Family coat of arms - the dynamics of the development of heraldic traditions

The systems of identification of one's own and others with the help of images operated in ancient times. In the era of the Crusades , individual insignia of knights were applied to steel shells, banners and shields of soldiers. Their task was to distinguish the enemy from a comrade in arms in battle. With the onset of peaceful life, the military merits of knights did not lose relevance, therefore, at the entrance to the house or to their castle, a battle coat was hung out, and now the family coat of arms of the warrior, the founder of the clan or clan. He was also decorated with festive clothes and all items relating to the sphere of influence of the owner, and also made his engraving on the personal seal.

Thus, on the basis of military exploits, the family coat of arms of the family of the knight and feudal lord was formed. Seal with his image certified all agreements and confirmed the authenticity of documents and property of the lands belonging to the property. The first knightly signs were put on shields, so this tradition was not violated, making it an integral part of heraldry.

Although the Slavs were far from the Crusades, but their lives were closely intertwined with the world to take, expressed in special symbols. Therefore, each prince had a patrimonial amulet, keeping from troubles, and they branded all property, from real estate to agricultural tools and utensils. And since all the famous Slavic families originate from the Rurikovich family, most of them have a double-wedge - this is both a guard and a family coat of arms. Moreover, each princedom diverging from this kind has modified its image, making it slightly different from the others,

A unique two-edged family coat of arms on princely seals assured letters and letters, it was minted on coins. Alexander Nevsky added to him an image of a horseman with a spear, which, according to one version, symbolizes the sovereign himself, and on the other - a brave saint who died in the struggle for faith - St. George the Victorious.

However, the family coat of arms of the Romanovs did not include a spearman or a dvuh in itself. And the reason, as the French say, is a woman who is the wife of a Russian autocrat. Prince Ivan Sh concluded a dynastic family union, taking as his wife the relative of the Emperor of Byzantium, Sophia Palaeologus. And their family coat of arms was decorated with a two-headed eagle. After the fall of Byzantium, Ivan Shek inherited the right to Byzantine symbols. Moscow Principality, in agreement with the Roman Empire and the Polish Kingdom, was approved by the Crown. The Russian state began to call itself the third Rome. Thus, the two-headed eagle "flew" to the state banners of Moscow.

We should pay tribute to Prince Ivan Sh, he kept the family coat of arms depicting the rider, using the Byzantine double-headed eagle as state symbols, believing that all independent Russian principalities should unite under this sign.

Approximately two hundred years later, when the first representative of the Romanov family ascended the throne, the double-headed eagle had one more, a third crown. He interprets the inseparability of the Asian and European parts of Russia, and the crowns recognize the trinity of his principalities from Siberia, Kazan and Astrakhan.

Today heraldry actively penetrates into the business sphere, so corporate emblems appear. It becomes fashionable in literature, used in everyday life and cultural layers of society. Many create the arms of their homes, teams, local churches. As we see, heraldry is a very fascinating occupation.