The national coat of arms of Serbia is a symbol of the country’s sovereignty and national identity. It features a white, two-headed eagle with a red shield on its chest, holding a golden scepter and a silver orb in its talons. The eagle is surrounded by a blue background with a red and white border.
The two-headed eagle has been a symbol of Serbia since the Middle Ages, representing the unity of the Serbian people and their two historical regions, Vojvodina and Kosovo. The eagle’s heads face in opposite directions, symbolizing the country’s past and future, as well as its Eastern Orthodox Christian heritage and Western European aspirations.
The red shield on the eagle’s chest features a white cross with four firesteels, which is the emblem of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The cross represents the country’s Christian faith, while the firesteels symbolize the four Gospels and the four evangelists who wrote them.
The golden scepter and silver orb held by the eagle represent the country’s sovereignty and power, as well as its historical ties to the Byzantine Empire. The scepter is a symbol of royal authority, while the orb represents the world and the Christian faith’s dominion over it.
The blue background of the coat of arms represents the sky and the country’s aspirations for freedom and independence. The red and white border symbolizes the blood and purity of the Serbian people, as well as their historical struggle for independence and self-determination.
The current version of the coat of arms was adopted in 2010, following a national competition to design a new emblem. The winning design was created by a team of Serbian artists and graphic designers, who sought to create a modern and dynamic symbol that reflected the country’s rich history and cultural heritage.
The coat of arms has a long and complex history, reflecting the country’s turbulent past and its struggles for independence and self-determination. The two-headed eagle has been a symbol of Serbia since the Middle Ages, when it was used by the Nemanjić dynasty, which ruled the country from the 12th to the 14th century.
During the Ottoman period, the eagle became a symbol of resistance and rebellion against the Turkish occupation. It was used by the Serbian revolutionaries who fought for independence in the early 19th century, as well as by the Serbian state that emerged from the Ottoman Empire in 1878.
The coat of arms was modified several times during the 20th century, reflecting the country’s changing political and ideological landscape. During the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the eagle was surrounded by a red and white shield with a crown on top, symbolizing the country’s monarchy.
After World War II, the coat of arms was changed to reflect the country’s communist ideology. The eagle was replaced by a five-pointed star, and the shield featured a hammer and sickle, as well as a rising sun and a cogwheel, representing the country’s industrial and agricultural sectors.
Following the collapse of communism in the late 20th century, the coat of arms was once again modified to reflect the country’s new democratic and nationalist aspirations. The eagle was restored as the national symbol, and the shield was modified to feature the emblem of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Today, the national coat of arms of Serbia is a powerful symbol of the country’s sovereignty, identity, and aspirations. It reflects the country’s rich history and cultural heritage, as well as its ongoing struggles for freedom, democracy, and self-determination.