Veliky Novgorod: the coat of arms. Veliky Novgorod: what does the city's modern coat of arms mean?

The most ancient chronicles say: when the Varangian prince Rurik came to reign on the lands of the ancient Slavs, Veliky Novgorod already stood there. The coat of arms of this city is the source of real mysteries and inconsistencies, over which many generations of historians and historians struggle. The coats of arms emerged from the time of the appearance of Novgorod's earliest heraldic symbols.

Seals of the Novgorod Republic

In the various seals used to consolidate the trade agreements of Novgorod merchants with foreign traders and to approve the contracts and regulations of the Novgorod republic, five main images were used: Jesus Christ, the horseman, the foot soldier, the beast and the bird. Among them there are no symbols that contain the modern coat of arms of Veliky Novgorod - the throne, two bears, fish.

For the first time, similar images appear after the final accession of Novgorod to the Moscow State in the time of Ivan the Terrible in the form of the Novgorod governor, made in 1565 at the behest of the tsar. In this form, she entered the Great State Seal of Ivan IV. It is described as a "place", on it - a staff, on the one hand - a bear, on the other - a lynx, below - a fish. "Place" in it is called a veche "degree" - a tribune with steps, which were addressed to the people during the citywide meetings of the Novgorod Republic.

Different interpretations

The complex and unusual symbolism, which contains the coat of arms of Veliky Novgorod, has several different interpretations. Not all researchers are satisfied with the generally accepted explanations that the appearance of bears is associated with the existence of the cult of this beast among the Gentiles who lived on Novgorod lands, and the fish symbolize the ancient crafts of people living on the banks of the Ilmen Lake, and the richness of its waters with different livestock.

It is known that the symbols depicted on the seal of Ivan IV are a threat to the Moscow tsar by the freedom-loving Novgoroders. The staff, put on the vestibule, means the supremacy of the central authority of the Moscow autocrat over the republican aspirations of the townspeople. Wild animals on the sides embody the power of the Moscow prince and punitive measures awaiting the disobedient. Pisces symbolizes water, where those who dare to fight for independence will be thrown. According to another version, fish as a symbol of Jesus is a testament to the support of the tsarist authorities on the part of the higher forces.

Soon after the appearance of the Great Seal of Ivan the Terrible, events occurred, according to some who confirm the rightness of those who interpret the Novgorod coat of arms in this way. Veliky Novgorod was accused by the Moscow Tsar of treason and subjected to cruel pacification.

"Titular" by Alexei Mikhailovich

In the famous monuments of Russian heraldry of the XVII century there is a final modification of the Novgorod symbolism, which led to the emergence of the final classical version. In the decoration of the seals of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich, the coat of arms of Veliky Novgorod is similar to the seal of the times of Ivan IV, but the lynx in it disappeared, replaced by a second bear.

Collection of heraldic symbols, which was presented to Peter the Great's father - "Titulyarnik" in 1672 - for the first time shows a complete set of components of the Novgorod emblem. The stepped tribune was transformed into a throne, on which lie a scepter, a cross and a candlestick, it is surrounded by two bears, at the bottom there are two fishes. This variant differs from the modern one only by turning the throne (three quarters). The coat of arms of Veliky Novgorod in the "Znamennoy herbivnik" Minich (1730) shows the throne as now - in full face.

Historical coat of arms of the time of Catherine

Administrative reform of Empress Catherine II, during which the formation of provinces and governorships took place, was supported by the reorganization of the heraldic cause. State symbols were brought into line with the requirements of the herbology science and acquired uniformity. The coat of arms of Veliky Novgorod, the description of which was supremely confirmed on August 16, 1781, assumed a form considered to be classical.

However, he mysteriously did not avoid mistakes. According to the heraldic laws, the colors used in the arms are divided into two types, called tinctures: metals and enamel (enamel). The first include gold and silver, the second - red (red), azure, mobile, purple, greens and some additional colors. The most important rule of tincture does not allow the placement of metal on metal, enamel on enamel, and exceptions must be clearly justified. The description of the coat of arms of 1781 does not contain such explanations, although the golden throne is located in a silver field.

Metamorphoses of the era of change

Soviet heraldry excluded from the arms any hints of monarchical and religious symbols. Did not escape the processing and the coat of arms of Veliky Novgorod. Photos of city symbols of those times show that the royal throne with the scepter and cross placed on it was removed from it. Two bears were located on either side of the figure 859, meaning the official year of the founding of the city. The rule of tincture has now been respected, but the coat of arms has lost touch with the centuries-old history of the ancient city.

The re-creation of historical heraldic symbols began throughout the country with the beginning of a new Russian history. Received them and Veliky Novgorod - the coat of arms and the flag were developed on the basis of the classical version of the XVIII century. At the same time, it was again not without difficulties: in 2006, an option was approved, for some reason deprived of images of fish in the lower azure extremity of the shield. Only in 2010, the fish, at the request of the Novgorodians, were returned to the city's coat of arms, and it acquired a canonical, historical look, preserving the old riddles and secrets.