The uses of heraldry in Belarus is used by government bodies, subdivisions of the national government, organizations, corporations and by families.
History
The history of
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by ...
ian
heraldry
Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known bran ...
is integral to that of the
szlachta
The ''szlachta'' (Polish: endonym, Lithuanian: šlėkta) were the noble estate of the realm in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth who, as a class, had the dominating position in ...
, the Polish-Belarusian
nobility
Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The character ...
, and therefore to the history of
Polish heraldry.
Until it was absorbed into the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
, Belarus (as the
Belarusian Democratic Republic
The Belarusian People's Republic (BNR; be, Беларуская Народная Рэспубліка, Bielaruskaja Narodnaja Respublika, ), or Belarusian Democratic Republic, was a state proclaimed by the Council of the Belarusian Democratic R ...
and earlier as the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was Partitions of Poland, partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire, Habsburg Empire of ...
) was represented by a coat of arms: a charging knight on a red field, called the
Pahonia ('the Chase').
Throughout the
communist period, coats of arms fell out of favor and were replaced by emblems. The cities still used shields, but these were changed to add socialist realism or to announce the state awards each city earned.
Once the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, the Pahonia was restored as the state coat of arms and the cities reverted to old coat of arms or created new designs. Each of the seven
voblasts of Belarus has its own coat of arms. Historical achievements, state awards or state symbols are placed on the coat of arms. For example, the enterprise "October" features the state flag of Belarus on their coat of arm
State symbols
File:Coat of arms of Belarus (2020).svg, Emblem of Belarus
The national emblem of Belarus features a ribbon in the colors of the national flag, a silhouette of Belarus, wheat ears and a red star. It is sometimes referred to as the coat of arms of Belarus, although in heraldic terms this is inaccurate ...
since 1995 (with minor modifications in 2012 and 2020)
File:Coat of Arms of Belarus (1991).svg, Coat of arms of Belarus ( Pahonia) used between 1991 and 1995
File:Emblem of the Byelorussian SSR (1981-1991).svg, Emblem of the Byelorussian SSR
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR, or Byelorussian SSR; be, Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка, Bielaruskaja Savieckaja Sacyjalistyčnaja Respublika; russian: Белор� ...
(with modifications in 1937, 1938, 1949, 1958 and 1981)
File:Coat of arms of Belarusian People's Republic.svg, Coat of arms of Belarus as used on the passports of the Belarusian Democratic Republic
The Belarusian People's Republic (BNR; be, Беларуская Народная Рэспубліка, Bielaruskaja Narodnaja Respublika, ), or Belarusian Democratic Republic, was a state proclaimed by the Council of the Belarusian Democratic R ...
from 1918
File:Coat of Arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.svg, Coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Crown of the Kingdom of ...
File:Coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.svg, Coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was Partitions of Poland, partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire, Habsburg Empire of ...
Civic heraldry
There have been several waves of Belarusian cities receiving coats of arms. Firstly, many cities received coats of arms under the
Magdeburg Law during the times of the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was Partitions of Poland, partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire, Habsburg Empire of ...
and the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Crown of the Kingdom of ...
.
After the
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland were three partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that took place toward the end of the 18th century and ended the existence of the state, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland and Lithuania for 12 ...
, territories in modern-day Belarus were incorporated into the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War ...
. In the late 18th century and during the 19th century, the authorities of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War ...
assigned new coats of arms to most Belarusian cities, often aiming to emphasize the cities' conquest by the Russians.
In the
Belarusian SSR
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR, or Byelorussian SSR; be, Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка, Bielaruskaja Savieckaja Sacyjalistyčnaja Respublika; russian: Белор� ...
era, cities didn't have any official coats of arms. In the late years of the USSR, Russian-Empire-era coats of arms were sporadically used as informal symbols.
After the restoration of the independence of
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by ...
in 1991, the cities of Belarus have restored the official usage of coats of arms. Most cities have restored the initial medieval coats of arms, fewer have restored the coats of arms granted during the Russian Empire.
Regional heraldry
Medieval history
During the times of the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was Partitions of Poland, partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire, Habsburg Empire of ...
and the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Crown of the Kingdom of ...
, the
Pahonia has been the dominating symbol on the coats of arms on the provinces on the territory of today's Belarus.
File:POL województwo nowogródzkie IRP COA.svg, Navahrudak Voivodeship
File:POL Mińskie COA.svg, Vilnia Voivodeship
File:POL województwo poleskie II RP COA.svg, Brest Litovsk Voivodeship
Brest Litovsk Voivodeship (Belarusian: ''Берасьцейскае ваяводзтва'', Polish: ''Województwo brzeskolitewskie'') was a unit of administrative territorial division and a seat of local government (voivode) within the Grand ...
File:POL województwo białostockie II RP COA.svg, Podlaskie Voivodeship (1513–1795)
pl, Województwo Podlaskie
, subdivision = Voivodeship
, nation = Lithuania (1513–1569) and then Poland (1569–1795)
, year_start = 1513
, event_end = Third partition
, year_end ...
File:POL Mińskie COA.svg, Minsk Voivodeship
File:Coat of Arms of Połacak Voivodeship.svg, Polock Voivodeship
File:Coat of Arms of Viciebsk Voivodeship.svg, Witebsk Voivodeship
File:Banner of Amścisłaŭ Voivodeship.svg, Banner of the Mstsislaw Voivodeship
Under the Russian Empire
After annexation of Belarus to the Russian Empire, new administrative divisions (
gubernyas, or governorates) were introduced.
Vitebsk
Vitebsk or Viciebsk (russian: Витебск, ; be, Ві́цебск, ; , ''Vitebsk'', lt, Vitebskas, pl, Witebsk), is a city in Belarus. The capital of the Vitebsk Region, it has 366,299 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-largest c ...
and
Vilno governorates inherited coats of arms of their former voivodeships.
File:Coat of arms of Vilna Governorate 1878.svg, Vilna Governorate
The Vilna Governorate (1795–1915; also known as Lithuania-Vilnius Governorate from 1801 until 1840; russian: Виленская губерния, ''Vilenskaya guberniya'', lt, Vilniaus gubernija, pl, gubernia wileńska) or Government of V ...
File:Coat of Arms of Minsk Governorate.png, Minsk Governorate
The Minsk Governorate (russian: Минская губерния, Belarusian: ) or Government of Minsk was a governorate ('' guberniya'') of the Russian Empire. The seat was in Minsk. It was created in 1793 from the land acquired in the partiti ...
File:Coat of Arms of Mogilev Governorate.png, Mogilev Governorate
The Mogilev Governorate () or Government of Mogilev was a governorate () of the Russian Empire in the territory of the present day Belarus. Its capital was in Mogilev, referred to as Mogilev-on-the-Dnieper, or Mogilev Gubernskiy.
The area of t ...
File:Coat of arms of Grodno Governorate 1878.svg, Grodno Governorate
The Grodno Governorate, (russian: Гро́дненская губе́рнiя, translit=Grodnenskaya guberniya, pl, Gubernia grodzieńska, be, Гродзенская губерня, translit=Hrodzenskaya gubernya, lt, Gardino gubernija, u ...
File:Coat of arms of Vitebsk Governorate 1856.svg, Vitebsk Governorate
Vitebsk Governorate (russian: Витебская губерния, ) was an administrative unit ( guberniya) of the Russian Empire, with the seat of governorship in Vitebsk. It was established in 1802 by splitting the Byelorussia Governorate an ...
Independent Belarus
After the restoration of the independence of Belarus, the regions received new coats of arms, mostly basing on the coats of the Russian era governorates.
File:Coat_of_arms_of_Minsk.svg, City of Minsk
Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative stat ...
File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Brest_Region.svg, Brest Region
Brest Region or Brest Oblast or Brest Voblasts ( be, Брэ́сцкая во́бласць ''(Bresckaja vobłasć)''; russian: Бре́стская о́бласть (''Brestskaya Oblast)'') is one of the regions of Belarus. Its administrative cen ...
File:Coat_of_arms_of_Homyel_Voblast.svg, Homiel Region
File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Hrodna_Voblasts.svg, Hrodna Region
File:Escut_Oblast_Mohilev.png, Mahiloŭ Region
File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Minsk_province.svg, Minsk Region
Minsk Region or Minsk Oblast or Minsk Voblasts ( be, Мі́нская во́бласць, ''Minskaja voblasć'' ; russian: Минская о́бласть, ''Minskaya oblast'') is one of the regions of Belarus. Its administrative center is Minsk ...
File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Vitsebsk_Voblasts.svg, Viciebsk Region
Personal heraldry
''See
Armorial of Polish nobility''
The nobility of the historical regions of modern Belarus, which comprise parts of
Lithuania propria and
White Ruthenia
White Ruthenia ( cu, Бѣла Роусь, Bela Rous'; be, Белая Русь, Biełaja Ruś; pl, Ruś Biała; russian: Белая Русь, Belaya Rus'; ukr, Біла Русь, Bila Rus') alternatively known as Russia Alba, White Rus' or W ...
, were a historical part of the
Lithuanian nobility
The Lithuanian nobility or szlachta ( Lithuanian: ''bajorija, šlėkta'') was historically a legally privileged hereditary elite class in the Kingdom of Lithuania and Grand Duchy of Lithuania (including during period of foreign rule 1795–191 ...
and
Ruthenian nobility
Ruthenian nobility ( uk, Руська шляхта, be, Руская шляхта, pl, szlachta ruska) refers to the nobility of Kyivan Rus and Galicia–Volhynia, which found itself in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwe ...
in the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was Partitions of Poland, partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire, Habsburg Empire of ...
. Very early the nobility of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania adopted the heraldic tradition of the Polish
szlachta
The ''szlachta'' (Polish: endonym, Lithuanian: šlėkta) were the noble estate of the realm in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth who, as a class, had the dominating position in ...
. The heraldry of the Belarusian nobility constitutes a part of the
Polish heraldry.
Ecclesiastic heraldry
The
Belarusian Roman Catholic senior clergy has personal coats of arms as according to the customs of catholic
ecclesiastical heraldry
Ecclesiastical heraldry refers to the use of heraldry within Christianity for dioceses, organisations and Christian clergy. Initially used to mark documents, ecclesiastical heraldry evolved as a system for identifying people and dioceses. ...
.
File:Coat of arms of Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz.svg, Tadevuš Kandrusievič, Archbishop of Minsk and Mahiloŭ, consecrated in 1989
File:Coat of arms of Aliaksandr Yasheuski.svg, Alaksandar Jašeŭski, auxiliary bishop of Minsk and Mahiloŭ
File:Coat of arms of Yury Kasabutski.svg, Jury Kasabucki, auxiliary bishop of Minsk and Mahiloŭ
File:Gerb biscop velikoselets.jpg, Bishop Kazimier Vielikasielec of the Diocese of Pinsk
The Diocese of Pinsk ( la, Pinsken(sis) Latinorum, be, Пінская) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese in Belarus. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev. ...
File:Coat of arms of Aleksander Kaszkiewicz.svg, Bishop Alaksandar Kaškievič of Hrodna
Grodno (russian: Гродно, pl, Grodno; lt, Gardinas) or Hrodna ( be, Гродна ), is a city in western Belarus. The city is located on the Neman River, 300 km (186 mi) from Minsk, about 15 km (9 mi) from the Polish b ...
File:Coat of arms of Aleh Butkevich.svg, Aleh Butkievič, bishop of Viciebsk
See also
*
Lithuanian nobility
The Lithuanian nobility or szlachta ( Lithuanian: ''bajorija, šlėkta'') was historically a legally privileged hereditary elite class in the Kingdom of Lithuania and Grand Duchy of Lithuania (including during period of foreign rule 1795–191 ...
*
National symbols of Lithuania
The national symbols of Lithuania are used in Lithuania and abroad to represent the country and its people, history, culture, and nature. These symbols are seen in official capacities, such as flags, coats of arms, postage stamps, and currency, ...
*
Polish heraldry
*
List of coats of arms of Polish nobility
*
History of Belarus
This article describes the history of Belarus. The Belarusian ethnos is traced at least as far in time as other East Slavs.
Belarus is a successor of some Ruthenian principalities (Polotsk, Turov, Novogrudok, etc.), the Grand Duchy of Lithuan ...
*
List of Belarusian Coats of Arms
*
Ruthenia
Ruthenia or , uk, Рутенія, translit=Rutenia or uk, Русь, translit=Rus, label=none, pl, Ruś, be, Рутэнія, Русь, russian: Рутения, Русь is an exonym, originally used in Medieval Latin as one of several terms ...
*
Ruthenian nobility
Ruthenian nobility ( uk, Руська шляхта, be, Руская шляхта, pl, szlachta ruska) refers to the nobility of Kyivan Rus and Galicia–Volhynia, which found itself in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwe ...
*
Belarusian name
A modern Belarusian name of a person consists of three parts: given name, patronymic, and family name (surname), according to the Eastern Slavic naming customs, similar to Russian names and Ukrainian names.
Belarusian given names
As with most cul ...
Further reading
*
Tadeusz Gajl
Tadeusz Gajl (born 1940 in Vilnius, Lithuania) is a Lithuanian-born Polish artist and graphic designer, notable for his contemporary illustrations on the coats of arms borne by the historical nobility (''szlachta'') of Poland.
After graduating fr ...
, "Herby szlacheckie Rzeczypospolitej Obojga Narodow",
Gdańsk
Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...
, 2003
External links
Belarusian Nobility Coats of Arms
Arms of the Belarusian cities
Arms of the cities in the Minsk Oblast
Belarusian coats of arms
Belarus-related lists
Heraldry by country
{{belarus-hist-stub