Russian Civic Heraldry the Köhne system
Posted: 02 Mar 2014, 15:00
From about the 1850ies the Chief of the Russian Heralds Office Baron Boris Köhne (or Kene to the Russians), developed a heraldic system for the Civic Heraldry of the Russian Empire. One great change was to remove the Chief that previously had showed the Guvernorate to which the Municipality belonged. The Governorate Arms was the restricted to a Canton. Capitals of Guvernorates didn't have this Canton and thier Arms ws for the External onrnaments identical to that of the Governorate. On the shield was placed a Mural Crown in differnet coloura and with differnet numbers of tines. Cities had golden Crowns with three visible tines, minor settlements a red Mural Crown with only two tines. Further the Shields of the two Capitals St. Petersburg and Moscow was ensigned with a Imperial Crown. Behind thier shields was also placed two Scepters in saltire, these was also used by other Imperial Residential Places like Tsarkoye Selo. Other Cities and Municipalities had differnet symbols behind their shields, Industrial Centers had sledgehammers in saltire, Mining Centers hand Mining Axes, Ports had Anchors in saltire, Agricultural Centers had a two Shears of Wheat, Centers of Wine growing Areas had Wine branches.
If the Municipality was a Fortress the shield was placed on two Colours Or charged with the Imperial Eagle Sable. The Imperial Eagle was also seen standing on the Mural Crown. Arms of Governorates was ensigned by an Imperial Crown and surrounded by oakbranches bound by a Ribbon Azure. The Ribbons tieing the external ornamentation of the regular Civic Arms was Gules and in some special instances Azure.
Arms of the Khrakov Governorate, approved 5 July 1878. This Arms only lasted until 1887 when the old one was reinstated : Vert a Rod of Mercury Or and a Horn of Plenty Or in saltire. The reason for the change in 1878 was that Köhne didn't like the rod of Mercury as Mercury not only hade been the God of Commerce but also of Thieves.
If the Municipality was a Fortress the shield was placed on two Colours Or charged with the Imperial Eagle Sable. The Imperial Eagle was also seen standing on the Mural Crown. Arms of Governorates was ensigned by an Imperial Crown and surrounded by oakbranches bound by a Ribbon Azure. The Ribbons tieing the external ornamentation of the regular Civic Arms was Gules and in some special instances Azure.
Arms of the Khrakov Governorate, approved 5 July 1878. This Arms only lasted until 1887 when the old one was reinstated : Vert a Rod of Mercury Or and a Horn of Plenty Or in saltire. The reason for the change in 1878 was that Köhne didn't like the rod of Mercury as Mercury not only hade been the God of Commerce but also of Thieves.