Theoretical heraldry: mandatory and optional elements of the coat of arms, shield shapes, heraldic sides, heraldic colors, their graphic designation and combination rules. Components of the coat of arms - The parts of an achievement of arms

Among Slavic warriors, long before the appearance of Kievan Rus, according to reports by Byzantine authors of the 6th century. shields are the only means of protection:
Procopius of Caesarea: "Entering the battle, the majority goes to the enemies on foot, having small shields and spears in their hands, but they never put on armor."
Mauritius Strategist: "Each man is armed with two small spears, and some of them with shields, strong but difficult to bear."

Unfortunately, it is not possible to imagine the appearance of the above-mentioned Slavic shields, since there are no pictorial or archaeological evidence for written sources. Obviously, the Slavic shields of this time were made entirely of organic materials (boards, rods) and, due to the lack of metal parts, have not survived to this day.

The earliest fragments of shields found on the territory Ancient Russia, belong to the X century. With rare exceptions, these are only metal parts. Thus, information for recreating the appearance and design features of the shields is very limited.

Fragments of at least 20 shields have been archaeologically recorded on the territory of Ancient Russia. The most common and clearly identifiable part of the shield is the umbon, which is an iron hemisphere attached to the center of the shield.

A.N.Kirpichnikov distinguishes two types of ancient Russian umbons: hemispherical and spheroconic. The first type includes 13 out of 16 specimens found. All of them are standard in form - a semi-spherical arch on a low neck, and in size - diameter 13.2-15.5 cm, height 5.5-7 cm. The thickness of the metal does not exceed 1.5 mm.

The second type includes three umbons, two of which come from the South-Eastern Ladoga region and one more was found in the ancient Russian layer of the Tsimlyansk settlement. These are sphero-conical umbos, most clearly expressed in the Ladoga specimens. They are somewhat larger than the umbons of the first type: diameter 15.6 cm and 17.5 cm, height 7.8 cm and 8.5 cm. There is no neck. The umbon from the Tsimlyansk settlement is distinguished by its smaller size (diameter 13.4 cm, height 5.5 cm) and the presence of a small protrusion at the top of the vault.
Umbons of both types have fields 1.5-2.5 cm wide. From 4 to 8 holes were punched in these fields, through which nails (rarely rivets) passed, fastening the umbon to wooden box shield. Several fastening nails have been preserved, which allow us to roughly calculate the thickness of the wooden field under the umbon. With a length of 2.5 to 5 cm, the nails are bent in such a way that the thickness of the wooden field is reconstructed within 7-8 mm. At the same time, on one of the umbons of the second type found in the Ladoga region, a rivet was fixed that did not have bends, 4.5 cm long. According to A.N.

In addition to the umbons, the defined part of the shield is the metal fittings attached to the edge of the shield. In six cases, fetters were found together with umbones, in three cases without umbones. The number of forgings ranged from a few pieces to two dozen. They are thin (0.5 mm) iron (in one case bronze) strips about 6 cm long and about 2 cm wide, bent in half. On one of the fittings, traces of ornamentation in the form of two parallel lines have been preserved. With two small rivets, the fittings were fastened to the edge of the shield. Most of the old Russian fittings on both sides had a step, which, as shown by foreign material, was necessary for the location of the leather strip running along the edge of the shield. The distance between the edges of the binding in all cases was 5-6 mm, which was equal to the thickness of the wooden field on the edge of the shield.

The subject of theoretical heraldry is a set of rules and techniques for compiling coats of arms, without knowledge of which their correct “reading” and definition is impossible. In accordance with these rules, the coat of arms was composed of various parts: a shield, a helmet, a crown, a crest, a namet, shield holders, mottos, a mantle and various decorations around the shield. However, not every coat of arms required the simultaneous presence of all these parts. Some of them were the main, mandatory, others were not. The main part of the coat of arms is the shield. There are several types of heraldic shields: French- quadrangular shape with a sharpening at the bottom in the middle. The height of such a shield should be equal to 9/8 of its width; Spanish- the same size as the French, but with a smoothly rounded bottom; Varangian- triangular, with smoothly curving sides; italian- oval and German- a shield of elaborately carved shape. In addition to them, there were round, oblique and square shields. In Russian heraldry, the French form of the shield has become the most common.

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

Heraldic colors. The colors of all details (shapes, fields, etc.) must be defined. It is advisable to confine ourselves to the main heraldic colors: two "metals" - gold and silver (in heraldry there is no distinction between gold and yellow, between silver and white), five "finifts" ("enamels") - azure (this concept combines various shades of blue and blue, between which there is also no distinction), scarlet (red, scarlet), green, black and purple (can be transmitted in various shades of purple, cold crimson, lilac); a stylized image of some furs is also allowed (ermine, squirrel, "anti-ermine"; each of the furs is considered a separate color in heraldry) and flesh color (when depicting people, angels, centaurs, sphinxes and other humanoid monsters). When the coat of arms is reproduced in one color, conditional hatching is used for scarring. Silver is depicted as an unshaded surface, gold as a dotted surface. Black color is depicted by a solid surface, and in relief reproduction - by intersecting strokes. The antiermine fur has a black background with white "tails" depicted in the same way as the ermine. Sable fur is equivalent to black. The main figures placed on a metal background should be enamel, and vice versa - the figures in the enamel field should be metal. Metal on metal, enamel on enamel are not superimposed. This is the so-called "basic rule of heraldry".

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

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

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

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

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

Russian family heraldry. family, personal and family coat of arms in Russia. Principles of construction of family coats of arms. Coats of arms granted and "original". Coats of arms of various categories of the Russian nobility. Emblems of foreign origin.

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

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

At the will of the monarch, special honorary additions could be made to the coats of arms. Most often, a double-headed eagle or part of it was introduced, but there could also be elements of local emblems, awards, indications of differences, as well as abstract symbols of honor. This is called augmentation. "Original" coats of arms are coats of arms adopted independently, it is valid if it is not prohibited by the state.

The general coat of arms of the noble families of the Russian Empire is a set of coats of arms of Russian noble families, established by decree of Emperor Paul I of January 20, 1797. Twenty volumes of the armorial include 3,066 family and several personal coats of arms. The common abbreviation is OG. Leave all the coats of arms entered into the coat of arms forever indispensable so that without our special, or the successors of our commands, nothing under any circumstances is excluded from them and nothing is added to them again.

To each nobleman of the family whose coat of arms is in the armorial, to issue on parchment for a staple, exact copies from the coat of arms of this family and from the description of the one located. Three centuries ago, as today, tribal coats of arms began to be used spontaneously in Russia. At first, from the end of the 17th century, the Muscovite state recognized only coats of arms of foreign origin (belonging to families "traveling to Russia") and confirmed them through the Ambassadorial Order. In the course of Peter's reforms, with the unification of the noble class and the establishment of the King of Arms office, an attempt was made to use family coats of arms as an attribute of the "gentry" being drawn up, and in this capacity to put them under the control of the state. Initially, the King of Arms Office was authorized not only to submit new coats of arms and honorary additions to them for royal approval, but also to independently confirm the already used coats of arms, if necessary, subjecting them to editing. Over time, however, the self-validation procedure was left in place only for coats of arms previously granted in Russia. The need for any editing, editing of coats of arms at the same time disappeared. This order was fixed successively by Paul I and Alexander II.

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

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

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

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

Baron N.A. Tipolt

COMPONENTS OF THE COAT OF ARMS

The coat of arms consists of a shield, a helmet, a crown, a crest, a bastard, shield holders, a motto, a mantle and special decorations around the shield.

The main forms of the shield are as follows:

1. triangular, so-called Varangian(Table I, Fig. 1.).
2. oval, so-called Italian(Fig. 2).
3. Square rounded, so-called Spanish(Fig. 3).
4. quadrangular, pointed at the bottom, the so-called french(Fig. 4).
5. cutout, so-called german(Fig. 5).

METALS, Enamel and Furs

For the depiction of coats of arms in heraldry, the following metals, colors and furs are used, depicted by the corresponding colors or conventional graphic signs.

1. Gold, depicted with natural gold or yellow paint (Fig. 6a) and graphically with dots (Fig. 6b).
2. Silver, depicted in natural silver and graphically not marked with any signs (Fig. 7a).

The colors called enamels are the following:

1. Red, or scarlet, depicted by the corresponding paint (Fig. 8a) and graphically by vertical lines (Fig. 86).
2. Blue, or azure, depicted by the corresponding paint (Fig. 9a) and graphically by horizontal lines (Fig. 9b).
3. Green, depicted by the corresponding paint (Fig. 10a) and graphically by diagonal lines on the right (Fig. 10b).
4. purple, depicted by the corresponding paint (Fig. 11a) and graphically by diagonal lines on the left (Fig. 116).
5. Black, depicted by the corresponding paint (Fig. 12a) and graphically intersecting vertical and horizontal lines (Fig. 126).

1. Ermine, depicted naturally (Plate II, Fig. 13a) or conventional black signs (Fig. 136).
   Sometimes the color of this fur is depicted in reverse, i.e. the field is black and the signs are white, in which case the fur is called anti-ermine (Fig. 14a and 146).
2. Squirrel, depicted in a special way by figures arranged in a row (usually azure, fig. 15). The location of these figurines can be varied: if they are turned downwards with their tops, then the fur will be overturned (Fig. 16); if they are placed one under the other, then it is called placed in a pole (Fig. 17), and if their tops are turned down, then it is called overturned in a pole (Fig. 18); if these figures are directly in contact in pairs with their bases, then the fur is called anti-squirrel in a column (Fig. 19); and if they touch only the edges of the bases, then - anti-squirrel in the belt (Fig. 20).

In heraldry, it is also allowed natural color, but with extreme caution and, mainly, in relation to only skin color.

The armorial shield almost never remains covered with only enamel without any figures (Fig. 21), but in such cases it is filled with a special monotonous pattern - damask or scales (Fig. 22), which, however, can also cover individual parts of the shield.

This established the rule: metal to metaland do not apply enamel to enamel.

SHIELD DIVISIONS

For premises more figures and their more convenient arrangement in the shield, the latter allows conditional divisions, namely, the shield can be:

Dissected: once (fig. 23), twice (fig. 24) or several times.

Crossed: once (Fig. 25), twice (Fig. 26), several times (eg 9 times - Fig. 27).

bevelled: on the right (Fig. 28), on the left (Fig. 29), twice beveled on the right (Fig. 30).

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the right and left side It is customary in heraldry to determine the shield from the person allegedly carrying the shield, that is, back to the viewer.

These major divisions can be combined with each other in a variety of ways, for example: the shield is dissected and crossed or quadruple(Fig. 31), twice dissected and crossed (Fig. 32), dissected and twice crossed (Fig. 33), dissected and semi-crossed (Fig. 34), semi-crossed and dissected (Fig. 35), crossed and semi-dissected (Table. III, Fig. 36), semi-dissected and crossed (Fig. 37), oblique on the right and left, or four-part beveled(fig. 38), beveled on the right and half beveled on the left (fig. 39), beveled on the right and half beveled on the left (fig. 40), forked(Fig. 41) and overturned-forked(Fig. 42), crossed and beveled on the right (Fig. 43), crossed and beveled on the right and left (Fig. 44), dissected and in the first part beveled on the right (Fig. 45), wedge-shaped(Fig. 46).

Divisions can be formed not only by straight lines, but also by broken and other lines. The most common divisions are:

Stepped: for example, the shield is crossed by a step (Fig. 47), beveled by three steps (Fig. 48), crossed by two descending steps (Fig. 49), crossed by three ascending steps (Fig. 50).

concave(Fig. 51) and arched(Fig. 52).

Serrated: e.g., crossed by teeth (Fig. 53), beveled by stepped teeth (Fig. 54), crossed by crossed teeth (Fig. 55), crossed by cruciform teeth (Fig. 56), dissected by pointed teeth (Fig. 57), dissected by rounded teeth (Fig. 58), crossed by trefoil teeth (Fig. 59), dissected by crutch teeth (Plate IV, Fig. 60).

pointed, e.g. spiky crossed (Fig. 61).

sawtooth, e.g. sawtooth beveled (Fig. 62).

scaly, e.g. overturned-scaly crossed (Fig. 63).

cloudy, e.g. cloudy crossed (Fig. 64).

flamelike, e.g. flame-shaped beveled (Fig. 65).

cochlear, e.g. cochlearly crossed (Fig. 66).

HERALDIC FIGURES

PRIMARY.

The most important of the heraldic figures, formed by the selection of lines drawn in the shield of the smaller part of its field, are as follows:

1. Chapter(Fig. 67), which usually occupies 2/7 of the height of the shield, but if its height is less than the indicated value, then this figure is called the top; the head of the shield can be beveled, for example, the right beveled head (Fig. 69), or triangular (Fig. 70).
2. extremity(Fig. 71), which usually has the dimensions adopted for the head of the shield, but if they are smaller, then the figure is called foot(Fig. 72); the tip can also be beveled (Fig. 73) and triangular (Fig. 74).
   It is also possible to connect these figures, for example: a chapter with its top, which is called, in this case, a completed chapter (Fig. 75), or a chapter with its foot, which make up the figure of a completed chapter (Fig. 76).
3. Pillar(Fig. 77), occupying 1/3 of the width of the shield; if his figure is in direct contact with the right or left side of the shield, then the pillar also bears the corresponding local name, for example, the right pillar (Fig. 78); the pillar may be shifted to the right (Fig. 79) or to the left; if the pillar is somewhat narrower than its normal width and is alone in the shield, then it is designated as narrow (Fig. 80).
4. Belt(Fig. 81), occupying 1/3 in the middle of the shield; the belt can be raised (fig. 82), or lowered; what has been said about a narrow pillar also applies to a narrow belt, but it is clear that there may be several belts in the shield (Fig. 83).
5. Sling, bounded by two parallel beveled lines on the right (Fig. 84) and on the left (Fig. 85); and the baldric, like the previous figures, can be narrow (Pl. V, fig. 86), raised (fig. 87), or lowered, and, finally, repeated several times in the shield (fig. 88).
6. Rafter, formed, as it were, by two opposite bandages (Fig. 89); the rafter is called overturned if its top touches the bottom of the shield (Fig. 90); it can be narrowed, or repeated several times (Fig. 91), increased (Fig. 92) or lowered (Fig. 93).

All of the indicated figures can be repeated in pairs in the shield, and, in this case, they are called paired, for example, three paired bandages on the right (Fig. 94).

Like divisions, heraldic figures can be limited by lines not only straight, but also broken, curved and others, etc., a jagged belt (Fig. 95), an anti-toothed column (Fig. 96), a rafter lowered with pointed protrusions (Fig. 97) , broken belt (Fig. 98), sawtooth belt (Fig. 99), wavy band (Fig. 100), lowered concave rafter (Fig. 101), spiked rafter (Fig. 102), branched belt (Fig. 103), scaly column (Fig. 104), pointed downwards column (Fig. 105), interrupted bandage (Fig. 106).

These figures are called shortened if they do not touch the sides of the shield, for example, a shortened lowered rafter (Fig. 107); then, repeating, the figures can intertwine, for example, three interlaced lowered rafters (Fig. 108), two interlaced opposed side rafters (Fig. 109).

Finally, two heterogeneous figures can be combined into one, for example, a head connected to a pillar forms a figure called crutch(Fig. 110), a pillar connected to a belt is the prototype of the figure of a heraldic cross.

CROSS

The simplest type of cross is the connection of a pillar with a belt, the so-called. heraldic cross (Plate VI, fig. 111). It can also be narrow (Fig. 112). Its varieties are crosses: wedge-shaped (Fig. 113), with broadened ends (Fig. 114), crutch (Fig. 115), stepped (Fig. 116), clawed (Fig. 117).

The connection of the two bandages makes up the St. Andrew's Cross (Fig. 118), which can also be narrow (Fig. 119).

These crosses can be depicted as shortened, of which varieties are typical: the so-called. heraldic cross (Fig. 120), broadened cross (Fig. 121), Latin cross (Fig. 122), through cross (Fig. 123), Anthony cross (Fig. 124 - a shortened crutch proper), crutch cross (Table VII , Fig. 138) and a clawed cross (Fig. 140).

A peculiar connection of two half-bands with a pillar forms a figure called forked a cross (Plate VI, Fig. 125), which can also be depicted upside down (Fig. 126).

Crosses can be, and crossed (Fig. 127 - heraldic and Fig. 128 - shortened).

The cross can be not only four-pointed, but also five-pointed (Fig. 129), six-pointed (Fig. 130 and 131), Russian (Fig. 132); seven-pointed (Fig. 133), eight-pointed, for example: Orthodox (Fig. 134), patriarchal (Fig. 135), and he, the same trefoil (Plate VII, Fig. 136), and even very complex, crossed several times ( Fig. 137).

Crosses can be accompanied by crosses, for example, a shortened crutch cross (Fig. 138), accompanied by four crosses in the corners, is called Jerusalem (gold in a silver field, Fig. 139).

Several crosses can be connected by their bases into one cross, for example: four shortened clawed crosses (Fig. 140) can be connected into a four-compound clawed cross (Fig. 141).

The ends of the crosses can be extremely diverse, and their types bear the following names: lancet cross (Fig. 142), anchor (Fig. 143), double-headed serpentine (Fig. 144), curled (Fig. 145), trefoil (Fig. 146) , lunar (Fig. 147), lily-shaped (Fig. 148), decorated with balls (Fig. 149), nail-shaped (Fig. 150), wedge-shaped (Fig. 151), decorated with lilies (Fig. 152), diamond-shaped (Fig. 155 ), patterned (Toulouse, Fig. 154), the cross of St. Jacob (Fig. 155), Maltese (Fig. 156), hook-shaped (Fig. 157), swastika (Fig. 158). A cross that touches its lower end with the line of a shield or figure is called hoisted (Fig. 159). Sometimes the cross can also be depicted upside down, the so-called martyr's or the cross of St. Paul (Fig. 160).

SECONDARY HERALDIC FIGURES

1. Border(Table VIII, Fig. 161); the border may be internal (Fig. 162).
2. Square(Fig. 163); the shield can be divided into squares (Fig. 164), and if covered with them in several rows (usually six by seven), then it is called a chessboard (Fig. 165).
3. free part, placed in one of the four corners of the shield, for example; right free part (Fig. 166).
4. Wedge(Fig. 167); what has been said about the free part applies to this figure as well.
5. point(Fig. 168); it can be lateral (Fig. 169), overturned and concave (Fig. 170), narrowed (Fig. 171). The figure of the point can be repeated in the shield, for example: two inverted shortened points (Fig. 172). The shield can be divided by points (Fig. 173); finally, the shield can be covered with rows of points (Fig. 174).
6. Bar- a rectangular figure, the height of which is less than the width; usually there are several of them in the shield (Fig. 175). If the shield is covered with bars, then it is called walled with seams (Fig. 176).
7. Shingle- a rectangular figure, the height of which is greater than its width, for example, three shingles: 2 and 1 (Fig. 177). The shield can be divided by shingles (Fig. 178).
8. Rhombus(Fig. 179); the shield can be divided by diamonds (Fig. 180).
9. Spindle(Fig. 181). The shield can be divided by spindles and into belts (Fig. 182).
10. tournament collar(Fig. 183).
11. A circle(Fig. 184). If the circle is metallic, then it is called a coin.
12. Shield or a heart shield (Fig. 185).

NON-HERALDIC FIGURES

There are non-heraldic figures: natural, artificial and legendary.

NATURAL FIGURES

To natural figures belong, first of all, The Saints. In Russian heraldry, images are accepted: St. George the Victorious, depicted according to the church from the viewer to the right (table IX, 1), and in official heraldry, since 1856, heraldically to the right; St. Archangel Michael (IX, 2) and Archangel Gabriel (IX, 3).

Man. Sometimes he is depicted naked and with a club (IX, 4), but more often as a rider on a horse in armor and armed with a sword (IX, 5), or a warrior, for example, with a spear and shield (IX, 6). Usually also an image of parts of the human body: head, hands, for example, a hand armed with a sword, emerging from a cloud (IX 7), palms, legs, a heart, for example, flaming (IX, 8), etc.

Animals: a lion, depicted usually rising with its head turned to the right (IX, 9), although separately its head can be. depicted and directly (IX, 10). If the lion is depicted walking with his head turned straight, then he is called leopard(IX, 11). Mixings of these species are also possible, and then, according to the position of the head of the animal, it is called or leopardlion or lion leopard.

Other species of other predatory animals are rarely placed in coats of arms, but some parts of them, for example. paw (IX, 12), are more common.

Horse depicted as marching (IX, 13) or galloping (IX, 14); horse head (IX, 15).

Deer usually depicted galloping (IX, 16): there is an image of deer antlers, for example, connected (IX, 17).

Among other animals are depicted: dog(IX, 18), wolf(IX, 19), boar(IX, 20), bear rising (IX, 21) and marching (IX, 22), bull(IX, 23), his head (IX, 24) and horns (IX, 25), elephant(X, 1) and his fangs (X, 2), badger(X, 3), goat(X, 4), ram, and if he is with a banner, then he is called a lamb (X, 5).

Birds: eagle, depicted with the head turned to the right and outstretched wings (X, 6).

Less common in coats of arms image crow(X, 7) but crane, holding a stone in its paw - the so-called figure of "vigilance" (X, 8) - is quite common; swan(X, 9), rooster(X, 10) peacock(X, 11), owl(X, 12) pigeon(X, 13), etc., but more often their parts and especially a wing (X, 14), or two connected wings (X, 15) are depicted.

Reptiles, fish, insects and amphibians. From among them meya, depicted in a pillar (X, 16), or in a ring (X, 17 ), dolphin(X, 18), fish, for example, in the St. Andrew's Cross (X, 19), cancer ( X, 20), bug(X, 21), bees(X, 22), ants(X, 23), snail(X, 24), shells(X, 25).

Plants: lily, depicted heraldically (XI, 1), or naturally (XI, 2), the Rose also heraldically (XI, 3), less often naturally (XI, 4), flowers, for example, sunflower(XI, 5), wreath(XI, 6). Trees, e.g. oak (XI, 7) and its acorns (XI, 8), spruce(XI, 9), branches, eg. palm branch (XI, 10). Found in coats of arms quite often and cereals, especially in the form of a sheaf (XI, 11) or a shamrock (XI, 12).

Luminaries, elements, etc., which include: sun(XI, 13) and especially beloved crescent(XI, 14) and stars about five or more rays (XI, 15 and 16). Rivers, depicted by shortened wavy belts (XII 17), hills(XI, 18), clouds(XI, 19), rainbow(XI, 20).

ARTIFICIAL FIGURES

It is customary to call artificial figures in heraldry objects created by human creativity. Their diversity, of course, is unlimited, but only items of military life and, moreover, in predominantly ancient forms are most appropriate when depicting them in coats of arms, and from among other items of peaceful use, only those that serve as symbols of abstract concepts or direct emblems of special ranks, positions and professions.

From military life the most common: helmet(XI, 21), swords: straight (XI, 22) and curved (XI, 23), a spear(XI, 24), ax(XI, 25), arrows(XII, 1), quiver(XII, 2), chain mail(XII, 5), shield(XII, 4), horn(XII, 5), pistols(XII, 6), horseshoe(XII, 7), spur(XII, 8), stirrup(XII, 9), ring(XII, 10), banner or banner(XII, 11), ensign(XII, 12), tower(XII, 13), fortress(XII, 14), camp tent(XII, 15), serf key(XII, 16), a gun(XII, 17), wheel(XII, 18), ship(XII, 19), anchor(XIL 20); examples of peaceful figures: lictor fart(XII, 21), mercurial rod(XII, 22), bowl(XII, 23), lira(XII, 24), horn abundance(XII, 25).

LEGENDARY FIGURES

Images can be attributed to the number of legendary or fantastic figures: centaur, (XIII, 1), birds: alconost, (XIII, 2) and Sirina(XIII, 3), Sirens: winged (XIII, 4), and two-tailed (XIII, 5) - representing peculiar combinations of half-figures of a person and animals or birds, of which the images of Sirin and Alkonost, in fact, are not found, but could be appropriate as emblems beloved in ancient Russian art .

The following figures are more common in heraldry: the vulture (XIII, 6), unicorn(XIII, 7), Pegasus(XIII, 8), the Dragon(XIII, 9), seven-headed hydra(XIII, 10), Paradise Bird(XIII, 11), phoenix(XIII, 12), Zilant(XIII, 13), Capricorn(XIII, 14), salamander(XIII, 15) and others.

Legendary figures include double-headed eagle taken as the emblem of the Russian State (ХШ, 16). However, during its four hundred years of existence, its image has undergone various modifications, of which the following types are most characteristic: the beginning of the 17th century (XIII, 17), the reign of Emperor Paul (XIII, 18), Emperor Nicholas I (XIII, 19) modern (XIII, 20).

TYPES AND CONNECTIONS OF FIGURES

Usually, non-heraldic figures are located in the shield in such a way as to occupy the entire field, if possible, without touching, however, the lines that outline it. If the figure touches one of the sides of the shield, as if cut off, then it is called outgoing, for example, an outgoing hand with a sword (XIII, 21); but if a figure, touching in a similar way, is only half visible, then it is called emerging, for example, the emerging lion (XIII, 22); if near one figure, taken as the main one, is placed next to, but without touching it, another figure, then this main figure is called accompanied(top, bottom, right, left) secondary, for example, a spear, accompanied from the sides by two pentagonal stars (XIII, 23); if another figure is placed above one, directly touching it, then the first is called crowned, for example, a column topped with a crown (ХШ, 24); if one of the figures is covered by the other, and in such cases, usually a combination of one - heraldic and another non-heraldic figure, then the first is called burdened the second, for example, a pillar burdened with three octagonal stars (XIII, 25).

HELMETS

In Russian heraldry, two types of steel helmets are accepted:

1. Western European with five bars, depicted straight (XIV, 1) or facing right (XIV, 2) and
2. Old Russian helmet, which can also be placed straight (XIV, 3) or turned to the right (XIV, 4).

CROWNS

In Russian heraldry, the following types of crowns are accepted:

Princely a hat of dark crimson velvet with an ermine edge, three visible golden arcs studded with pearls, above which is a golden orb with a cross (XIV, 5);

Count's crown - gold with nine visible pearls (XIV, 6);

Baronial crowns: 1, Russian - a gold hoop intertwined three times with a pearl thread (XIV, 7) and 2, adopted for barons: Baltic and having a foreign title, - gold with seven visible pearls (XIV, 8);

Noble crown - gold with three visible leaf-shaped teeth and two pearls between them (XIV, 9).

CRAWLS

A crest is a figure emerging from a crown crowning a helmet.

Crests can be both figures identical to those located in the shield, and parts of them, and even completely different, for example, a hand with a sword (XIV, 10), an emerging lion (XIV, 11), an eagle (XIV, 12); most often in Russian coats of arms three ostrich feathers (XIV, 13) and two wings (XIV, 14) are depicted.

ROBE AND BOTTOM

The mantle is allowed in Russian heraldry in princely coats of arms, as well as in the coats of arms of families of princely origin, but who have lost their title.

This mantle is issued from under the princely crown and is depicted as dark crimson velvet lined with ermine fur (XIV, 15).

The namet, as an ornamental decoration, is depicted descending from a helmet crowned with a noble, baronial or county crown. The coloring of the insignia should be in accordance with the coloring of the field of the shield and the figures placed in it, and each of the sides of the insignia (i.e., right and left) may have a different color, but it is usually accepted that the outline on its outer side be enamel (colorful) , and from the inside - lined with metal (gold or silver). (XIV, 16).

SHIELD HOLDERS

Shield holders are accepted in Russian heraldry as figures decorating the sides of the coat of arms of noble families, included in the 6th part of the noble genealogy book. Shitoholders can be both people, usually in military attire, as well as animals and birds, adopted in heraldry. The shield holders are located on pedestals under the armorial shield (XV: 1,2,3).

MOTTO

The motto, as a saying adopted by the noble family in their coat of arms, is placed on a ribbon, the color of which and the letter of the motto must correspond to the coat of arms and its main figure. In the 18th century, mottoes were usually written in Latin, but now they are allowed only in Russian. The motto is located below under the coat of arms; with shield holders, a ribbon with a motto can serve as a pedestal (XV, 4).

DESCRIPTION OF THE COAT OF ARMS

When describing the coat of arms, one should keep in mind that order constituent parts him, which is accepted above when presenting them, that is, a shield, a helmet, a crown, a crest, a namet, shield holders, a motto, a mantle, and, finally, special decorations.

If the coat of arms has two fields or more, then its description should be given in a well-known established order, bearing in mind the advantage of the right side and the upper part in the shield. If the shield is divided into two parts, then the description is given in the order given on table XVI: 1-5; if the shield is divided into three parts, then its description is given as indicated in figures 6-10; if the shield is divided into four parts, then the order of its description is shown in figures 11-12; but, if two of the four parts of the shield are identical, then the description is given in pairs, see fig. 13-15; if the shield is divided into five parts, then when describing it, one should be guided by figures 16-20, starting with the middle shield if the main emblems are placed in it; if the shield is divided into six or more parts, then its description is made according to the same method, see figures 21-25.

Examples:

I. In a silver field, a scarlet vulture holding a golden sword and a tarch crowned with a small eagle; on a black border are eight torn off lion heads: four gold and four silver. The shield is enclosed in a cartouche and surmounted by a crown. (XVII).

II. Quadruple shield with a shield in the middle. In the first and fourth gold parts the Russian state eagle; in the azure dome is the golden IMPERIAL crown. In the second and third scarlet parts, an ermine lion facing the shield, burdened with azure shields with a gold clawed cross. In the middle shield, crossed nine times with gold and azure, there is a red eagle with a golden beak and paws. The shield is decorated with three helmets, of which: the middle one is topped with a count's crown, the right one is a noble one, and the left one is a scarlet-gold windbreaker. Crests: the middle one is the Russian state eagle, the right one is two scarlet eagle wings, and the left one is an emerging ermine lion with a shield and a cross. Namet: azure on the right and scarlet on the left, lined with gold. Sword holders: two warriors in armor, holding badges, of which on the right, crossed nine times in gold and azure, is a scarlet eagle, and on the left, scarlet, an ermine lion with a shield and a cross. Motto: "Fortitudine et Constantia" in gold letters on a blue ribbon. The shield is covered with a princely cap and mantle. (XVIII).

TYPES OF ARMS

According to their meaning, coats of arms are divided into the following groups:

1. Coats of arms State and territorial.

About state emblems and special decorations assigned to local emblems Russian Empire see Appendices: I and III and Table XIX.

2. Personal coats of arms.

The emblems of the Members of the IMPERIAL HOUSE serve as personal coats of arms; for them see Appendix II.

3. Family coats of arms - noble.

PEDIGREES WITH ARMS

There is a type of genealogical tables, the so-called ascending-mixed genealogy, which usually consists of armorial shields arranged in a certain order, namely: the coat of arms of the person from whom the genealogy is conducted is placed below, slightly higher, to the left (from the viewer) the coat of arms of his father and to the right - the family of his mother, even higher - a series of coats of arms, starting from the left, the first is the coat of arms of the grandfather, the second is the coat of arms of the family of the grandmother, that is, the mother of his father, the third is the coat of arms of his father's mother and the fourth is the coat of arms of the family of his mother's mother; above - a new row of ascending relatives, the shields of the family emblems of which are located to the left - from the side of the father and to the right - from the side of the mother. Sufficient is the arrangement of eight or sixteen armorial shields in the upper row, but, of course, it can sequentially have thirty-two, sixty-four, etc. (XX).

tables

Table I	Table II
Table III	Table IV
Table V	Table VI
Table VII	Table VIII
Table IX	Table X
Table XI	Table XII
Table XIII	Table XIV
Table XV	Table XVI
Table XVII	Table XVIII
Table XIX	Table XX

Drawings

Applications

RUSSIAN STATE EMBLEM

The modern Russian State Emblem has three types, called the Large, Medium and Small State Emblems; of these, the first, the Highest, was approved on July 24, 1882, and the last on February 23, 1883.

Their drawings are reproduced in the Complete Collection of Laws, vol. (1882) under No. 1035, and vol. III. (1883) under No. 1402.

A description of the emblems is available in the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire, vol. I, part 1, Code of Fundamental State Laws. Ed. 1906 Appendix I.

Detailed description of the State Emblem.

A. Big State Emblem.

§ 1. The Russian State Emblem is in a golden shield a black double-headed eagle crowned with two Imperial crowns, above which the third is the same, in a larger form, with two fluttering ends of the ribbon of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The state eagle holds a golden scepter and orb. On the chest of the eagle is the coat of arms of Moscow: in a scarlet shield with gold edges, the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George in silver weapons and azure drag (mantle), on silver, covered with crimson fabric with gold fringe, a horse striking gold, with green wings, a dragon, gold , with an eight-pointed cross on top, a spear. The main shield (with the State Emblem) 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 the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called; on the sides of the image of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel. The canopy is golden, crowned with the Imperial crown, dotted with Russian double-headed eagles and lined with ermine. On it is a scarlet inscription: God is with us! Above the canopy, the State Banner appears, with an octagonal cross on the shaft. The canvas of the State banner is gold; on it is an image of the middle State Emblem (§ 5 of this appendix), only without the nine shields surrounding it.

§ 2. Around the main shield, shields with the coats of arms of the Kingdoms and the following Grand Duchies:

I. Emblem of the Kingdom Kazansky: in a silver shield there is a black crowned dragon: the tongue, wings and tail are scarlet, the beak and claws are golden.

II. Emblem of the Kingdom Astrakhan: in an azure shield, a golden, similar to the Royal, crown, with five arcs and a green lining; under it is a silver oriental sword, with a golden hilt, with a sharp end to the right.

III. Emblem of the Kingdom Polish: in a scarlet shield a silver crowned eagle with a golden beak and claws.

IV. Emblem of the Kingdom Siberian: in an ermine shield there are two black sables, standing on their hind legs and supporting with their front legs, one a golden five-pronged crown, the other a scarlet recumbent bow and two arrows placed crosswise, with their points down.

V. Emblem of the Kingdom Chersonis Tauride: in a golden shield, a black Byzantine eagle crowned with two golden crowns, with scarlet tongues and golden beaks and claws; on the chest, in an azure shield with golden edges, a golden eight-pointed cross.

VI. Emblem of the Kingdom Georgian: four-part shield, with a tip and a small shield in the middle. In the middle small shield is the coat of arms of Georgia: in a golden field, the Holy Great Martyr and the Victorious George, in azure weapons, with a golden cross on a pile, in scarlet entanglement, sitting on a black horse covered with purple with gold fringe, striking with a scarlet green spear, with black wings and scarlet eyes and tongue, a dragon. In the first part - coat of arms Iveria: in a scarlet shield a silver galloping horse; in the corners, upper left and lower right, silver stars with eight rays. In the second part - coat of arms Cartlines: in a golden shield a green fire-breathing mountain pierced crosswise by two black arrows, points upwards. In the third part - the coat of arms Kabardian lands: in an azure shield, on two silver, cruciformly, arrows pointing upwards, a small golden shield with a scarlet crescent turned to the right; in the first three quarters silver hexagonal stars. In the fourth part - the coat of arms Armenia: in a golden shield a scarlet crowned lion. In the golden tip - coat of arms Cherkassky and Mountain Princes: a Circassian galloping on a black horse, in silver weapons, scarlet clothes and dragged black from fur, with a black spear on his right shoulder.

VII. United coats of arms of the Grand Duchies: Kyiv, Vladimirsky and Novgorod: in a shield divided forked into three parts. In the first azure part - coat of arms Kyiv: Holy Archangel Michael in silver robes and weapons, with a flaming sword and a silver shield. In the second scarlet part - coat of arms Vladimirsky: a golden lion leopard, wearing an iron crown adorned with gold and colored stones, holding a long silver cross in its right paw. In the third silver part - coat of arms Novgorod: two black bears supporting golden chairs with a scarlet pillow, on which they are placed, crosswise, on the right side a scepter, and on the left a cross; above the chairs there is a golden three-lighter with burning candles: in the azure outskirts of the shield are two silver fish, one opposite the other.

VIII. Coat of arms of the Grand Duchy Finnish: in a scarlet shield, a golden crowned lion holding a straight sword in its right paw, and a curved sword in its left, on which the lion rests with its back right paw, accompanied by eight silver roses.

All these shields are crowned with their own crowns.

At the bottom of the main shield (with the State coat of arms) His Imperial Majesty's family coat of arms. The shield is split. Right - family coat of arms Romanovs: in a silver field, a scarlet vulture holding a golden sword and a tarch crowned with a small eagle: on a black border, eight torn off lion heads, four gold and four silver. Left - coat of arms Schleswig-Golstinski: a four-part shield with a special tip at the bottom and a small shield in the middle; in the first scarlet part - coat of arms Norwegian: golden crowned lion with silver gallebard; in the second golden part - coat of arms Schleswig: two azure leopard lions; in the third scarlet part - coat of arms Holstein: crossed small shield, silver and scarlet; around it is a silver cut into three parts, a nettle leaf and three silver nails with ends to the corners of the shield; in the fourth scarlet part - coat of arms Stormarn: a silver swan with black paws and a golden crown around the neck; in the scarlet tip - coat of arms Dithmarsen: gold, with a raised sword, a rider on a silver horse covered with black cloth; the middle small shield is also dissected: in the right half there is a coat of arms Oldenburg, on a golden field two scarlet belts; in the left coat of arms Delmenhorst, in an azure field of gold, with a sharp end at the bottom, a cross. This small shield is surmounted by the Grand Ducal crown, and the main one by the Royal.

§ 3. Above the canopy of the main (with the State Emblem) shield are six shields:

I. Shield of the united coats of arms of Principalities and Regions Great Russian, doubly dissected and doubly crossed, with a tip. In the first azure part - coat of arms Pskov: golden leopard; above him, a right hand emerging from silver clouds. In the second silver part - coat of arms Smolensky: black gun: carriage and wheels in a gold frame; a bird of paradise in the sun. In the third scarlet part - coat of arms Tverskoy: a golden throne: on it is the Royal crown, on a green pillow. In the fourth silver part - coat of arms Yugorsky: two hands in scarlet clothes, emerging from the right and left of the azure clouds and holding two scarlet spears crosswise. In the fifth silver part - coat of arms Nizhny Novgorod: scarlet walking deer; horns with six processes and black hooves. In the sixth golden part - coat of arms Ryazan: The prince in a green robe and in a hat trimmed with sable, with a scarlet coat, and in the same boots, holds a silver sword in his right hand, and a black scabbard in his left. In the seventh scarlet part - coat of arms Rostov: a silver deer with a golden collar. In the eighth silver part - coat of arms Yaroslavsky: black, walking on its hind legs, a bear, head straight, holding a golden ax in the left paw on the same army. In the ninth azure part - the coat of arms Belozersky: two silver fish laid crosswise: above them is a silver crescent; in the right corner is a golden cross, with balls at the ends. In the black tip - coat of arms Udorsky: a walking silver fox, with scarlet eyes and tongue.

P. Shield of the united coats of arms of Principalities and Regions Southwestern divided forked into three parts. In the first scarlet part - coat of arms Volynsky: silver cross. In the second azure part - coat of arms Podolsky: golden sun with sixteen rays; above it is a golden cross. In the third silver part - coat of arms Chernigov: a black crowned eagle with a scarlet tongue with golden claws, holding a long golden cross in the claws of its left foot, inclined to the right corner of the shield.

III. Shield of the united coats of arms of Principalities and Regions Belo-Russian and Lithuanian: four-part, with a tip, and a small shield in the middle. In this small scarlet shield the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy Lithuanian: on a silver horse covered with a scarlet three-pointed, with a golden border, a carpet, a horseman (pogon) is silver, armed, with a raised sword, and with a shield, on which is an eight-pointed scarlet cross. In the first part of the shield - coat of arms Bialystok: crossed shield; in the upper scarlet part - a silver eagle; in the lower golden part - an azure armed horseman with a raised sword and a silver shield, on which is a scarlet eight-pointed cross; the horse is black, covered with scarlet, three-pointed, with a gold border, carpet. In the second golden part - coat of arms Samogitsky: a black bear standing on its hind legs, with scarlet eyes and a tongue. In the third silver part - coat of arms Polotsky: on a black horse, with a silver and scarlet harness, a rider (pogon) in black weapons, with a raised saber; golden handle, scarlet tarch, with a silver octagonal cross. In the fourth scarlet part - the coat of arms Vitebsk: a silver rider in arms, with a raised sword and a round target; the saddle on a silver horse is scarlet, covered with a three-pointed gold carpet with an azure border. In the silver tip - coat of arms Mstislavsky: scarlet wolf; head to the left.

IV. Shield of the united coats of arms of the Regions Baltic quadruple. In the first golden part - coat of arms Estonian: three azure leopard lions. In the second scarlet part - coat of arms Livonian: silver vulture with golden sword; on the chest, under the Imperial crown, a scarlet monogram: PV IV (Peter II, Emperor of All Russia). In the third in a quadruple field - coats of arms Courland and Semigalsky; in the first and fourth silver quarters - coat of arms Courland: scarlet lion; in a scarlet crown; and in the second and third azure quarters the coat of arms Semigalsky: an emerging silver deer, with six shoots on the horns, surmounted by the Duke's crown. In the fourth scarlet part - the coat of arms Korean: two opposed, raised up, hands in silver armor, with silver curved swords; above him is a golden crown.

V. Shield of United Coats of Arms North Eastern The regions of the Empire are four-part, with a small shield in the middle. In this small scarlet shield - coat of arms Permian: a silver walking bear, on its back is a golden Gospel, on which is a silver cross with four rays. In the first golden part of the main shield - the coat of arms Vyatka: a hand emerging to the right from azure clouds in scarlet clothes, holding a scarlet stretched bow with an arrow; in the right corner is a scarlet cross with balls. In the second green part, divided by a silver cross - the coat of arms Bulgarian: a silver walking lamb, with a scarlet banner, a golden shaft. In the third silver part - coat of arms Obdorsky: black walking fox with scarlet eyes and tongue. In the fourth green part - the coat of arms Kondia: a wild man with an oak wreath on his head and an oak belt, holding right hand on the shoulder a silver mace.

VI. Coat of arms Turkestan: in a golden shield, a black walking unicorn with scarlet eyes, tongue and horn.

§ 4. The Russian State Emblem in its full form is depicted on the State Great Seal (§15 of this appendix), also on thrones, canopies, in halls designated for solemn meetings at the Imperial Court or for meetings of higher government places, but not otherwise, as by special Highest orders, announced through the Minister of the Imperial Court. At the same time, it is determined each time what decorations should be around the main coat of arms and between the shields surrounding it of other coats of arms of the Kingdoms, Principalities and Regions mentioned in the lengthy title of His Imperial Majesty (Zak. Osn. Art. 59.

B. Middle State Emblem.

§ 5. The middle State Emblem is the same as the large one, but without the State banner and six shields above the canopy with the emblems indicated in § 3 of this appendix.

§ 6. The middle State Emblem is depicted as on the middle State seal(§ 15 of this adj.), so, according to the special instructions of His Imperial Majesty, and in other places and cases.

B. Small State Emblem.

§ 7. The small State Emblem is similar to the middle one (§ 5 of this appendix), but without the Imperial canopy, without images of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel, and without the Family Emblem of His Imperial Majesty; the chain of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is placed on the chest of the eagle around the shield with the coat of arms of Moscow, and the coats of arms of the Kingdoms and Grand Duchies (§ 2 of this adj.) on the wings of the eagle as follows: on the right wing, in the first place, the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Kazan; on the left, in the first place, the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Astrakhan; on the right wing, in the second place, the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland; on the left, in the second place, the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Siberia; on the right wing, in the third place, the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Tauric Chersonis; on the left, in the third place, the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Georgia; on the right wing, in the fourth place, the combined coats of arms of the Grand Duchies of Kyiv, Vladimir and Novgorod; on the left, in the fourth place, the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Finland.

§ 8. In this form (§ 7 of this adj.), but in a shield and with the addition of the Imperial canopy, the State Emblem is depicted on the small State seal (§ 17 of this adj.). On other small seals and in decorations, he may be depicted according to § 7 of this appendix and without coats of arms on the wings of an eagle, but always with the Moscow coat of arms on his chest, surrounded by a chain of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

§ 9. When the small State Emblem is depicted in a shield (which must always be gold), then the chain of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called does not surround the Moscow coat of arms on the chest of the eagle (§ 7 of this adj.), but the shield itself.

§ 10. According to the special, announced through the Minister of the Imperial Court, the Highest Commands, they can be attached to the small State Emblem; or the Imperial canopy (§ 1 of this adj.), as this is determined on the small State seal (§ 8 of this adj.), or, when the eagle is placed in a shield crowned with the Imperial crown, images of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel.

ARMS OF MEMBERS OF THE IMPERIAL HOUSE

The coats of arms of the Romanov family, the current reigning House, and all members of the Imperial family (Large and Small, established according to the degrees of their origin from the Person of the Emperor) were approved by the Highest on December 8, 1856.

The drawings of these coats of arms are reproduced in the Complete Collection of Laws, vol. XXXII (1857), under No. 31720.

Descriptions of coats of arms are given in the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire, vol. I, part 1, Code of Fundamental State Laws. Ed. 1906 Appendix II.

Detailed description of the coats of arms of the Members of the Imperial House.

I. Coats of arms of the highest persons of the male sex.

1) The personal coat of arms of His Imperial Majesty.

§ 1. The personal coat of arms of His Imperial Majesty is the same as the small coat of arms of the State (Appendix I, § 7), in a shield crowned with the helmet of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, with the insignia described in the first paragraph of Appendix I. Crest, under the Imperial crown, there is an emerging double-headed Russian eagle.

2) Coats of arms of His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Heir Tsesarevich.

§ 2. The large coat of arms of His Imperial Highness is the same as the middle coat of arms of the State (Appendix I, § 5).

§ 3. The small coat of arms of His Imperial Highness is the same as the personal coat of arms of His Imperial Majesty (§ 1), with the only difference that on the helmet instead of the Imperial is the ancient Royal Crown.

3) The coats of arms of His Imperial Highness, the eldest son of the Grand Duke Heir Tsesarevich.

§ 4. The coats of arms of His Imperial Highness are the same as the coats of arms of the Tsarevich of His parent (§§ 2 and 3), but in them, for distinction, the ancient Royal Crown is depicted on the neck of the eagle.

4) Coats of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Grand Dukes, younger sons Emperor.

§ 5. The large coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses is the same as the middle coat of arms of the State (Appendix I, § 5), but there are two Varangians as shield holders.

§ 6. The small coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses is the same as the coat of arms of the Grand Duke Heir Tsesarevich (§ 3), with the addition of a border from the coat of arms of the Romanov Family (Appendix I, § 2, ending)

Note. To the emblems of the coat of arms, meaning the degree occupied by a Member of the Imperial House in the line descending from the Emperor, special signs can be added to his coat of arms, at the behest of the reigning Emperor, to distinguish his coat of arms from the coats of arms of other Members of the same degree. So, two cannons join the coat of arms of His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich, General Feldzeugmeister.

5) Coats of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Grand Dukes, grandchildren of the Emperor (children of His younger sons).

§ 7. The large coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses is the same as the coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses of the younger sons of the Sovereign Emperor (§ 5), but the shield holders of this are golden unicorns, with scarlet eyes and tongues.

§ 8. Their small coat of arms is the same (§ 6), but the double-headed Russian eagle that appears on the helmet does not have the emblems of the Kingdoms and Grand Duchies on the wings.

6) Coats of arms of Their Highnesses, Princes of the Imperial Blood, great-grandchildren of the Emperor.

§ 9. The large coat of arms of Their Highnesses is the same as the coat of arms of the grandsons of the Sovereign Emperor (§ 7), but instead of gold, black unicorns, with golden horns and hooves, with scarlet eyes and tongues, are shield holders.

§ 10. Their small coat of arms is the same as the coat of arms of the grandchildren of the Sovereign Emperor (§ 8), but the double-headed Russian eagle that appears on the helmet does not have a coat of arms on the chest.

7) Coats of arms of Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses, Princes of the Imperial Blood, great-great-grandchildren of the Emperor.

§ 11. The large coat of arms of Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses is the same as the coat of arms of the great-grandchildren of the Sovereign Emperor (§ 9), but the shield holders are golden vultures, with scarlet eyes and tongues.

§ 12. Their small coat of arms is the same as the coat of arms of the great-grandchildren of the Sovereign Emperor (§ 10), but in the shield the double-headed Russian eagle does not have on the wings the arms of the Kingdoms and the Grand Principalities.

8) Coats of arms of Their Highnesses and Their Lordships, Princes of the Imperial Blood, sons great-great-grandchildren of the Emperor, and their descendants in the male generation.

§ 13. The large coat of arms of Their Highnesses and Their Lordships is also a shield with a double-headed Russian eagle, but without coats of arms on the chest and wings, black vultures with golden beaks and claws, with black eyes and tongues; instead of the Imperial canopy, a golden mantle dotted with Russian double-headed eagles, lined with ermine.

§ 14. Their small coat of arms is the same as the large one (§ 13), only without shield holders and a mantle. On the helmet there is a double-headed Russian eagle without coats of arms on the chest and wings.

9) Coats of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses the Romanovsky Princes.

§ 15. The large coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses the Romanovsky Princes, is a golden double-headed Russian eagle, having a quadruple shield on its chest with a small shield in the middle. In the first and fourth parts, silver, azure belt. In the second part, green, a silver sword; the hilt is golden, the top of the sword is surrounded by six golden stars. In the third part, on a silver field, a black belt; above it are three black birds. In a small shield, on a golden field, scarlet crowned with a scarlet crown, the cypher of the Sovereign Emperor Nicholas I (H) on the shield is the Ducal crown. The main shield is crowned with the helmet of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky; around the chain of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, gold and black insignia; supporters are two golden vultures, with scarlet eyes and tongues. Instead of the Imperial canopy, a golden mantle dotted with Russian double-headed eagles, lined with ermine; above it is the Imperial crown.

§ 16. The small coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses the Romanovsky Princes is the same as Their large coat of arms, only without shield holders and mantles. The crest is the emerging double-headed Russian eagle, which has a golden shield on its chest with a scarlet, under the same crown, the cypher of the Sovereign Emperor Nicholas I (H).

II. Coats of arms of the highest female persons.

1) Coats of arms of Their Majesties, Sovereign Empresses.

§ 17. The large coat of arms of Their Majesties, the Empresses, is the same as the average Russian State Emblem (Appendix I, § 5), with the only difference that the coats of arms surrounding the main shield are placed together with it on the same shield, and in the middle of it above the small shield is the crown of Monomakh. To this coat of arms, on the same or another shield, the family coat of arms of the Empress joins. Above the shield or shields, instead of a helmet, there is a small Imperial crown. Around the coat of arms are signs of the orders of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called and the Holy Great Martyr Catherine.

§ 18. The small coat of arms of Their Majesties is the same as the small Russian State Emblem (Appendix I, § 7), combined with the family coat of arms of the Empress; the shield is surmounted by the imperial crown and decorated with the insignia of the orders of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called and the Holy Great Martyr Catherine.

2). Coats of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Grand Duchesses, Their Highnesses and Their

Serene Highnesses, Princesses of the Imperial Blood.

§ 19. The large coat of arms of the Grand Duchesses and Princesses of the Imperial Blood is the same as the large coat of arms of Their spouses, with the only difference that the coats of arms surrounding the main shield are placed together with it on the same shield and in the middle of it above the small shield is the crown of Monomakh. This coat of arms, on the same or another shield, is joined by the family coat of arms of the Grand Duchess, or Princess of the Imperial Blood. The shield or shields are topped with a small Imperial crown and decorated with the insignia of the Order of St. Catherine the Great Martyr. Shield holders, Imperial canopy or instead of it, a mantle, just like in the spouse's coat of arms.

§ 20. The small coat of arms of the Grand Duchesses and Princesses of the Imperial Blood is the same as the small coat of arms of Their spouses, combined with the small coat of arms of the family of the Grand Duchess or Princess of the Imperial Blood; the shield is surmounted by the Imperial crown and decorated with the insignia of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine.

3) Coats of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Grand Duchesses, Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses, Princesses of the Imperial Blood.

a) Coats of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, daughters of the Emperor.

§ 21. The large coat of arms of the daughters of the Emperor is the same as the small Russian State Emblem (Appendix I, § 7), in a rhomboid-shaped shield, topped with the Imperial crown and decorated with palm trees and signs of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine. The supporters are the two Varangians. The coat of arms is surrounded by the Imperial canopy; above it is the Imperial crown.

§ 22. The small coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, the daughters of the Emperor, is the same as the large one (§ 21), only without shield holders and canopy.

b) The coats of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, grandson of the Emperor (by male knee).

§ 23. The large coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, the grandson of the Emperor, is similar to the coat of arms of the daughters of the Emperor (§ 21), with the only difference that the shield holders are golden unicorns, with scarlet eyes and tongues.

§ 24. The small coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses is the same as the large one (§ 23), but without shield holders and canopy, and with the addition of a border from the coat of arms of the Romanov Family (Appendix I, § 2, ending).

c) Coats of arms of Their Highnesses, great-grandson of the Emperor.

§ 25. The large coat of arms of Their Highnesses, the great-grandson of the Emperor, is similar to the coat of arms of the daughters of the Emperor (§ 21), with the only difference that the shield holders are black unicorns with golden horns and hooves, with scarlet eyes and tongues.

§ 26. The small coat of arms of Their Highnesses is the same as the large one (§ 25), but without coats of arms on the wings of an eagle, without shield holders and canopy.

d) Coats of arms of Their Lordships, great-great-grandson of the Emperor.

§ 27. The large coat of arms of Their Lordships, the great-great-grandson of the Emperor, is similar to the coat of arms of the daughters of the Emperor (§ 21), but without coats of arms on the wings of an eagle, and its shield holders are golden vultures, with scarlet eyes and tongues.

§ 28. The small coat of arms of Their Lordships is the same as their large coat of arms (§ 27), but without shield holders and canopy, and with the addition of a border from the coat of arms of the Romanov Family to the coat of arms (Appendix I, § 2, ended).

e) The coats of arms of Their Lordships, daughters of the great-great-grandchildren of the Emperor and subsequent Princes of the Imperial Blood.

§ 29. The large coat of arms of Their Lordships is a double-headed Russian eagle without coats of arms on the chest and wings, in a rhomboid-shaped shield, under the Imperial crown. The shield is decorated with palm trees and signs of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine. The supporters are two black vultures, with scarlet eyes and tongues; instead of the Imperial canopy, a golden mantle dotted with double-headed eagles, lined with ermine.

§ 30. The small coat of arms of Their Lordships is the same as the large one (§ 31), only without shield holders and a mantle.

f) The coats of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses, the Romanovsky Princesses.

§ 31. The great coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses, the Romanovskiy Princes is the same as the great coat of arms of Their Imperial Highnesses, the Romanovskiy Princes (§ 15), with the difference that it is in a rhomboid-shaped shield, under the Imperial crown ; the shield is decorated with palm trees and signs of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine.

§ 32. Their small coat of arms is the same as the large one (§ 31), only without shield holders and a mantle (§ 15).

§ 33. It is up to Their Majesties, Their Highnesses and Their Lordships to determine in what places and on what objects Their large and small coats of arms should be depicted. Large coats of arms can be depicted on small things without the Imperial canopy and without coats of arms located around the main shield.

§ 34. The choice of forms of shields also depends on the discretion of Their Majesties, Their Highnesses and Their Lordships. These forms may be as follows: 1 Byzantine round shield. This form, adopted in Russia, was also commonly used in the Middle Ages. 2) Varangian triangular shield. 5) Split, the so-called German form of the sixteenth century. 4) Quadrangular, rounded at the bottom, the so-called Spanish shape. 5) Quadrangular, with a sharp tip at the bottom, the so-called French form. 6) A rhomboid-shaped shield, which, incidentally, is assigned exclusively to the Grand Duchesses and Princesses of the Imperial Blood, as well as the Dowager Grand Duchesses and Princesses of the Imperial Blood.

§ 35. All figures in the coats of arms of Their Majesties, Their Highnesses and Their Serene Highnesses are always presented according to the rules of Heraldry, facing the right side of the shield, that is, to the left of the viewer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE HIGHLY APPROVED DECORATIONS OF THE ARMS OF PROVINCES, REGIONS, TOWN GOVERNMENTS, CITIES AND POSAD

A description of these Highly approved decorations of coats of arms is published in the Complete Collection of Laws, vol. XXXII, No. 32027, but without drawings (see table XIX).

CROWNS:

Imperial crown for coats of arms of provinces and capitals (XIX, 1).

Ancient royal crown for coats of arms of counties, regions and townships (XI.V 3).

royal hat, in the form of Monomakhov's crown, for the ancient Russian cities that were the seats of the reigning Grand Dukes, for example: Kyiv, Novgorod, Tver, etc. (XIX, 2).

For the coats of arms of provincial cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, for example: Odessa, Riga, Saratov, Vilna, etc. (XIX, 4).

Gold tower crown with five teeth, surmounted by the Imperial Eagle, for provincial cities with 50,000 or more inhabitants, and which together are fortresses.

Golden tower crown with three prongs for other provincial cities (XIX, 5).

The same crown with the Imperial eagle for provincial cities with less than 50,000 inhabitants, and which together are fortresses (XIX, 6).

Silver tower crown with three prongs for county towns (XIX, 7).

For county towns, which are together and fortresses.

Scarlet tower crown with three prongs for suburban cities.

Such a crown, with the Imperial eagle, for fortresses that are not provincial or district cities.

Scarlet tower crown with two teeth for the famous settlements (XIX, 8).

DECORATIONS AROUND SHIELDS.

Oak leaves, with St. Andrew's ribbon, for provinces (XIX, 9).

Oak leaves, with Alexander ribbon, for regions and city governments.

St. Andrew's ribbon, with two Imperial scepters, for the capitals and for the cities of their usual residence Imperial Majesties: Peterhof, Tsarskoye Selo and Gatchina (XIX, 10).

Alexander Ribbon, with two gold hammers, for industrial cities (XIX, 13).

Alexander ribbon, with two golden ears of corn, for cities distinguished by agriculture and grain trade (XIX, 11).

Alexander Ribbon, with two gold anchors, for coastal cities (XIX, 14).

Alexander Ribbon, with two gold vines , for cities engaged in winemaking (XIX, 12).

Alexander Ribbon, with two silver picks, for cities engaged in mining (XIX, 15).

Alexander ribbon, with two banners decorated with the Imperial eagle, for fortresses (XIX, 16).

St. George ribbon, with two banners standing straight and decorated with the cypher of the name of that Emperor, at the time of which there was a siege, for fortresses that differed from the enemy (XIX, 17).

USE OF THE PROVINCE ARMS IN THE ARMS OF CITIES, EXCEPT THE PROVINCE.

The provincial coat of arms in the city coat of arms must occupy the free part to the right or, if it is occupied by another figure belonging to the city coat of arms, then in the free part to the left.

Family crest form may be different, depending on your individual preferences and desires. Most importantly, remember that there are certain standards that should be followed, especially if you are creating not just a coat of arms for a school, but first of all a coat of arms for yourself and your family.

The main forms of the coat of arms for the family

The coat of arms is a unique element of the identity of the clan, some kind of family. As you understand, the creation of such a symbol has a lot of features. In this article we will talk about the basis of the coat of arms - the shield on which all other thematic images are drawn. Shields can take various forms. Experts note 12 main design options.

1. The shield, on the one hand, has a slight concavity inward. Highly original version. The bottom is semicircular, the top is a clear line.
2. Shield with framing. The shape of the shield is standard. On the sides of the branch in the form of an ornament;
3. The shield has an internal concavity on both sides. The bottom is semicircular, the top is a slight semicircle inside the shield. On the top side there is an image in the form of bird wings.
4. Standard shield with tapered bottom and flat top;
5. A shield of a convex shape of a square type;
6. Standard shield without tapered bottom;
7. Square shield with narrowed bottom;
8. Round shield;
9. Shield with decorative shapes;
10. Rhomboid shield;
11. Semicircular shield;
12. Square shield.

According to the rules of heraldry, the image should be inscribed on this particular variant. However, creativity has no boundaries and limits. And if you see your coat of arms in a completely different setting, don't be afraid to experiment. Perhaps it is you who will get something completely unusual, delightful, new and unsurpassedly luxurious.

Rules for choosing the form of the coat of arms for the family

We have already decided that the basis is a clear shield or geometric figure. Do it the way you like it. At the same time, we must not forget that the additional entourage of design does not hurt at all. Most often, the shield was decorated with some kind of ornament. Often, they used a namet, which was performed in the form of branches of plants or a tree. They also used the option when the shield was held in the hands of mythical or ordinary animals. This gave uniqueness, severity, significance to the entire coat of arms.

If you are trying to supplement the coat of arms with the motto of the family, then you need to draw a ribbon very organically at the bottom of the shield. It can have your motto written on it. In addition, the motto can be written on the edging of the shield.

There are no clear rules for choosing a form for a coat of arms. Here, as you understand, it all depends on your individual desires, preferences and creative aspects. If you cannot draw a coat of arms on your own, then seek help from experienced professionals who will do all the work correctly, with the meaning of the case.

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

The most common forms of shields:

french shield

spanish shield

Varangian shield

Polish shield

German shields

English shields

Oval (Italian) and round (Eastern) shields

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

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

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

intersection

dissection

Bevel left and right

Often the shield has an irregular, rounded, rather than quadrangular shape, but the upper corner, even in complex form shield can be determined even if it lies outside the shield outline. From this point, a line should be drawn. Sometimes shields are depicted not only as complex in shape, but also slightly concave, as a result of which the dividing lines also acquire a curved shape. But in any case, the bevel line must pass through the center of the shield.

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

Quadruple shield

Divisions can be carried out not only by straight lines, but also by teeth, points, waves, etc. lines - such divisions are considered secondary.

Three-part division of the shield

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

	The shield is forked divided into scarlet, gold and silver	The shield is inverted-forked divided into azure, scarlet and silver	The shield is half-crossed and dissected into black, scarlet and gold	The shield is cut and half-crossed into scarlet, black and gold	The shield is crossed and semi-cut into scarlet, black and gold
The shield is half cut and crossed into black, gold and scarlet	The shield is beveled on the right and semi-beveled on the left for black, scarlet and gold	The shield is beveled to the right and half beveled to the left for scarlet, black and gold	The shield is beveled on the left and semi-beveled to the right for scarlet, black and gold	The shield is half-slanted on the right and beveled on the left for black, gold and scarlet

BLAZONING OF A SPLIT SHIELD

General view

Blazonization should always be made as concisely as possible, but as accurately as possible, so that, from a verbal description alone, it is possible to draw a picture of the coat of arms being described or imagine it mentally.

In the Middle Ages, a verbal description (oral or written in a book without illustrations) was the only way to fix the coat of arms in memory or a document, since it was far from always possible to add a drawing to the verbal description. For this in Western Europe the heralds developed a special heraldic language - a blazon, designed to describe any coat of arms as accurately and briefly as possible with the help of special terms. Now, thanks to the achievements of printing, it is almost always possible to accompany the story about the coat of arms with a color drawing, so the importance of the description has faded into the background.

English, French and German blazons are time-tested, refined and concise. These special languages ​​will make it possible to describe any coat of arms much shorter than the Russian language can, even if using special terminology. At the same time, concern for the brevity of the blason should never override concern for its accuracy. Accuracy is the main thing in the description of the coat of arms, and in the name of accuracy it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice brevity.

Peculiarities of blazing a divided shield.

Unlike the English blazon, the Russian heraldic language does not count the number of stripes formed by dividing lines, but the number of dividing lines themselves. Therefore, if the shield is divided, for example, into four parts, it is indicated that it is a shield thrice cut, thrice crossed or thrice beveled (left or right). Then follows the mention of the colors in which the resulting parts are painted. It is not necessary to describe each such part separately - just name first one and then another color (if the divided shield is painted with two tinctures, as is most often the case). For example: a shield thrice cut into azure and silver. In doing so, it is important to follow the following principle:

	if the shield is dissected, then the color of the right field is called the first. The shield is dissected into scarlet and silver		if the shield is crossed, then the color of the upper field is called first. The shield is crossed into scarlet and silver
	if the shield is beveled on the left, then the color of the field occupying the region of the upper right corner is called the first. The shield is three times beveled on the left for scarlet and silver		if the shield is beveled on the right, then the color of the field occupying the region of the upper right corner is called the first; when the corner is divided into two parts, the upper half is considered the main one, that is, bordering on the upper edge of the shield. The shield is beveled three times on the right for silver and green
	if the upper right corner is divided into two parts, then its upper part is considered the main one, that is, it borders on the upper edge of the shield. The shield is beveled on the right and five times on the left into alternating greens and silver		if the upper right corner is divided into two parts, then its upper part, that is, bordering on the upper edge of the shield, is considered the main one. The shield is beveled five times on the right and once on the left for variable scarlet and silver

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

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

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

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

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

Compound true divisions (examples)

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

The shield is cut five times into scarlet and gold	The shield is cut seven times into azure and silver	The shield is slanted three times on the right for silver and green	The shield is slanted three times on the left for scarlet and silver
The shield is beveled five times on the right for black and gold	The shield is beveled five times on the left for azure and gold	The shield is beveled seven times on the right for silver and scarlet	The shield is beveled seven times on the left for green and silver
The shield is thrice cut and thrice cut into azure and silver	The shield is cut and crossed, the first and fourth quarters are cut and crossed into black and silver, and the second and third - into scarlet and gold	The shield is crossed, the upper and lower parts are beveled on the left and right for silver and black	The shield is cut and crossed, the first and fourth quarters are beveled on the right and left for scarlet and silver, and the second and third - for silver and black
The shield is beveled five times on the right and once on the left for variable scarlet and silver	The shield is beveled on the right and five times on the left in alternating greens and silver	The shield is beveled twice on the right and five times on the left in alternating greens and silver	The shield is beveled five times on the right and twice on the left for variable gold and azure
The shield is slanted three times on the left and right on scarlet and silver	The shield is crossed and beveled on the left and right to green and gold	In the shield, beveled on the right for azure and gold, a variably colored pillar	In the shield, beveled on the left for azure and gold, a variably colored pillar
The shield is thrice crossed and beveled on the right and left into variable azure and gold	The shield is twice cut and beveled five times on the left into variable silver and black	The shield is twice cut and beveled five times on the right for variable scarlet and gold	The shield is divided diamond-shaped into scarlet and silver
The shield is twice cut and crossed and beveled five times on the left into variables azure and silver	The shield is twice cut and crossed and beveled five times on the right for variable azure and silver	The shield is dissected, the right and left parts are beveled on the right and left into scarlet and black
Divisions can be made not by straight lines, but by arcuate lines:
The shield is six-fold arcuately divided into silver and black	The shield is divided eight times in an arcuate pattern into azure and gold.	The shield is twelve-fold arcuate scarlet and silver	The shield is divided sixteen times in an arcuate pattern into green and gold.
The following divisions are rarer, but very original, characteristic of German heraldry:
Cochlear-shaped right Shield is snail-shaped beveled to the right on black and gold	Snail-shaped left The shield is snail-shaped beveled on the left for gold and black	Snail-shaped lower Shield crossed snail-shaped into gold and niello	Snail-shaped upper Shield crossed snail-shaped into niello and gold
Leaf-shaped The shield is beveled on the right with two sheets of silver and scarlet	Clover-shaped (trefoil) The shield is beveled on the right with two shamrocks for gold and green	Lily-shaped Shield beveled on the right with two lilies on azure and gold

Untrue divisions

Untrue divisions are those that divide the shield into parts unequal in area:

Yoke-shaped Shield crossed by a yoke into azure and argent (this division only exists in the horizontal version)	Inverted yoke-shaped Shield crossed with an inverted yoke into silver and scarlet (this division exists only in the horizontal version)	Crescent right The shield is cut crescent to the right into azure and gold (this division exists only in the vertical version)	Crescent left The shield is cut crescent to the left into gold and azure (this division exists only in the vertical version)
	Arcuate left The shield is dissected by the left arc into gold and azure
Stepped ascending The shield is crossed by two ascending steps on scarlet and silver
Division with a concave tip
There is also another way to divide the shield in a complex way: with the help of a concave tip - simple, overturned and pressed. The main division is obtained by drawing two concave lines from the center of the upper edge of the shield to both lower corners. The resulting triangular area can, on the one hand, be considered a part of the shield field highlighted in color, and on the other hand, a secondary heraldic figure (a concave tip). French heraldry adheres to the first point of view, German - to the second. In any case, a kind of three-part division is obtained, which makes it possible to fill each of the three parts with its own content, independent of the other two. The field of the shield, in which the concave point is located, is not always of the same color: it is often divided into two or four parts by dissection and intersection. In these cases, the concave tip turns out to be superimposed on a many-part field, and sometimes the color of the triangular region coincides in genus with the color of one of the other two parts. However, the heraldic rule of colors is not violated. The description of the coat of arms is compiled depending on the point of view, because there is no actual difference between a shield with a concave tip and a shield divided into parts along the line of the same tip - regardless of the blazon method, the field is marked in the same way. Nevertheless, Russian heraldry defines this triangular region of a special shape as a figure<вогнутое остриё>, therefore, in all cases, in whatever composition and in whatever form the concave point is used, it should be blazed as a figure, and first (but after the description of the main division of the shield itself) the point is mentioned, and then the contents of the parts of the many-part field, on which this point is superimposed (see Fig. 7 below).	In a dissected and crossed shield with a scarlet pressed concave tip, burdened with a silver lily, there are two golden keys in black, and two scarlet fish in silver.

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