Flag and coat of arms of Montenegro. Official symbols of the country

Montenegro is a small tourist country on the Adriatic coast. Her coat of arms depicts a two-headed eagle, repeating an eagle on the coat of arms of Russia. What unites these countries? What is the history of the main official symbols of Montenegro?

Country Montenegro

In the 11th century, Montenegro was called otherwise. Then there was a Serbian state recognized by the Pope, called Dukla. Later, Byzantine chronicles will point him out as Zeta - in honor of the river of the same name. The modern name for the first time "sounded" in the chronicles of Dubrovnik in 1376 and gradually replaced the former. The Venetian version of the name sounded like Montenegro.

More than once, the territory of Montenegro was controlled by other countries. She was part of the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Serbia, the Yugoslav Republic. Periodically, the country won its independence, being called a princedom, then a kingdom.

Now it is an independent country, with its own language and culture, which is enjoying increasing popularity among tourists.

Coat of arms of Montenegro: description, history

The adoption of the coat of arms of Montenegro occurred in 2004, but then it was not approved definitively, since the country still depended on Serbia. In 2006, the State received full independence and the following year approved the coat of arms of Montenegro.

The lion and the eagle are the most common images in heraldry. Both of them are present on the Montenegrin coat of arms. Golden double-headed eagle is depicted in flight. Above the heads of the eagle is a golden crown. In one hand he holds a scepter, in the other hand is a power. On the eagle's chest is a shield divided into two parts: green and blue. On the blue background of the shield, the figure of the leopard lion, stepping on the green field, raises his right paw.

Initially, the coat of arms was only the figure of an eagle. The scepter and power appeared in his paws, already in the 17th century, and on the chest a figure of a lion was added.

In the days of the Kingdom of Montenegro, the coat of arms still had a different appearance. The eagle was silver, and the background on which the lion was depicted was red. The blue background appeared after the proclamation of Danilo I Petrovich as a secular prince.

Under Yugoslavia, the coat of arms of Montenegro has a completely new look. Surrounded by a golden wreath, the mountain Lovcen grew from the sea. On the mountain was depicted the mausoleum of Peter Negosh. The three-colored ribbon twisted the wreath beneath. And the red star closed the wreath and finished the composition. Eagle on the shield of arms returned in 1993.

Coat of arms of Montenegro: photo, symbolism

The tradition of the image of an eagle in heraldry stretches from ancient times. Then the eagle was considered the image of a god or monarch. The double-headed eagle, holding hares in its paws, was portrayed in the Hittite kingdom. It is assumed that the eagle with two heads was the image of the Sumerian-Babylonian god of lightning, storm and war - Anzu.

The coat of arms of Montenegro and Russia, as well as of Serbia and Albania, does not refer to Babylon, but rather to Byzantium and informs about economic and cultural ties. In the Byzantine Empire, the two-headed eagle was an element on the coats of arms of the Paleologic dynasty, in Montenegro it was depicted in the heraldry of the first royal dynasty of Petroviches.

The lion is also one of the oldest symbols. There are a lot of lion species in heraldry. The coat of arms of Montenegro contains the figure of a walking or leopard lion, and it is taken from the Venetian emblem, whose influence was earlier noticeable for Montenegro. This figure is a symbol of generosity, courage and nobility. Eagle, as a rule, means wisdom and foresight. In heraldry, a leopard lion is often used as an image of a bishop, and sometimes of a Christ. The scepter and the power in the paws of the eagle are symbols of supreme power and statehood. Thus, the lion and the eagle in one composition show the connection between the power of the church and the state.

Flag of Montenegro

In 2004 the Montenegrin flag was approved. In the center of the red panel with zloty edges is a two-headed eagle, which completely repeats the image of the official state emblem.

In the period from 1910 to 1918, the flag, in analogy with the Serbian and Russian, consisted of three horizontal stripes of red, blue and white. The center also had a coat of arms, during the SFRY in the center was a red star. The Montenegrin naval flag completely repeated the St. Andrew's flag in Russia.

With the coming to power of Djukanovic and the trend towards full independence of Montenegro, it was required to approve a flag that would not be similar to the flag of Serbia.

There is also an unofficial flag of the country. It is used by those who cherish the idea of the reunification of Montenegro and Serbia, as well as opponents of secession of Kosovo from Serbia. On this flag are three horizontal stripes above the listed colors and a golden heraldic eagle in the middle.

Conclusion

The flag and coat of arms of Montenegro have been repeatedly changed, under the force of circumstances. Having passed a long way of formation, they kept the rule of succession, each element telling about the historical past of the country.