state emblem of the Roman Empire.After the adoption of Christianity from Byzantium, Russia began to experience a strong influence of Byzantine culture, Byzantine ideas. Along with Christianity, new political orders and relations began to penetrate Russia. This influence especially intensified after the marriage of Sophia Paleolog and Ivan III. This marriage had important consequences for the monarchical power in Moscow. As a spouse Grand Duke Moscow becomes the successor of the Byzantine emperor, who was considered the head of the entire Orthodox East. In relations with small neighboring lands, he already bears the title of Tsar of All Russia. Another title, "autocrat", is a translation of the Byzantine imperial title autocrator ; Initially, it meant the independence of the sovereign, but Ivan the Terrible gave it the meaning of the absolute, unlimited power of the monarch.From the end of the 15th century, the Byzantine coat of arms appeared on the seals of the Moscow sovereign - a double-headed eagle, it is combined with the former Moscow coat of arms - the image of George the Victorious. Thus, Russia confirmed the continuity from Byzantium.

From Ivan III to Peter I

Great State Seal of Tsar Ivan IV Vasilyevich (the Terrible)

The development of the Russian emblem is inextricably linked with the history of Russia. The eagle on the seals of John III was depicted with a closed beak and looked more like an eaglet. Russia of that time was still an eaglet, a young state. Into the reign Basil III Ioannovich (1505-1533), the double-headed eagle is depicted already with open beaks, from which tongues protrude. At this time, Russia was strengthening its position: the monk Philotheus sends a message to Vasily III with his theory that "Moscow is the Third Rome."In the reign of John IV Vasilyevich (1533-1584), Russia won victories over the Astrakhan and Kazan kingdoms, annexed Siberia. The power of the Russian state is also reflected in its coat of arms: the double-headed eagle on the state seal is crowned with a single crown with an eight-pointed Orthodox cross above it. Front side of the seal: on the chest of the eagle there is a carved German shield with a unicorn - the personal sign of the king. All symbols in the personal symbolism of John IV are taken from the Psalter. Reverse side of the seal: on the chest of the eagle is a shield with the image of St. George the Victorious.On February 21, 1613, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected king by the Zemsky Sobor. His election put an end to the unrest that took place in the period after the death of Ivan the Terrible. The eagle on the coat of arms of this period spreads its wings, which means new era in the history of Russia, which at that time becomes a single and fairly strong state. This circumstance is immediately reflected in the coat of arms: instead of an eight-pointed cross, a third crown appears above the eagle. The interpretation of this change is different: a symbol of the Holy Trinity or a symbol of the unity of Great Russians, Little Russians and Belarusians. There is also a third interpretation: the conquered Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberian kingdoms.
Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov (1645-1676) ends the Russian-Polish conflict with the conclusion of the Andrusovo truce with Poland (1667). The Russian state becomes equal with others European states. During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, the eagle receives symbols of power: scepter and orb .

Great State Seal of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich

At the request of the tsar, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Leopold I sent his king of arms Lavrenty Hurelevich to Moscow, who in 1673 wrote the essay “On the Genealogy of the Russian Grand Dukes and Sovereigns, showing the existing, through marriages, affinity between Russia and the eight European powers, that is Caesar of Rome, the kings of English, Danish, Gishpansky, Polish, Portuguese and Swedish, and with the image of these royal coats of arms, and in the middle of their Grand Duke St. Vladimir, at the end of the portrait of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. This essay marked the beginning of the development of Russian heraldry. The wings of the eagle are raised and fully opened (a symbol of the complete assertion of Russia as a powerful state; its heads are crowned with three royal crowns; on the chest is a shield with the Moscow coat of arms; in its paws is a scepter and orb.Lavrenty Hurelevich in 1667 was first given official description Russian coat of arms: “The double-headed eagle is the coat of arms of the sovereign Grand Sovereign, Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich of All Great and Small and White Russia, the autocrat, His Royal Majesty of the Russian kingdom, on which three korunas are depicted, signifying the three great Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian glorious kingdoms, submitting to the God-preserved and highest of His Royal Majesty the most merciful Sovereign to the power and command ... on the Persians is the image of the heir; in pasonkteh, a scepter and an apple, and they reveal the most merciful Sovereign, His Royal Majesty the Autocrat and Possessor.

From Peter I to Alexander II

Coat of arms of Peter I

Peter I ascended the Russian throne in 1682. During his reign, the Russian Empire became equal among the leading powers of Europe.
Under him, according to heraldic rules, the coat of arms began to be depicted in black (before that, it was depicted in gold). The eagle has become not only an adornment of state papers, but also a symbol of strength and power.

In 1721, Peter I assumed the imperial title, and instead of royal crowns, imperial crowns began to be depicted on the coats of arms. In 1722, he established the King of Arms office and the position of King of Arms.
Under Peter I, the state emblem also underwent other changes: in addition to changing the color of the eagle, shields with coats of arms were placed on its wings.Great principalities and kingdoms. On the right wing there were shields with coats of arms (from top to bottom): Kyiv, Novgorod, Astrakhan; on the left wing: Vladimir, Siberian, Kazan. It was under Peter I that a set of attributes of the coat of arms eagle developed.And after Russia's entry into the "spaces of Siberia and Far East» The double-headed eagle began to symbolize the inseparability of European and Asian Russia under one imperial crown, since one crowned head looks to the west, the other to the east. The era after Peter I is known as the era of palace coups. In the 30s of the XVIII century. immigrants from Germany dominated the leadership of the state, which did not contribute to the strengthening of the country. In 1736, Empress Anna Ioannovna invited a Swiss by birth, a Swedish engraver I.K. small changes used until 1856

Until the end of the XVIII century. there were no special changes in the design of the coat of arms, but during the time of Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine the Great, the eagle looked more like an eagle.

Coat of arms of Catherine I

Pavel I

After becoming emperor, Paul I immediately tried to modify the Russian coat of arms. By decree of April 5, 1797, the double-headed eagle becomes an integral part of the coat of arms of the imperial family. But since Paul I was the master of the Order of Malta, this could not but be reflected in the state emblem. In 1799, Emperor Paul I issued a decree on the image of a double-headed eagle with a Maltese cross on its chest. The cross was placed on the chest of the eagle under the Moscow coat of arms ("the root coat of arms of Russia"). Also, the emperor is making an attempt to develop and introduce a complete coat of arms of the Russian Empire. At the upper end of this cross was placed the crown of the Grand Master.

Coat of arms of Russia with the Maltese cross

Coat of arms of the Russian Empire under Paul I. 1799.

In 1800, he proposed a complex coat of arms, on which forty-three coats of arms were placed in a multi-field shield and on nine small shields. However, they did not manage to accept this coat of arms before Paul's death.Paul I was also the founder of the Great Russian coat of arms. In the Manifesto of December 16, 1800, it is given Full description. The large Russian emblem was supposed to symbolize the internal unity and power of Russia. However, the project of Paul I was not implemented.

Alexander I, having become emperor in 1801, abolished the Maltese cross on the state emblem. But under Alexander I, on the coat of arms, the wings of an eagle are widely spread to the side, and the feathers are lowered down. One head is more tilted than the other. Instead of a scepter and an orb in the paws of an eagle, new attributes appear: a torch, thunderbolts (thunder arrows), a laurel wreath (sometimes a branch), a lictor bundle intertwined with ribbons.

Portraits of Alexander I and Nicholas I, united by the coat of arms

Alexander I

Nicholas I

Coat of arms of Nicholas I

The reign of Nicholas I (1825-1855) was emphatically firm and resolute (the suppression of the Decembrist uprising, limiting the status of Poland). Under him, from 1830, the armorial eagle began to be depicted with sharply raised wings (this remained so until 1917). In 1829, Nicholas I was crowned the kingdom of Poland, therefore, since 1832, the coat of arms of the Polish kingdom has been included in the Russian coat of arms.At the end of the reign of Nicholas I, the head of the department of heraldry, Baron B.V. Kene, tried to give the coat of arms the features of Western European heraldry: the image of the eagle should have become more strict. The coat of arms of Moscow was supposed to be depicted in a French shield, the rider should have been turned, according to heraldic rules, to the left side of the viewer. But in 1855, Nicholas I died, and Kene's projects were implemented only under Alexander II.

The large state emblem of the Russian Empire was introduced in 1857 by decree of Emperor Alexander II (this is the idea of Emperor Paul I).The large coat of arms of Russia is a symbol of the unity and power of Russia. Around the double-headed eagle are the coats of arms of the territories that are part of the Russian state. In the center of the Great State Emblem is a French shield with a gold field, on which a double-headed eagle is depicted. The eagle itself is black, crowned with three imperial crowns, which are connected by a blue ribbon: two small ones crown the head, a large one is located between the heads and rises above them; in the paws of an eagle - a scepter and orb; on the chest is depicted "the coat of arms of Moscow: in a shield scarlet with gold edges, the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious in silver weapons and an azure encirclement on a silver horse."

Great Coat of Arms of the Empire, approved by Alexander III in 1882

The shield, on which an eagle is depicted, is topped with the helmet of the holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, around the main shield is a chain and the order of St. Andrew the First-Called. On the sides of the shield are shield holders: on the right side (on the left of the viewer) - the holy Archangel Michael, on the left - the Archangel Gabriel. central part under the shadow of a large imperial crown and the state banner above it.

Medium State Emblem of the Russian Empire
To the left and right of the state banner, on the same horizontal line with it, there are six shields with the combined coats of arms of the principalities and volosts - three to the right and three to the left of the banner, almost creating a semicircle. Nine shields crowned with the coats of arms of the Grand Duchies and Kingdoms and the coat of arms of His Imperial Majesty are the continuation and most of the circle that the combined coats of arms of the principalities and volosts began. Coats of arms counterclockwise: Astrakhan kingdom, Siberian kingdom, Family coat of arms of His Imperial Majesty, combined coats of arms of the Grand Principalities, coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Finland, coat of arms of Chersonis-Tauride, coat of arms of the Polish kingdom, coat of arms of the Kazan kingdom.The upper six shields from left to right: the combined coats of arms of the principalities and regions of the Great Russian, the combined coats of arms of the principalities and regions of the South-Western, the combined coats of arms of the Baltic regions.
At the same time, the Middle and Small state emblems were adopted.

Small State Emblem of the Russian Empire

The average state coat of arms was the same as the Bolshoi, but without state banners and six coats of arms above the canopy; Small - the same as the Middle, but without a canopy, images of saints and the family coat of arms of His Imperial Majesty.Adopted by the decree of Alexander III of November 3, 1882, the Great State Emblem differed from that adopted in 1857 in that it added a shield with the coat of arms of Turkestan (became part of Russia in 1867), the coats of arms of the principalities of Lithuania and Belarusian.

The large state emblem is framed by laurel and oak branches - a symbol of glory, honor, merit (laurel branches), valor, courage (oak branches).The Great State Emblem reflects "the triune essence of the Russian idea: For the Faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland." Faith is expressed in the symbols of Russian Orthodoxy: many crosses, the holy Archangel Michael and the holy Archangel Gabriel, the motto "God bless us", an eight-pointed Orthodox cross over the state banner. The idea of an autocrat is expressed in the attributes of power: a large imperial crown, other Russian historical crowns, a scepter, an orb, a chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.The Fatherland is reflected in the coat of arms of Moscow, the coats of arms of Russian and Russian lands, in the helmet of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. The circular arrangement of the coats of arms symbolizes the equality between them, and the central location of the coat of arms of Moscow symbolizes the unity of Russia around Moscow, the historical center of the Russian lands.

The modern coat of arms of the Russian Federation (tyts)

In 1917, the eagle ceased to be the coat of arms of Russia. The coat of arms of the Russian Federation is known, the subjects of which were autonomous republics and other national entities. Each of the republics, subjects of the Russian Federation, had its own national emblem. But there is no Russian coat of arms on it.
In 1991 there was coup d'état. Democrats headed by BN Yeltsin came to power in Russia.On August 22, 1991, the white-blue-red flag is re-approved as the State Flag of Russia. On November 30, 1993, President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin signs a decree "On the State Emblem of the Russian Federation". The double-headed eagle is again the coat of arms of Russia.Now, as before, the double-headed eagle symbolizes power and unity. Russian state.

How one of the main symbols of Russia changed in the 18th century

The history of the coat of arms of Russia dates back to the end of the 15th century, during the reign of Ivan III, when for the first time the image of a double-headed eagle appeared on the seal of the sovereign. It was this emblem that became the main element of the coat of arms, which has undergone various changes over time.

By the beginning of the 18th century, the state emblem of Russia was a double-headed eagle with open and raised wings, crowned with three crowns, with a scepter and orb in its paws, and a shield with the image of a snake-fighting horseman on its chest (the symbols surrounding the eagle on state seals of the second half of the 17th century were partly " facultative "character and in the XVIII century are not traced).

The Petrine era introduced several significant changes to the appearance of the state emblem, which was associated with obvious Western European influence.

Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called in the portrait of Semyon Mordvinov. Fragment of a painting by Carl Ludwig Christinek. 1771, © Wikimedia Commons

Firstly, on the state seals of the time of Peter the Great, at least since the 1710s, an image of the chain of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called appeared - the highest award in Russia, established by Peter I after returning from a trip to Europe as part of the Great Embassy. This chain could cover both the entire shield with the state emblem, and the central shield with the image of a horseman. The second option eventually settled down and was subsequently officially approved.

The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was the only order of the Russian Empire that had a neck chain. Apostle Andrew the First-Called great importance for Peter not only as the patron of Russia (according to the legend recorded in The Tale of Bygone Years), but also as the patron of sailors and navigation. The introduction of the sign of the higher state order strengthened the status of the state emblem and established parallels with the tradition of Western European state heraldry.

Fragment of the standard of Peter I from the ship "Ingermanland". 1710s, © Central Naval Museum of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Secondly, also since the 1710s, on state seals, crowns over the heads of an eagle, instead of the former royal crowns, take the form of Western European crowns of the imperial type - from two hemispheres with a hoop in the middle. This, apparently, emphasized the imperial status Russian kingdom, officially approved in 1721 after the end of the Northern War.

Thirdly, also from the 1710s, images of six main title coats of arms - Kyiv, Vladimir, Novgorod, the kingdoms of Kazan, Astrakhan and Siberia began to be placed on seals on the wings of an eagle. This innovation also finds parallels in European heraldry, including the state heraldry of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. Subsequently, this tradition was fixed in the Russian state heraldry (although the composition of the title emblems changed in the 19th century).

Fourthly, starting from the 1710s, the idea of a snake fighter rider as St. George the Victorious has been formed (including by Peter I himself). This conjugation was explained by the proximity of the iconographic types of images of the horseman and St. George the Victorious and the departure from the previous, secular-cratological interpretation of the serpent fighter of the 16th-17th centuries.

After the creation in 1722 of the King of Arms Office - an official body that dealt with issues of official heraldry, the first professional heraldist in Russia, Count F. M. Santi, developed a new draft of the state emblem, in accordance with which the coat of arms was approved by Catherine I's decree on the state seal dated March 11, 1726. The description of the coat of arms was as follows: "A black eagle with outstretched wings, in a yellow field, in it a rider in a red field."

Image of the banner granted by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna Donduk-Dashi when he was proclaimed Khan of Kalmyk. 1757 © Wikimedia Commons

Thus, the color scheme of the Russian emblem was determined - a black eagle in a golden field - like a double-headed eagle in the state emblem of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Russian Empire in heraldic terms became on a par with the leading state of the then Europe and to some extent entered into a “dialogue” with it about the imperial heritage in general. The image of a rider-serpent fighter as St. George the Victorious was recognized as the Moscow coat of arms in 1730. The approval of this coat of arms took place already under Catherine II in 1781: "Saint George on a horse, in a red field, striking with a copy of a black serpent."

In the second half of the 1730s, the Swiss engraver I.K. Gedlinger, who worked in Russia, created a new state seal, which was used throughout the 18th century. It contains a very picturesque image of a double-headed eagle with raised wings and heads, the chain of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called covers the shield with the Moscow coat of arms, and around the eagle there are six shields with the main title emblems.

In the future, until the beginning of the reign of Paul I, no changes occurred in the Russian state emblem.

A fragment of an illustration from the "Manifesto on the Complete Coat of Arms of the All-Russian Empire". 1800, © the.heraldry.ru

Paul I, being fascinated by knightly themes, had a huge impact on the development of heraldry in Russia, trying to turn it into a coherent and logical system.

As is known, already at the beginning of his reign, he accepted the title of protector, and then grand master (grand master) of the Order of Malta - the Order of St. John in Jerusalem of the Knights of Rhodes and Malta (in Russian literature the incorrect name of this order was established - St. John of Jerusalem). This status was also reflected in the state emblem.

August 10, 1799 in new version coat of arms were introduced white eight-pointed Maltese cross and the crown of the Master of the Order of Malta. The crown was placed above the shield with St. George the Victorious (the Moscow coat of arms), which, in turn, hung on the St. Andrew's ribbon on the chest of the double-headed eagle and was superimposed on the Maltese cross.

December 16, 1800 Paul I approved the "Manifesto on the Complete Coat of Arms of the All-Russian Empire", which was a complex heraldic composition, probably created on the model of the Prussian state emblem. One of the features of this new version of the coat of arms was the unification of all the title coats of arms of the Russian Empire in it, including almost fifty. However, this coat of arms remained a project without being put into use. After the accession to the throne of Alexander I, the state heraldry of Russia was returned to the form that it had before 1796.

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 reign of Grand Duke Ivan III (1462-1505) - milestone 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, Permian lands. The country began to actively develop ties with other European states, its foreign policy position strengthened. In 1497, the all-Russian Sudebnik was adopted - a single code of laws of the country.
It was at this time - the time of the successful construction of Russian statehood.
Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III (1462-1505) married Byzantine princess Sophia Paleolog and to increase her authority in relations with foreign states adopts the family coat of arms of the Byzantine kings - the Double-headed Eagle. The double-headed eagle of Byzantium personified the Roman-Byzantine Empire, covering East and West. Emperor Maximilian II, however, did not give Sophia his Imperial eagle, the eagle depicted on the banner of Sophia Paleologus had not an Imperial, but only a Caesar's crown.
However, the opportunity to become equal with all European sovereigns prompted Ivan III to adopt this coat of arms as the heraldic symbol of his state. Having turned from the Grand Duke into the Tsar of Moscow and taking for his state a new coat of arms - the Double-headed Eagle, Ivan III in 1472 puts Caesar's crowns on both heads, at the same time a shield with the image of the icon of St. George the Victorious appears on the eagle's chest. In 1480 the Tsar of Moscow became Autocrat, i.e. independent and independent. This circumstance is reflected in the modification of the Eagle, a sword and an Orthodox cross appear in its paws.

collapsed Byzantine Empire makes the Russian Eagle the successor of the Byzantine one and the son of Ivan III, Vasily III (1505-1533) puts on both heads of the Eagle one common autocratic Cap of Monomakh. After the death of Vasily III, because. his heir Ivan IV, who later received the name Grozny, was still small, the regency of his mother Elena Glinskaya (1533-1538) began, and the actual autocracy of the boyars Shuisky, Belsky (1538-1548). And here the Russian Eagle undergoes a very comic modification.

Ivan IV is 16 years old, and he is crowned king, and immediately the Eagle undergoes a very significant change, as if personifying the entire era of the reign of Ivan the Terrible (1548-1574, 1576-1584). But during the reign of Ivan the Terrible there was a period when he renounced the Kingdom and retired to a monastery, handing over the reins of government to Semyon Bekbulatovich Kasimovsky (1574-1576), and in fact to the boyars. And the Eagle reacted to the ongoing events with another change.
The return of Ivan the Terrible to the throne causes the appearance of a new Eagle, the heads of which are crowned with one common crown of a clearly Western pattern. But that's not all, on the chest of the Eagle, instead of the icon of St. George the Victorious, the image of the Unicorn appears. Why? This can only be guessed at. True, in fairness it should be noted that this Eagle was quickly canceled by Ivan the Terrible.

Ivan the Terrible dies and the weak, limited Tsar Fedor Ivanovich “Blessed” (1584-1587) reigns on the throne. And again the Eagle changes its appearance. During the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, between the crowned heads of the double-headed eagle, a sign of the passion of Christ appears: the so-called Calvary cross. 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, they were placed and orthodox cross, which indicated that the regiment fighting under this banner serves the Orthodox sovereign. Before mid-seventeenth century, a seal was widely used, on which a two-headed eagle with a rider on his chest is crowned with two crowns, and an Orthodox eight-pointed cross rises between the heads of the eagle.

Boris Godunov (1587-1605), who replaced Fyodor Ivanovich, could have been the founder of a new dynasty. His occupation of the throne was completely legal, but popular rumor did not want to see him as a legitimate Tsar, considering him a regicide. And the Eagle reflects this public opinion.
The enemies of Russia took advantage of the Troubles, and the appearance of False Dmitry (1605-1606) under these conditions was quite natural, as was the appearance of a new Eagle. I must say that some of the seals depicted another, clearly not a Russian Eagle. Here, events also left their mark on the Orel, and in connection with the Polish occupation, the Orel becomes very similar to the Polish one, differing, perhaps, in a two-headed one.

A shaky attempt to establish a new dynasty in the person of Vasily Shuisky (1606-1610), the painters from the command hut reflected in Orel one deprived of all sovereign attributes and, as if in mockery, either a flower or a cone will grow from the place of fusion of heads. Russian history says very little about Tsar Vladislav I Sigismundovich (1610-1612), however, he was not crowned in Russia, but he issued decrees, his image was minted on coins, and the Russian State Eagle had its own forms with him. And for the first time, the Scepter appears in the paw of the Eagle. The short and essentially fictitious reign of this king actually put an end to the Troubles.
The Time of Troubles ended, Russia repulsed the claims to the throne of the Polish and Swedish dynasties. Numerous impostors were defeated, the uprisings blazing in the country were suppressed. Since 1613, by decision Zemsky Cathedral Russia was ruled by the Romanov dynasty. Under the first tsar of this dynasty - Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645), nicknamed by the people "The Quietest" - the State Emblem changes somewhat. In 1625, for the first time, a double-headed eagle is depicted under three crowns, George the Victorious returned on his chest, but not in the form of an icon, in the form of a shield. Also, on the icons, George the Victorious always galloped from left to right, i.e. from west to east towards the eternal enemies - the Mongol-Tatars. Now the enemy was in the west, the Polish gangs and the Roman curia did not give up their hopes to bring Russia to the Catholic faith.

In 1645, under the son of Mikhail Fedorovich - Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich - the first Great State Seal appeared, on which a two-headed eagle with a rider on his chest was crowned with three crowns. Since that time, this type of image has been constantly used.
The next stage in the change of the State Emblem came after the Pereyaslav Rada, the entry of Ukraine into the Russian state. At the celebrations on this occasion, a new, unprecedented three-headed Eagle appears, which was supposed to symbolize the new title of the Russian Tsar: "All Great and Small, and White Russia Tsar, Sovereign and Autocrat."
To the charter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his descendants on the city of Gadyach dated March 27, 1654, a seal was attached, on which for the first time a two-headed eagle under three crowns is depicted holding symbols of power in its claws: a scepter and an orb.
In contrast to the Byzantine model, and possibly under the influence of the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, the double-headed eagle 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 agreement was made Great Seal with a double-headed eagle under three crowns, with a shield with a rider on his chest, with a scepter and an orb in his 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, with the regency of his mother Natalya Kirillovna, the second tsar, the weak and limited John, is elevated to the throne. And behind the double royal throne stands Princess Sophia (1682-1689). The actual reign of Sophia brought to life a new Eagle. However, he did not last long. After a new outbreak of unrest - the Streltsy rebellion, a new Eagle appears. Moreover, the old Eagle does not disappear, and both of them exist for some time in parallel.

In the end, Sophia, having been defeated, goes to the monastery, and in 1696 Tsar John V also dies, the throne goes solely to Peter I Alekseevich "The Great" (1689-1725).
And almost immediately the State Emblem dramatically changes its shape. The era of great transformations begins. The capital is transferred to St. Petersburg and Orel acquires new attributes. Crowns appear on the heads under one common larger one, and on the chest there is an order chain of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. This order, approved by Peter in 1798, became the first in the system of 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 a symbol navy Russia. 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 already in next year The Order of St. Andrew is placed on an eagle, around a shield with a rider.
From the first quarter of the 18th century, the colors of the double-headed eagle were brown (natural) or black.

It is also important to say about another Eagle, which Peter painted as a boy for the banner of the Amusing Regiment. This Eagle had only one paw for: "Who has only one ground army has - has one hand, but whoever has a fleet has two hands.
In the short reign of Catherine I (1725-1727), the Eagle again changes its forms, the ironic nickname "Queen of the Swamp" went everywhere and, accordingly, the Eagle simply could not change. However, this Eagle lasted a very short time. Menshikov, drawing attention to him, ordered to withdraw it from use, and by the day of the coronation of the Empress, a new Eagle appeared. By decree of Empress Catherine I of March 11, 1726, the description of the coat of arms was fixed: “A black eagle with outstretched wings, in a yellow field, on it is a rider in a red field.”

After the death of Catherine I in the short reign of Peter II (1727-1730) - the grandson of Peter I, Orel remained virtually unchanged.
However, the reign of Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740) and Ivan VI (1740-1741) - the great-grandson of Peter I, does not cause practically any change in the Eagle, with the exception of an exorbitantly elongated body. However, the accession to the throne of Empress Elizabeth (1740-1761) entails a radical change in the Eagle. Nothing remains of the imperial power, and George the Victorious is replaced by a cross (moreover, not Orthodox). The humiliating period of Russia added the humiliating Eagle.
For a very short and extremely insulting reign for the Russian people Peter III(1761-1762) The eagle did not react in any way. In 1762, Catherine II "The Great" (1762-1796) came to the throne and the Eagle changed, acquiring powerful and grandiose forms. In the minting of coins of this reign there were many arbitrary forms of the coat of arms. 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.
AT a short time reign of Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) Russia was actively foreign policy faced with a new enemy - 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 knight's helmet and a cloak (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 dies (according to the official version) in Taganrog and takes the throne. strong-willed and awareness of the duty to Russia Emperor Nicholas I (1825-1855). 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 Big, Middle and Small state seals, arks (cases) for seals, as well as seals of the main and lower government places and persons. In total, one act approved one hundred and ten drawings lithographed by A. Beggrov. On May 31, 1857, the Senate published a Decree describing the new emblems and the norms for their use.
Also known is another Eagle of Emperor Alexander II (1855-1881), where the gleam of gold returns to the Eagle again. The scepter and orb are replaced by a torch and a wreath. During the reign, the wreath and torch are replaced several times by the scepter and orb, and several times they return again.

On July 24, 1882, Emperor Alexander III approved the drawing of the Great Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire in Peterhof, on which the composition was preserved, but the details were changed, in particular the figures of the archangels. In addition, the imperial crowns began to be depicted like real diamond crowns used during the coronation.
The large Russian state emblem, approved by the Highest on November 3, 1882, has a black double-headed eagle in a golden shield, crowned with two imperial crowns, above which is the same, but in bigger view, 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 last act in time - “Basic Provisions state structure Russian Empire "of 1906 - confirmed all previous legal provisions relating to the State Emblem, but with all the strict contours it is the most elegant.
With minor changes made in 1882 by Alexander III, the coat of arms of Russia lasted until 1917.

The Commission of the Provisional Government came to the conclusion that the double-headed eagle itself does not carry any monarchical or dynastic signs, therefore, deprived of a crown, scepter, orb, emblems of kingdoms, lands and all other heraldic attributes "left in the service."

The Bolsheviks held a completely different opinion. By a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of November 10, 1917, along with estates, ranks, titles and old regime orders, the emblem and flag were abolished. But the decision turned out to be easier than the execution. State bodies continued to exist and function, so for another half a year the old coat of arms was used where necessary, on signboards with the designation of authorities and in documents.

The new coat of arms of Russia was adopted along with the new constitution in July 1918. Initially, the ears did not crown 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.

In 1993, by decree of President B.N. Yeltsin, the double-headed Eagle was approved as the state emblem. And finally, on December 8, 2000, the two-headed Eagle was approved by the State Duma.
The coat of arms of Peter I is taken as the basis of the modern coat of arms. But the double-headed eagle is golden in color, not black, and it is placed on a red heraldic shield.

Throughout the history of our state, each head of state has contributed to the development and formation of the coat of arms. At the same time, he tried to ensure that the historical events and achievements taking place at that moment were reflected on the coat of arms. Character and Political Views were also reflected in the coat of arms.
Initially, the eagle appeared in Russia from the collapsed mighty Roman Empire. It was necessary for the young Russian state as a symbol of power. The stronger Russia became, the more confident and stronger the eagle looked on the coat of arms. Over time, he had all the attributes of power: a crown, a scepter and an orb.

The Russian coat of arms is not just a drawing. Him rich story and each element carries a hidden meaning.

The official symbol of any country is its coat of arms. Any coat of arms, as a rule, has its own long and interesting story. Each symbol of the coat of arms has strictly certain value. The coat of arms can depict the main type of activity of the country, an important historical event, animal or bird. In general, anything that is important for the people and the state.

In addition to the coat of arms, any country also has a flag and an anthem. This article is devoted to the coat of arms of the Russian Federation. But if you are interested in learning, for example, about the flag of the Russian Federation, then we recommend that you refer to.

What does the State Emblem of the Russian Federation look like: photo

So, the state emblem of the Russian Federation is an image of a double-headed eagle, on each of the heads there is one small royal crown. A crown bigger size tops both heads. The eagle holds a scepter in one paw and an orb in the other. These are symbols of power since the days of Tsarist Russia. On the chest of the eagle is placed the coat of arms of the capital of Russia - the city of Moscow. On it, George the Victorious kills a snake with a spear.

Now the coat of arms of the Russian Federation looks like this

It is noteworthy that each city of the Russian Federation has its own coat of arms, which is chosen by popular vote!

It is worth saying that the coat of arms of the Russian Federation was far from always exactly the way we know it now. Over the past 100+ years, there have been several upheavals in Russia. The power changed, the name of the country changed, the emblem and flag changed accordingly. The modern coat of arms has existed only since 1993. In 2000, the description of the coat of arms changed, but the coat of arms itself remained the same.

The coat of arms of the RSFSR looked like this

The photo below shows how the coat of arms of the RSFSR differed from the coat of arms of the USSR.

The row of the Russian Empire, approved in 1882, is more like a whole composition. Archangel Michael is depicted on the left, Archangel Gabriel is depicted on the right. The small coat of arms inside, crowned with the coats of arms of the principalities, is the progenitor of the modern Russian coat of arms, only in black.

Full coat of arms of the Russian Empire

Small coat of arms of the Russian Empire

And before Russia became an empire, the Russian state had its own flag. It is very similar to the small coat of arms of the Russian Empire, but not as well detailed.

Depending on the ruler and the general situation in the country, the coat of arms changed. There were at least three versions of the Russian coat of arms before 1882. But in general, they all represent the processing of the same image.

option 2

The history of the Russian coat of arms: a description for children

The history of the coat of arms of Russia begins since the Middle Ages. There was never a coat of arms in Russia; images of saints and an Orthodox cross were used instead.

It is interesting! The image of an eagle on coats of arms was relevant in Ancient Rome, and before him in the ancient Hittite kingdom. The eagle was considered a symbol of the highest power.

So how did the double-headed eagle migrate to the coat of arms of the Russian state? There is an opinion that the symbol came from Byzantium, but there are speculations that the image of the eagle may have been borrowed from European states.

Coat of arms with an eagle different variations many countries have. An example is in the photo below.

This is the coat of arms used in Armenia, similar coats of arms are approved in many countries

The coat of arms was approved only in the 16th century. exact date no one will call now. The coat of arms changed with each new ruler. Elements were added or removed by the following rulers:

1584 1587 - Fedor Ivanovich "Blessed" (son of Ivan IX the Terrible) - an Orthodox cross appeared between the crowns of the eagle
1613 - 1645 - Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov - the image on the chest of the eagle of the Moscow coat of arms, the third crown
1791 - 1801 - Paul the First - the image of the cross and the crown of the Order of Malta
1801 - 1825 - Alexander the First - the abolition of the Maltese symbols and the third crown, instead of the scepter and orb - a wreath, torch, lightning
1855 - 1857 - Alexander II - redrawing of the double-headed eagle (reworking), approval of three crowns, power, scepter, in the center - a horseman in armor killing a snake.

Without changes, the coat of arms of the Russian Empire was valid until 1917. After the coup new government approved a simpler, "proletarian" coat of arms - a sickle and a hammer.

It looked like the coat of arms of the USSR on the coins

And after the collapse of the USSR and the reorganization of the USSR into the RSFSR, the coat of arms was slightly redesigned (the photo is already in the article). Then the coat of arms was returned, reminiscent of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire, but in a different color scheme. It was in 1993.

What is depicted on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation: description and meaning of the symbolism of each element of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation

Each component of the coat of arms has a specific meaning:

heraldic shield (the same red background) - the main element of the coat of arms of any state
the double-headed eagle is a symbol of supreme power and the bilateral policy of the Russian state
crowns - high dignity, sovereignty of the state, national wealth
scepter and orb - symbols of power
a rider on a horse killing a snake - according to one version, this is St. George the Victorious, according to another, Tsar Ivan III. Precise definition it is difficult to give, perhaps this is an appeal to the memory of ancestors, the embodiment of a legend, or just an image made to order by Ivan III.

How many colors are on the coat of arms of the Russian Federation?

There are several colors on the Russian coat of arms. Each color has a special meaning. For example:

red is the color of courage, bravery, spilled blood.
golden - wealth
blue - sky, freedom
white - purity
black (at the snake) - a symbol of evil

So it turns out that three colors out of five are available both on the coat of arms of Russia and on the flag. For the country, the meaning of these colors has always been very important, because it was courage, purity and freedom that have always been driving force in the soul of a Russian person.