Coat of arms and the flag of Russia. What does the Russian flag mean? Coat of arms of Russia - photo

The state arms and the flag of Russia are legislatively established and fixed by the Federal Constitutional Laws of the Russian Federation No. 2 FKZ and No. 1 FKZ on December 25, 2000, signed by President VV Putin. But before that they were approved by the executive power: on August 22, 1991, by the Extraordinary Commission of the Supreme Council The RSFSR was adopted as the flag of Russia white-blue-red tricolor. On November 30, 1993, the presidential decree of Russia returned its historical coat of arms - the two-headed eagle.

In the new millennium, Russia entered with historically restored and legitimized traditional state symbols ... They unite the nation, express state sovereignty and fidelity to the historical tradition. Meanwhile, their appearance is strictly regulated and described in detail in the above-mentioned laws.

Russian symbols of statehood: the coat of arms and the flag

The way the coat of arms and the flag of Russia look is described in detail in the first articles of the aforementioned constitutional laws. The state emblem is represented by a red heraldic quadrangular shield, the lower edges of which are rounded and the center pointing downward. On the shield is depicted a golden double-headed eagle, spreading its wings. Each of his heads is crowned with a small crown, and above them is a large crown, connected with smaller ribbons. The regal Russian eagle has a scepter and power. The shield on his chest is decorated with the image of a silver horseman (George the Victorious), striking with a spear of a dragon, trampled by a horse.

The flag of Russia is represented by a rectangular panel (the ratio of height to width is two to three), consisting of three horizontal bands equal in size. The order of their following (in color): white, blue, red.

Regulation of the use of the emblem and the flag of Russia

Legislation officially defines the sphere of use of the emblem and the flag of Russia. They are placed on the buildings of the Supreme State Power: the residence of the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council, the State Duma, courts - the Constitutional, Supreme, Supreme Arbitration. The coat of arms and the flag of Russia are also used in a wide network of state institutions throughout Russia, including power structures. In the days of public holidays, the right to decorate their houses with flags is also given to the inhabitants of Russia.

Three State symbols of Russia (coat of arms, flag, hymn) are a kind of triad, formed by the end of the XIX century. The most historically capacious can be called the process of creating the State Emblem. Of course, the symbolism of Russia was created in different epochs, each of which left its mark. Thus, the inscription of the elements of our coat of arms was met in ancient times (which we will talk about a little later). You can also talk about the ancient Russian creative process of creating the National Flag, which took place in the Middle Ages. Spontaneously among the many flowers were chosen those who testified to belonging to Russia, from the set of graphic elements those who "clung to the soul" of a Russian person were sought.

Heraldic images of the two-headed eagle, which served as the basis for its creation, appeared in the Middle Ages.

Double-headed eagle. The coat of arms of Russia is a product of an ancient ethnos

Where did the two-headed eagle come from, where does the Russian emblem take its origins? What does it mean? The answer to these questions can give, perhaps, only History. Still from Plato the tradition, ostensibly inherent in atlantes, has gone to associate wings with divinity. The eagle was interpreted by many ancient ethnoses as a symbol of immortality, strength and fearlessness. The double-headed eagle symbolizes double wisdom, omniscience, perfection.

The idea of creating a symbol in the form of the above-mentioned bird originated in the territory of Asia Minor, 2-3 thousand years BC. E. By the XIII century BC. E. Include a rock drawing of a two-headed eagle, created by the Hittites.

Two-headed eagle in ancient Russia

In 1472, after the conclusion of the royal marriage of John III Vasilievich with the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine Paleologus XII, Sophia Paleologus, the Russian Tsar receives the right to use the image of the two-headed crowned eagle as his patrimonial emblem. In fact, the monarchical Moscow power becomes the successor to the head of the Orthodox East, the Byzantine emperor.

Since then, the double-headed eagle appeared on the seals of the Russian Tsar, symbolizing the highest state power.

It still looked little like the modern coat of arms of Russia: the wings are lowered, the feathers are not fluffed, the beaks are closed, the shield at the eagle is missing. After liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke, under Tsar John III, the eagle's wings rise. The coat of arms decorates public buildings.

After the transfer of power to his son, Basil III, the eagle's beaks open. This small detail is associated with the fact of the transformation of Russia into the center of Orthodoxy and the growth of its state power. In the 14th century, during the reign of John IV the Terrible (the son of Basil III), both Russian symbols - the two-headed eagle and the rider hitting the dragon - finally united. The presence of George the Victorious was explained by the annexation of Astrakhan and Kazan kingdoms and Siberia to Russia.

As we can see, heraldry is gradually developing, for centuries, literally drawing the State Emblem of Russia. With the coming to power of Mikhail F. Romanov (1613), which marked social stability and prosperity, appears the third crown - a symbol of the Holy Trinity. The heraldic eagle waved its wings beautifully. Explanation of the latter: the Russian Kingdom has become a single state association.

Alexei Mikhailovich in 1667 legalizes the existing state emblem. With him in the paws of the royal bird appeared scepter and power, which symbolized the absolute assertion of the monarchy in Russia.

From Peter I to Nicholas I

Since 1682, Russia was ruled by a highly educated and active man, the great reformer and autocrat Peter the Great. With his two-headed eagle turned from gold to black (which corresponded to the heraldic rules). October 22, 1721 Peter I took the title of emperor (before him ruled by kings). This affected the coat of arms as well: the crowns became imperial (instead of royal ones). The unfurled wings of the eagle are adorned with shields with the arms of the kingdoms and the Grand Duchies. Peter I connects the three crowns with a blue Andreev ribbon.

In the short reign of Paul I (from 1796 to 1901) a large emblem of Russia appeared (photo attached). The sovereign crowned the royal bird with the Maltese order, but this innovation did not take root. Nor did Alexander Alexander's efforts to smooth feathers, asymmetrically tilt his head, replace the scepter and power with feathers and lightning.

The classic features introduced by Peter the Great, the tight and imperious Emperor Nicholas I. The coat of arms of Russia (the photo is shown below) is again laconic, heraldically verified and strict. A black two-headed bird with unfolded wings acquired classic features.

Regress of the state heraldry

The collapse of the empire and of the entire social system had a regressive effect on state heraldry. Attempts by the Provisional Government to deprive the double-headed eagle of monarchal regalia were not crowned with success. Then the Bolsheviks changed the historical Russian coat of arms to their own, non-national. History does not forgive such liberties, and 83 years later puts all the points over i ... It is a question of the return of historical state symbols by the aforementioned presidential decrees and Constitutional Laws. Below we will discuss what does the eagle on the coat of arms of Russia mean.

Some features of the current emblem of Russia

What does the modern State Emblem of Russia mean in terms of heraldry? Modern interpretation of two heads: unity of conservatism and progress. Symbolic structure of the wings: 12 feathers on each of them reflect the sacred union and equality of the subjects of the Federation. 3 rows of feathers embody Good, Truth and Beauty. The red shield is associated with courage, heroism, Russian historical tradition, the golden color of the eagle - with dignity, fame and eternity. The scepter is a symbol of sovereignty, power - power and integrity. Three crowns are now interpreted, in the secular sense, as the unity of the legislative, executive and judicial powers.

Such is it, the ancient and modern, majestic coat of arms of Russia, a holistic in its content and a symbol of great power, deep in the historical tradition embodied in it.

We also recommend that you pay attention to some interesting details of the coat of arms. First, the scepter, compressed by the right paw of the eagle: it also contains an eagle that squeezes the same scepter, etc. By the way, the current emblem violates the heraldic canons: according to them, George the Victorious must ride on a horse not in the right, but in The left side.

Modern coins actually decorate the arms of the provisional government (without the attributes of the monarchy), and not the current coat of arms of Russia.

Colors of Russian banners, prototypes of the National Flag

It is noteworthy that in the Middle Ages, at a time when the Russian nation was only being formed, a single flag did not yet exist, but there were different banners. The historical Russian tradition deserves attention: the banners already used the colors of the flag of Russia. "The Lay of Igor's Regiment" broadcasts about the red Russian banners with embroidered faces of saints. Red banners were crowned the squadrons of Prophetic Oleg, storming the heart of Byzantium - Constantinople, as well as the squads of Prince Svyatoslav, who were defeated by the Khazars.

For the first time, it was the red flag with the face of Christ that united Rus, a ridge over a mighty army led by Dmitry Donskoy on Kulikovo Field. Under the red banner with the image of the Archangel Michael, the uprising was raised by Dmitry Pozharsky. White, blue and red colors were present on the "great banner" of Ivan the Terrible. Under the blue and white cloth conquered Siberia Ermak.

Only in the XVII century was created a flag that adorned the coat of arms of Russia. What does this evolution mean? Gradual realization by Russian people of the historical mission of their power.

The creator of the Russian flag - Peter I

It is gratifying that to this day the first Russian flag has been preserved in the St. Petersburg Museum of the Navy, waving August 6, 1693 over the 12-boat Peter the Great, on which the emperor sailed in the White Sea. The width of this flag is 4.6 m, length - 4.3 m.

How did this standard come about? On the eve of the Emperor, the Dutch engineer Butler, who supervised the construction of the aforementioned yacht, simply discouraged the unexpected question. He asked (and the wave reasonably), launching the ship on the water, about what flag the king is pleased to raise. "And really, what?" - obviously, Peter thought to himself. And asked Butler about the Dutch flag. He willingly told about his national three-lane red-white-blue cloth.

Did Peter I think, what should be the State Flag of Russia, before this conversation? Hardly. The question of the Dutchman was sounded in time. Sovereign creativity was not to occupy. He not only changed the heard order of the stripes of the flag (white, blue, red), but also placed on it the coat of arms - the golden double-headed eagle. So there was a single banner for the entire Russian fleet.

The fact that a year after the first presentation, in 1664, at the behest of Emperor Peter I, was raised about the 44-gun frigate "Holy Prophecy" bought from Holland. In 1696, the Russian rowing squadron, participating in the siege of the Turkish fortress of Azov, also acted under the tricolor flag (as seen in Schönebeck's engraving "Taking Azov"). There are various manuscript instructions of Peter the Great, indicating that the tricolor flag in the fleet was introduced by the tsar in a centralized and systemic manner.

However, twenty-five years later he was replaced by the Andreevsky flag in the navy (it is paradoxical that he was also the idea of Peter the Great). However, the design of the tricolor banner also proved to be viable, people liked it. In 1806 the familiar colors revived on the flag of the Russian-American trading company, they were also officially used by the Consul General of Russia. The attempt made under Tsar Alexander II, the people chose not to take a white-yellow-black color scheme for the Russian flag. Emperor Alexander III, evaluating the relevant study commission KN Posiet, committed a wise act - legalized the flag of Peter, having a two-hundred-year history, as an all-Russian state.

Note that even today there is no official explanation of what the flag of Russia means. I would like such an interpretation to appear.

Informal interpretation of the colors of the flag

Traditionally formed heraldic interpretation of colors the following: white designate frankness and nobility; Blue - honesty, loyalty, sincerity; Red - service, generosity, courage.

In tsarist Russia it was believed that white color is a symbol of the Orthodox faith, blue - the royal power, red - the Russian people. This corresponded to the declarative triune principle of the structure of the Russian state: the autocracy, Orthodoxy, and the people.

At present, there are several interpretations: the unity of the legislative, executive and judicial branches; The unity of the past, present and future.

Flag colors recommended for its manufacture

We all know what the modern Russian flag looks like (the photo of this element of the state symbolism must be familiar to everyone without exception). But why use such tone? We will discuss right away that the legislation does not establish the selection of shades of white, blue and red. However, they are fixed by GOST R 51130-98. According to him, each color should correspond to the shade, which is displayed in three different international systems (referring to Pantone, RGB, HTML) as follows:

• White (White; 255-255-255; #FFFFFF);
• Blue (286C; 0-57-166; # 0039A6);
• Red (485C; 213-43-30; # D52B1E).

This color scheme emphasizes the freshness and grandeur of the Russian flag.

Conclusion

The coat of arms and the flag of Russia are close to the hearts of Russians who are really proud of the history of their Motherland. These powerful symbols can be seen not only over state institutions and in the offices of officials.

The emblem and the flag of the Russian Federation are perceived and adequately positioned in the modern world. They carry a big charge of patriotism and pride, expressing the greatness of the country and its power. More than four and a half hundred years, they store and unite the great power.