The coat of arms of Bryansk. New mistakes of the old coat of arms

Bryansk is one of the oldest Russian cities, founded in 985. There are many events in his history that testified to his important role in confronting enemy invasions-who does not know about the struggle of the Bryansk partisans against fascists during the Great Patriotic War? The historical coat of arms of Bryansk first appeared about three centuries ago, while the attempt to recreate it in the modern history of Russia has not been successful so far - the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation refused to include it in the State Register, which would give the symbolism legitimacy.

Reforms of Peter

Among the many directions of state activity, which, according to Peter I, required bringing to European standards, was heraldry. Many Russian cities and provinces received their official symbols on the basis of images on the banners of the regiments that were stationed in them. I got my own symbol and Bryansk, a city that until that time did not have a certain coat of arms. These banners were made in the Armory Chamber on a uniform pattern and in accordance with the rules derived from the instructions published in Europe.

The heraldic commission also used the famous "Titular" in 1672, which belonged to Peter's father, Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich, and contained all the Russian city coats of arms and seals known at that time. The developed symbols were consolidated into a single "Znamenny Heral." In the publication of this guidebook, developed in 1729, under the leadership of B.K. Minich had the coat of arms of Bryansk, which for the first time contained a plot, which was used all the subsequent time. He was briefly described: a golden mortar in a red field, on either side of it - "on a pile of bombs". The coat of arms was "painted" on the banner of the Bryansk landmilitskogo (that is, kept at the expense of local authorities) of the regiment.

Why mortar?

Those who know about the famous Bryansk Arsenal, long supplying the Russian army with cannons, it is with him associated with the appearance on the coat of arms of a city of heavy mortars and cores to it. But historians say that when Arsenal was built (1783), the coat of arms of Bryansk with an "artillery motif" existed for about half a century.

In the opinion of local historians and historians of heraldry, the developers of the Bryansk coat of arms headed by Minich took into account the decree of Peter the Great of 1722 on the formation in the event of war with the Turks of three divisions of Russian siege artillery, consisting of particularly powerful and heavy guns, including those fired Outboard fire mortar. One of these batteries was placed in Bryansk according to the tsar's order.

Coat of arms, approved by the Empress

During the administrative reforms of Catherine's time, Bryansk was included in the Orel vicegerency and received an official coat of arms, which was supremely approved among the heraldic emblems of other county-level cities in the province in 1781. The coat of arms of Bryansk, like most of the already existing urban symbols, was described in the description as "old" and differed from the image on the banner of the Bryansk regiment by the form of a shield and a clearer and more clear design.

The symbolism of the colors used in the coat of arms has long been indicated by the canons of classical heraldry. Gold mortars mean wealth, justice and magnanimity. The red color of the field (called the herald-master of the scarlet) is the color of courage, courage and fearlessness. The lower part of the shield is colored green, symbolizing hope, joy and abundance. Blackened kernels - in their color symbolize prudence, humility and sorrow.

The coat of arms deserves respect

The historical coat of arms of the city of Bryansk was used until 1917 and was not formally withdrawn during the entire Soviet period. It did not contain any monarchical or religious symbols, as in the coats of arms of other ancient Russian cities, so the golden mortar appeared on numerous souvenirs brought by tourists from Bryansk. At the same time, the old coat of arms was lightly supplemented by various Soviet attributes and symbols: Soviet orders and medal ribbons, a sickle and a hammer, etc.

Perhaps this disrespectful attitude to the ancient and well-deserved symbols affected when, after the advent of new times in 1998, an attempt was made to restore the historical coat of arms and the flag of Bryansk, it was accompanied by such illiterate description and graphic embodiment of them that was named head of the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation G.V. Vilinbakhov "distortion of the historical appearance" of the ancient urban attributes.

The essence of the claims of the heraldists

In a letter accompanying the refusal to register the "new old" coat of arms, the presidential heraldry council indicates that unacceptable deviations from the historical coat of arms have been admitted:

• In the lower part of the heraldic shield, new elements appeared, called "young shoots". From the point of view of classical heraldry, they can be interpreted as stuck in the ground arrows - a sign of flight from the enemy, and a formidable weapon is thrown on the battlefield.
• The nuclei, built up by a pyramid, are for some reason not painted black, as in the version of 1761, but made in gold.
• The golden rim along the edge of the shield, according to the same classical rules of herbology, means humiliation of the bearer, loss of their honor and dignity. Bryansk is a city of military glory, therefore it does not deserve such analogies.

After the refusal to register the city coat of arms in Bryansk, a working group was set up to draft a new symbol, taking into account the comments made by professional heraldists. Attempts continued to supplement the historical coat of arms with new elements, indicating the changes that have taken place in the state and in the status of the city. The process of hermaking in Bryansk continues.