Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Heraldry of Russia
Marcus Karlsson
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Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 Dec 2012, 18:17

The Territorial Division of the Russian Federation is a bit complex, there are the two cities of Moscow and St Petersburg with special status, a range of semi-independent Republics and then the Oblasts and Krajs which are the Provinces/Districts into which Russia proper are divided. I will here have a look at the Heraldry of the Oblasts, in which one can trace serveral distinct influences. Firstly we have those Oblasts which have revived the Arms of the Imperial Governorate to which the present Oblast roughly correspondes territorialy, secondly some Soviet symbolism has been kept and thirdly totaly new Arms.

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Arms of the Amur Oblast approved 1878 and again 26 April 1999.

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Arms of the Archangelsk Oblast, approved for the Archangelsk Governorate 5 June 1878 and for the Oblast 15 July 2003. The canting Arms shows the Archnagel Michael fighting the Devil.

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Arms of the Astrakhan Oblast, approved 17 December 2001. It is basicaly the same as the old Astrakhan Governorate and the the Astrakhan City Arms.

Marcus Karlsson
Posts: 975
Joined: 13 Jul 2012, 08:52
Location: Sweden

Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 18 Dec 2012, 17:20

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Arms of the Belgorod Oblast, approved 15 February 1996.

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Arms of the Briansk lOblast, approved 20 November 1998. The Inescutcheon shows the Arms of the City of Briansk.

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Arms of the Ivanovo Oblast, approved 31 December 1997. The Wavers Shuttle denotes the Textile Industry of the Area. The Thorch symbolises Knowledge and the will to Progress. The Waves stands for the River Volga which flows through the Oblast. Gules and Azure comes form the Arms of the Governorate of Vladimir and Kostroma from which Ivanovo was created in 1918. The Eagle is from the Kostroma Arms and the Lion from those of Vladimir.

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Arms of the Irkutsk Oblast, approved 16 July 1997.

Marcus Karlsson
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Joined: 13 Jul 2012, 08:52
Location: Sweden

Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 18 Dec 2012, 17:32

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Arms of the Jaroslav Oblast, approved 27 February 2001.

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Arms of the Kaliningrad Oblast (the Russian part of the former German Ostpreussen), approved 8 June 2006. The golden roundels probably symbolises the Amber findings in the Area. The Castle are a Symbol of the City of Kaliningrad (before 1945 Königsberg in Preussen) and the Wavy bses symbolises the Baltic Sea along which the Oblast lies. I have no explanation for the monogram of Katarina l (Ekaterina i Russian hence the E).

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Arms of the Kaluga Oblast, approved for the Kaluga Governorate 5 July 1878 and for the Oblast on 6 June 1996. Apart form the Imperial Crown and the Oakleaves the Arms are identical to those of the City of Kaluga. The City Arms where approved 10 March 1777 and again 30 May 2000. The Wavy Fess symboloses the River Oka and the Crown the Grand Dukes of Muscovy.

Marcus Karlsson
Posts: 975
Joined: 13 Jul 2012, 08:52
Location: Sweden

Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 23 Jan 2013, 18:16

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Arms of the Kamchatkaja Oblast, Approved 5 May 2004. It is based on the Arms approved on 22 June 1851 for the Kamchatkaja Region, which was balsoned Argent three Vulcanoes Sable. In both cases the real Vulacnoues activ on the Eastern Sida of the Kamchatkaja Peninsula are symbolised.

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Arms of Kemerovo Oblast, approved 7 June 2002.

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Arms of Kirov Oblast. Approved 29 August 1995, but are almost identical to the one approved for the City of Vyakta (the old name of Kirov) on 28 May 1781 and for the Vyakta Guvernorate 8 December 1856.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 23 Jan 2013, 21:00

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Arms of the Kostroma Oblast, approved 28 April 2006. The Shield was approved for the City of Kostroma on 24 October 1767, and alludes to the voyage of Empress Catherine II down the River Volga in 1767. Her son and successor Paul I, hated his mother so much that he wante all traces of Her removed. This led to the Arms of Kostroma beeing changed in 1796. The old one beeing restored in 1878.

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Arms of Kurgan Oblast, approved 1 December 1997. The Hills are canting as Kurgan means Hill.

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Arms of the Kursk Oblast approved 17 December 1996. Is identical to those approved on 5 July 1878 for the Kursk Guvernorate.
Last edited by Marcus Karlsson on 25 Jul 2017, 19:00, edited 1 time in total.

Marcus Karlsson
Posts: 975
Joined: 13 Jul 2012, 08:52
Location: Sweden

Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 14 Feb 2013, 18:04

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Arms of Leningrad Oblast (Yes the City may have changed its name but the Oblast seems to still be using the Leningrad name). Approved 9 December 1997.

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Lipetsk Oblast, approved 10 July 2003.

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Magadan Oblast, approved 28 December 2001.

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Moskow Oblast, approved 3 December 1997. The Arms have however been in use much longer by the City of Moskow and was also used with the usual external ornaments by the Moskow Guvernorate.

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Murmansk Oblast, approve 6 June 2004. The Northern Light denotes the Northern location. The Anchor symbolises Seafaring, the Pick Axe the Mining Industry and the Sword the Russian Northern Fleet based mainly in the Murmansk Oblast.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 10 Apr 2013, 22:04

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Arms of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, approved 10 September 1996. Is identical to the one approved on 8 December 1856 for the Nizhny Novgorod guvernorate.

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Arms of the Novgorod Oblast, approved 9 October 1995. The Novgorod Guvernorate had identical Arms approved 8 December 1856. The Throne and the Crosses denote the Principality as well as the Archdiocese of Novgorod, which one rivalled Muscowy in importance.

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Arms of the Novosibirsk Oblast, approved 29 May 2003.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 05 May 2013, 15:39

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Arms of the Omsks Oblast, approved 17 June 2003.

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Arms of the Orenburg Oblast, approved 23 December 1996. Are idetical to those approved for the Orenburg Guvernorate on 8 December 1856.

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Arms of the Orel Oblast, approved 31 July 2002.

Marcus Karlsson
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Location: Sweden

Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 05 May 2013, 15:46

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Arms of the Penza Oblast, approved 14 January 1999 and again 19 September 2003. Apart from the Colour of the ribbon the Arms are identical to those approved for the Penza Guvernorate 5 July 1878. It symbolizes the Agriculture of the Area.

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Arms of the Perm Oblast, approved 28 December 1995.

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Arms of the Pskov Oblast, approved 27 February 1995. It is nearly identical to the Arms approved for the Perm Guvernorate 8 December 1856, the wreath was Or in the Guvernorate Arms.

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Proposal for Arms of the Pskov Oblast, not approved.

Marcus Karlsson
Posts: 975
Joined: 13 Jul 2012, 08:52
Location: Sweden

Re: Heraldry of the Russian Oblasts

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 18 Oct 2013, 17:06

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Arms of the Rostov Oblast, approved 28 October 1996. It is based on the one approved for the Don Cossack Region 5 July 1878.

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Arms of the Don Cossack Region.

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Arms of Ryazan Oblast, approved 6 August 1997. The Shield is however the same as the one approved for the City of Ryazan on 29 March 1779.

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Arms of the Samara Oblast, approved 13 October 1998. It is identical with the one approved for the Samara Governorate on 5 July 1878.


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