Coat of arms of Bulgaria 475840 223134126 2008-07-02T18:48:06Z TXiKiBoT 3171782 robot Adding: [[be-x-old:Герб Баўгарыі]] {{Infobox coat of arms | name = Coat of arms of Bulgaria | image = Coat_of_arms_of_Bulgaria.svg | image_width = 200 | middle = | middle_width = | middle_caption = | lesser = | lesser_width = | lesser_caption = | armiger = | year_adopted = | crest = | torse = | shield = | supporters = | compartment = | motto = | orders = | other_elements = | earlier_versions = | use = }} The '''coat of arms of [[Bulgaria]]''' ({{lang-bg|Герб на България}}, ''Gerb na Balgariya'') consists of a crowned golden [[Lion (heraldry)|lion rampant]] over a dark red [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|shield]]; above the shield is the Bulgarian historical [[Crown (headgear)|crown]]. The shield is [[supporters|supported]] by two crowned golden lions rampant; below the shield there is [[compartment (heraldry)|compartment]] in the shape of [[oak]] twigs and white bands with the national [[motto]] "Unity renders power" inscribed on them. ==Description== The current coat of arms of Bulgaria was adopted in 1997. In fact, the present type is a slightly redesigned version of the coat of arms of Bulgaria from the period 1927–1946. That coat of arms was based on a similar middle form, firstly used by [[Ferdinand I of Bulgaria|Tsar Ferdinand I]] (1887-1918) as his personal ruler's coat of arms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rootsweb.com/~bgrbshv/rulers.htm |title= Royal heraldry of the Third Bulgarian State |publisher=Bulgarian Heraldry and Vexillology Society |accessdate=2006-12-28}}</ref> The previous emblem, which combined the traditional gold lion rampant with the pattern of the [[Coat of arms of the Soviet Union]], was abandoned since [[History of Communist Bulgaria|Communist rule]] ended in the country in 1989. The new [[Constitution of Bulgaria]], adopted in 1991, describes the Bulgarian coat of arms as follows: {{cquote|Art. 164. The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria shall depict a gold lion rampant on a dark gules shield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.bg/?page=const&lng=en |title=Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria |publisher=National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria |accessdate=2006-12-28}}</ref>}} For several years, agreeing on the concrete design of the coat of arms was a source of great controversy in the Bulgarian government, as different parties argued over what to put in the arms. The final solution was legitimized in the Law for the coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria of [[4 August]] [[1998]]: {{cquote|Coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria Art. 1. The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be a state symbol expressing the independence and the sovereignty of the Bulgarian people and state. Art. 2. (1) The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be a rampant golden crowned lion on a dark red field with the shape of a shield. Above the shield there shall be a big crown which originally were the crowns of Bulgarian kings of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Second Bulgarian state]] with five crosses and another cross over the crown. The shield shall be supported by two golden crowned rampant lions, turned towards the shield from the right and left heraldic sides. They shall stand above two crossed oak branches with fruits. Below the shield, over a white band put over the oak branches with a three-coloured edge, shall be written with golden letters "Unity renders power". (2) The graphic and colour image of the coat of arms according to the appendices shall be an inseparable part of this law. Art. 3. (1) The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be depicted on the state seal in a way determined by a law for the state seal. (2) The depiction of the coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria in other places as well as the reproduction of elements of the emblem on badges, commemoration medals etc. shall be admitted only by an act of the [[Council of Ministers of Bulgaria|Council of Ministers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.bg/?page=history&lng=en&hid=7 |title=Law for the coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria |publisher=National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria |accessdate=2006-12-28 }}</ref>}} ==History== [[Image:Tarnovska konst1.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Front cover of the first Bulgarian [[Tarnovo Constitution]] from [[1879]] with early version of the Coat of arms on it.]] [[Image:Bulgaria passport 1944.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Bulgarian passport|Passport]] of the [[History of Bulgaria (1878–1946)|Tsardom of Bulgaria]] with version of the Coat of arms from the period [[1927]]-[[1946]] on it, circa [[1944]].]] [[Image:Georgi Parvanov George W. Bush Bulgarian Coat of arms.jpg|right|thumb|200px|President of the [[Republic of Bulgaria]] [[Georgi Parvanov]] and President of the [[USA]] [[George W. Bush]] in the Coat of Arms Hall in [[Sofia]], [[June 11]], [[2007]].]] The earliest example for lion's image as a [[heraldry|heraldic symbol]] of Bulgaria known until now is documented in the ''Lord Marshal's Roll'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://perso.numericable.fr/~briantimms/rolls/lordmarshalsLM01.htm |title=The Lord Marshal's Roll, Part I |publisher=Brian Timms' Studies in Heraldry |accessdate=2007-01-01}}</ref> composed around 1294 AD and preserved in a copy from about 1640. In its first part under №15 is represented the coat of arms of ''Le Rey de Bugrie'' or the King of Bulgaria, most probably this of [[Smilets of Bulgaria|Tsar Smilets]] (1292-1298) or may be some of his recent predecessors. It consists of an argent lion rampant with golden crown over sable shield. In the end of 14th century an anonymous Arab traveller, who visited the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire [[Tarnovo]], saw and depicted three red lions passant painted on the round golden shields carried by the personal guards of [[Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria|Tsar Ivan Shishman]] (1371–1395). His manuscript is now kept in the National Library of Morocco.<ref>{{cite book |chapterurl=http://protobulgarians.com/Kniga%20za%20gerbovete/I.2.Vladetelski%20simvoli%20v%20srednovekovna.htm |first=Ivan |last=Voynikov |title=History of the Bulgarian State Symbols |chapter=Chapter II |language=Bulgarian}}</ref> After 1396, when all Bulgarian lands were subjugated by the [[Ottoman Empire]] but the Bulgarian crown wasn't given to the [[Ottoman Dynasty]] formally, thе latter Bulgarian heraldic type as a sign of symbolically independent state was preserved in several European<ref>{{cite book |chapterurl=http://protobulgarians.com/Kniga%20za%20gerbovete/I.3.1.%20Baalgarski%20gerb%20v%20zapadnoevropeyskite%20gerbovnitsi.htm |first=Ivan |last=Voynikov |title=History of the Bulgarian State Symbols |chapter=Chapter III, part 1 |language=Bulgarian}}</ref> and Balkan<ref>{{cite book |chapterurl=http://protobulgarians.com/Kniga%20za%20gerbovete/I.3.%202.%20Baalgarski%20gerb%20v%20Ilirskite%20gerbovnitsi.htm |first=Ivan |last=Voynikov |title=History of the Bulgarian State Symbols |chapter=Chapter III, part 2|language=Bulgarian}}</ref> collections of coats of arms. Gradually, new and in some cases quite different versions appeared, but the lion remained the most widespread heraldic symbol of Bulgaria and its rulers. In the Illyrian collection of Korenich-Neorich from 1595 the three walking lions, usual for some earlier Western Europe's collections, were replaced by one red lion rampant over golden crowned shield. In the beginning of the 18th century the Illyrian heraldist [[Pavao Ritter Vitezović]] in two editions of his heraldic collection from 1701 and 1702 reversed the colours of this type and thus the lion became golden and the shield dark red.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rootsweb.com/~bgrbshv/BG-gerbovnici.htm |title= Coat of arms of Bulgaria 13th-19th centuries |publisher=Bulgarian Heraldry and Vexillology Society |language=Bulgarian |accessdate=2007-01-01}}</ref> This variant was adopted by the famous painter [[Hristofor Zhefarovich]] in his ''Stemmatographia'', printed in 1741. His version became the most influential among Bulgarian intellectuals and revolutionaries in the period of the [[national awakening of Bulgaria]], when the lion was considered and widely used as a major national symbol.<ref>{{cite book |chapterurl=http://protobulgarians.com/Kniga%20za%20gerbovete/I.3.3.%20Baalgarski%20gerb%20prez%20vazrazhdaneto.htm |first=Ivan |last=Voynikov |title=History of the Bulgarian State Symbols |chapter=Chapter III, part 3|language=Bulgarian}}</ref> After the liberational [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)]] the coat of arms of Zhefarovich was laid in the base of the new state coat of arms, described in the [[Tarnovo Constitution]] of 1879 as follows: {{cquote|Art. 21. The Bulgarian state coat of arms is a golden crowned lion on a dark red field. Above the field a prince's crown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infotel.bg/juen/arh/i4240002.htm |title=Tarnovo Constitution of 1879 |publisher=Juridical Encyclopedia |language=Bulgarian |accessdate=2006-12-28}}</ref>}} The type and the details regarding the state coat of arms were not described clearly and were not standardized by a special law. Because of this, for several decades they took different forms: lesser form; lesser form without supporters, compartment and motto, but covered with mantle from 1879 to 1880; greater form with supporters, bearing two national flags, compartment, motto and mantle from 1881 to 1927; middle form with supporters, compartment and motto from 1915 until 1918/20. Besides these there were different variations within these types. This perplexed situation was resolved by a special parliamentary commission, which sat after 1923. In 1927 it legitimated the middle form of the coat of arms, similar to these used as personal coats of arms by Bulgarian monarchs Ferdinand I and his son [[Boris III of Bulgaria|Tsar Boris III]] (1918–1943), but excluding all dynastic elements and preserving only the pure state symbolism.<ref>{{cite book |chapterurl=http://protobulgarians.com/Kniga%20za%20gerbovete/I.4.1.%20Gerbove%20na%20III%20baalgarska%20-%20darzhaven%20gerb.htm |first=Ivan |last=Voynikov |title=History of the Bulgarian State Symbols |chapter=Chapter IV, part 1|language=Bulgarian}}</ref> Following 1944, new times began for the Bulgarian heraldry. In the communist era, the traditional type of coat of arms was replaced by the emblem, which preserved the golden lion rampant placed over a non-historically-justifiable oval azure field, but encircled by the ears of wheat, folded by banners, a gear-wheel, a five-pointed red star and some other elements. This composition was derived principally from the pattern of the emblem of the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite book |chapterurl=http://protobulgarians.com/Kniga%20za%20gerbovete/I.5.%20Gerbove%20na%20narodnata%20republika.htm |first=Ivan |last=Voynikov |title=History of the Bulgarian State Symbols |chapter=Chapter V|language=Bulgarian}}</ref> After the breakdown of the totalitarian dictatorship in 1989 and several years of fierce partisan disputes, the traditional middle coat of arms from the period 1927–1946 was restored with some minor changes.<ref>{{cite book |chapterurl=http://protobulgarians.com/Kniga%20za%20gerbovete/I.6.%20Epopeyata%20okolo%20noviya%20gerb.htm |first=Ivan |last=Voynikov |title=History of the Bulgarian State Symbols |chapter=Chapter VI|language=Bulgarian}}</ref> The crown on top of the shield, and thus upon the shielded lion, according to the Law for the coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria, is supposed to be not that of the last [[History of Independent Bulgaria|Bulgarian monarchy]] (1879-1946), but that of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] (1185–1396). This empire was established by the brothers [[Theodore Peter of Bulgaria|Peter]] and [[Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria|Asen]], after it was [[Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion|freed]] from [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] control in the end of the 12th century, and it was subjugated by the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] in the very end of the 14th century. In fact it significantly differs from the crowns known from medieval portraits such as these from the [[Tetraevangelia of Ivan Alexander|Tetraevangelia]] of [[Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria|Tsar Ivan Alexander]] (1331–1371). There is a very popular belief that the three lions represent the three major portions and historical regions of Bulgaria — [[Moesia]], [[Thrace]] and [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]], which has no connection with the native historical tradition and the principles of heraldry. ==References== {{reflist}} ==Historical coats of arms== <gallery> Image:coat_of_arms_ivan_shishman.jpg|Coat of arms of Bulgaria from the end of 14th century, depicted by an Arab traveller Image:bulgaria_hristofor_zhefarovich.jpg|Coat of arms of Bulgaria from ''Stemmatographia'' by [[Hristofor Zhefarovich]], 1741 Image:hristaki_pavlovich_coat_of_arms.jpg|Coat of arms of Bulgaria from "Tsarstvenik" by Hristaki Pavlovich, 1844 Image:philip_totyu_banner_.jpg|Revolutionary banner of Philip Totyu's band, 1867 Image:Stefan-Karadzha-zname.jpg|Flag of [[Hadzhi Dimitar]] and [[Stefan Karadzha]]'s revolutionary band, 1868 Image:h_dimityr_st_karadzha_dembitsky.jpg|[[Hadzhi Dimitar]] and [[Stefan Karadzha]]'s band in battle, lithography, detail, 1869 Image:statute_brtsk_cover.jpg|Statute of the [[Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee]], cover, 1870 Image:Zname Aprilskoto vastanie.jpg|Flag of the insurgents from [[Gorna Oryahovitsa]] in the [[April Uprising]], 1876 Image:Bulgarian cap badge from April Uprising.jpg|Bulgarian [[cap badge]] from the [[April Uprising]], 1876 Image:Flag of the Bulgarian Volunteer Corps 1877.jpg|Colours of the Bulgarian Volunteer Corps in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Liberation War]], 1877 Image:Bulgaria,Principality,1887.jpg|Coat of arms of Bulgaria, 1881–1927 Image:Coat of arms of Kingdom of Bulgaria (1927-1946).png|Coat of arms of Bulgaria, 1927-1946 Image:Bulgarian Coin 2 Leva 1882 Reverse.jpg|Coat of arms of Bulgaria on a 2 [[Bulgarian lev|leva]] coin, emission 1882, reverse Image:Coat of arms of Bulgaria Rousse museum.jpg|Coat of arms on the facade of a 19th century building in [[Rousse]] Image:Bulgarian Coin 20 Stotinki 1912 Reverse.jpg|Small Coat of arms of Bulgaria on a 20 [[Bulgarian lev|stotinki]] coin, emission 1912, reverse Image:Bulgarian Coin 50 Stotinki 1937 Reverse.jpg|Coat of arms of Bulgaria on a 50 [[Bulgarian lev|stotinki]] coin, emission 1937, reverse Image:Coat of Arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria (1967-1971).png|Coat of arms of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, 1948–1967 Image:Bulgarian Coin 3 Stotinki 1951 Reverse.jpg|Coat of arms of Bulgaria on a 3 [[Bulgarian lev|stotinki]] coin, emission 1951, reverse Image:Bulgarian Coin 50 Leva 1989 Reverse.jpg|Coat of arms of Bulgaria on a 50 [[Bulgarian lev|leva]] coin, emission 1989, reverse </gallery> ==See also== *[[Flag of Bulgaria]] *[[Mila Rodino]] *[[National Guards Unit of Bulgaria]] ==External links== * [http://heraldika-bg.org/ Bulgarian Heraldry and Vexillology Society] {{bg icon}} {{en icon}} * [http://ziezi.net/gerb.html History of the Bulgarian coat of arms] {{bg icon}} {{en icon}} {{Coat of arms of Europe}} [[Category:National symbols of Bulgaria]] [[Category:National coats of arms|Bulgaria]] [[Category:Bulgarian coats of arms| ]] [[be:Герб Балгарыі]] [[be-x-old:Герб Баўгарыі]] [[bs:Grb Bugarske]] [[bg:Герб на България]] [[ca:Escut de Bulgària]] [[de:Wappen Bulgariens]] [[et:Bulgaaria vapp]] [[el:Εθνόσημο της Βουλγαρίας]] [[es:Escudo de Bulgaria]] [[eo:Blazono de Bulgario]] [[fr:Armoiries de la Bulgarie]] [[ko:불가리아의 국장]] [[hr:Grb Bugarske]] [[bpy:বুলগেরিয়ার চিনত্হান]] [[it:Stemma della Bulgaria]] [[he:סמל בולגריה]] [[lt:Bulgarijos herbas]] [[hu:Bulgária címere]] [[mk:Грб на Бугарија]] [[nl:Wapen van Bulgarije]] [[ja:ブルガリアの国章]] [[no:Bulgarias riksvåpen]] [[pl:Herb Bułgarii]] [[pt:Brasão de armas da Bulgária]] [[ru:Герб Болгарии]] [[sk:Znak Bulharska]] [[sr:Грб Бугарске]] [[fi:Bulgarian vaakuna]] [[sv:Bulgariens statsvapen]] [[tr:Bulgaristan arması]] [[uk:Герб Болгарії]] [[zh:保加利亞國徽]]