Montenegro is a small tourist country on theshore of the Adriatic Sea. Her coat of arms depicts a two-headed eagle, repeating an eagle on the coat of arms of Russia. What unites these countries? What is the history of the main official symbols of Montenegro?
In the 11th century Montenegro was called otherwise.Then there was a Serbian state recognized by the Pope, called Dukla. Later, the Byzantine chronicles will point him out as Zeta - in honor of the river of the same name. The modern name for the first time "sounded" in the chronicles of Dubrovnik in 1376 and gradually replaced the former. The Venetian version of the name sounded like Montenegro.
Не раз, территория Черногории контролировалась other countries. She has been part of the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Serbia, the Yugoslav Republic. Periodically, the country won its independence, being called a princedom, then a kingdom.
Now it is an independent country, with its own language and culture, which is enjoying increasing popularity among tourists.
The adoption of the coat of arms of Montenegro occurred in 2004,but then it was not approved definitively, since the country still depended on Serbia. In 2006, the State received full independence and the following year approved the coat of arms of Montenegro.
Lion and Eagle are the most commonimages in heraldry. Both of them are present on the Montenegrin coat of arms. The golden double-headed eagle is depicted in flight. Above the heads of the eagle is a golden crown. In one hand he holds a scepter, in the other hand is the power. On the eagle's chest is a shield divided into two parts: green and blue. On the blue background of the shield, the figure of the leopard lion, stepping on the green field, raises his right paw.
Initially, the coat of arms was only the figure of an eagle. The scepter and the power appeared in his paws, already in the 17th century, and on the chest a figure of a lion was added.
Во времена существования Королевства Черногория The coat of arms still had a different appearance. The eagle was silver, and the background on which the lion was depicted was red. The blue background appeared after the proclamation of Danilo I Petrovich as a secular prince.
Under Yugoslavia, the coat of arms of Montenegro was completelythe new kind. Surrounded by a golden wreath, the mountain Lovcen grew from the sea. On the mountain was depicted the mausoleum of Peter the Naked. The three-colored ribbon twisted the wreath beneath. A red star closed the wreath and completed the composition. Eagle on the shield of arms returned in 1993.
The tradition of the image of an eagle in heraldry extendssince ancient times. Then the eagle was considered the image of a god or monarch. The double-headed eagle holding hares in its paws was portrayed in the Hittite kingdom. It is assumed that the eagle with two heads was the image of the Sumerian-Babylonian god of lightning, storm and war - Anzu.
The coat of arms of Montenegro and Russia, as well as of Serbia andAlbania gives a reference not to Babylon, but rather to Byzantium and reports on economic and cultural ties. In the Byzantine Empire, the two-headed eagle was an element on the coats of arms of the Paleologic dynasty, in Montenegro it was depicted in the heraldry of the first royal dynasty of Petroviches.
Лев тоже является одним из старейших символов.There are a lot of lion species in heraldry. The coat of arms of Montenegro contains the figure of a walking or leopard lion, and it is taken from the Venetian emblem, whose influence was earlier noticeable for Montenegro. This figure is a symbol of generosity, courage and nobility. Eagle, as a rule, means wisdom and foresight. In heraldry, a leopard lion is often used as an image of a bishop, and sometimes of a Christ. The scepter and the power in the paws of the eagle are symbols of supreme authority and statehood. Thus, the lion and the eagle in one composition show the connection between the power of the church and the state.
In 2004 the Montenegrin flag was approved. In the center of the red panel with zloty edges is a two-headed eagle, which completely repeats the image of the official state emblem.
In the period from 1910 to 1918 the flag, by analogy withSerbian and Russian, consisted of three horizontal bands of red, blue and white. The emblem was also located in the center; during the SFRY, there was a red star in the center. The Montenegrin naval flag repeated the St. Andrew’s flag in Russia.
With the arrival of M. Djukanovic and the trend towards full independence of Montenegro, it was required to approve a flag that would not be similar to the flag of Serbia.
Существует и неофициальный флаг страны.It is used by those who cherish the idea of the reunification of Montenegro and Serbia, as well as opponents of secession of Kosovo from Serbia. On this flag are three horizontal stripes above the listed colors and a golden heraldic eagle in the middle.
The flag and the emblem of Montenegro were changed several times,under the force of circumstances. Having gone a long way of formation, they kept the rule of continuity, telling each element about the historical past of the country.
