Review of the national symbols of Bulgaria based on materials from Bulgarian foreign broadcasting.
In the audio files in the review you can also listen to several programs from Bulgaria about Bulgarian symbols:
1. archived broadcast from March 2008 from the Russian edition of the Bulgarian foreign broadcasting (“Radio Bulgaria”) about the symbols of Bulgaria. Also in this program the modern Bulgarian anthem “Dear Motherland” is heard.
2. fragment of the Russian broadcast “Radio Bulgaria” dated 09/06/2011, where the anthem of the Bulgarian kingdom from 1886 to 1944 is heard. “Maritsa is making noise.”
Recording of broadcasts website.
Let's talk about the national symbols of Bulgaria - the coat of arms, flag, motto, anthem, as well as the motto and... the ponytail.
The coat of arms of Bulgaria is a lion.
However, the lion was not always a symbol of the Bulgarian state, like the tricolor Bulgarian flag, which will be discussed below.
In ancient times, the symbol of Bulgaria was the horse's tail.
That's where we'll start this review.
The horse's tail is the original symbol of Bulgaria
The Bulgarian foreign broadcaster Radio Bulgaria noted in its Russian program dated 05/09/2006:
"Undoubtedly the oldest known Bulgarian symbol is the horse's tail- predecessor of the flag. It invariably fluttered over well-trained and maneuverable cavalry, which defended state interests. Bulgaria, as a state on the Balkan Peninsula, was created in the 7th century (This refers to the period when the Turkic group led by Khan Asparuh (680-700) united with the descendants of the Thracians, as well as with the Slavic tribes, conquering the latter two on the territory of present-day Bulgaria. Note Portalostanah.ru.)
Over the following centuries, especially after the introduction of Christianity in the 9th century, flags made of fabric appeared, decorated with symbols of faith. Cohabitation with a horse’s tail, however, survived until the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (XII-XIV centuries).”
The lion is a symbol of modern and ancient Bulgaria
Coats of arms of Bulgaria from the moment of declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire to the present day.
Coats of arms of Bulgaria from the moment of declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire to the present day. Everywhere the main character of the coat of arms is a lion.
The current coat of arms of Bulgaria was adopted in 1997.
Over time, the ponytail was forgotten. And the lion has long become a symbol of Bulgaria and its statehood. “Radio Bulgaria” Russian broadcasting from 05/09/2006:
Coat of arms of the royal guard of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (XIV century), which existed before the occupation of Bulgaria by the Ottoman Empire.
The main symbols of this coat of arms are three red lions.
Illustration from the website of the Bulgarian Heraldic Society.
« Nowadays the main image on the Bulgarian state emblem is a lion. He is a symbol of strength, power, might and courage.
The King of Animals was depicted on the eastern gate of the first Bulgarian capital - Pliska (VII-IX centuries).
In his travel notes, one Arab traveler mentions that on the shields of the guards in Tarnovgrad - the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (existed in 1185-1396, from the time when the Bulgarians freed themselves from the occupation of Byzantium, and before the Ottoman conquest. Note ..
The Bulgarian coat of arms, depicting a crowned lion standing on its hind legs, was present in handwritten and printed works of heraldry in Europe, even during the time when Bulgaria was under Ottoman rule (on the coats of arms of various European rulers who laid claim to Turkish-occupied Bulgaria. Note site ).
The lion was depicted on the banners and seals of the Bulgarian revolutionary organizations, and was also embroidered on the flag embroidered for the uprising (1876) by the teacher Raina Popgeorgievna Futevova (known by the nickname Raina Princess. Note site).”
In a later Radio Bulgaria program dated 09/22/2010, the theme of the lion as a symbol of Bulgaria was developed:
“In Bulgarian folk mythology, the lion is a symbol of supreme, divine power, nobility, tranquility, prudence and justice. But there is another image of the “king of animals”. In many Bulgarian folk tales, he is tricked by much weaker and smaller animals. But regardless of this, the lion in Bulgaria was a symbol of power and state power And.
In our audio file no. 1 you can listen to an archived broadcast from March 2008 by the Russian edition of the Bulgarian foreign broadcasting (“Radio Bulgaria”) about the symbols of Bulgaria. Also in this program the modern Bulgarian anthem “Dear Motherland” is heard:
- audio file No. 1
Recording the transfer site.
Images of a lion in Bulgaria are found in various historical monuments. The oldest tiles were found in the city of Stara Zagora. They date back to the 9th-10th centuries.
And in the famous “Chatalar Inscription” of Khan Omurtag (also from the 9th century) it says: “Kan Omurtag... inhabited the camp of Plisku, erected an aul on Tucha... and erected four columns in that aul, and placed two lions on the columns.. ."
The lion is also depicted in a unique rock painting, known as.
The medieval bas-relief is among the Bulgarian monuments on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage. The lion is also present in the symbolism of the Bulgarian kings, for example, one of the last rulers of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom - Ivan-Shishman.
During the Renaissance, the lion was again the most common Bulgarian symbol. Monk Paisiy Hilendarski writes in his “Slavic-Bulgarian History” that the lion was depicted on the royal seal of the Bulgarians, as a symbol of the courage and invincibility of the Bulgarian warriors who fought like lions.
For the great Bulgarian revolutionaries, the fight against Ottoman rule was unthinkable without a banner depicting a lion. Even the most beloved national hero of the Bulgarians, Vasil Kunchev, remained in history as Levski (from the word “lion”).
Images of a lion on almost all the banners of the April Uprising (against the Turks) of 1876 are proof that the lion was perceived as a national symbol. During the preparation of the uprising, banners with an angry lion and the cherished words “Freedom or death” were sewn in four revolutionary districts. Usually this work was carried out by isographers and teachers. And to this day, many of these banners are kept in many museums. Most of them are made of green silk, and the images are painted or embroidered. The lion is depicted in a heraldic pose, and with its feet he tramples the crescent - a symbol of the Ottoman Empire. The same sign can be found on the clothes of the rebels - on the caps and buttons of the uniform,” recalled Radio Bulgaria.
Let us note that on all the coats of arms of Bulgaria of the new and recent period the lion acted and acts as the main symbol. This applies to the coat of arms of the Principality of Bulgaria 1879-1881, and the coat of arms of the Principality of Bulgaria 1881-1927, as well as the Kingdom of Bulgaria that succeeded them 1927-1946. After the communists came to power in Bulgaria, and the formation of the Bulgarian People's Republic in 1946, the lion also remained the main element of the Bulgarian coat of arms and the symbol of the country, but it lost the crown, which was present in all previous mentioned versions of the country's coat of arms. Now the crown on the coat of arms has been restored, although Bulgaria remains a republic.
And then “Radio Bulgaria” about the modern version of the Bulgarian coat of arms, as well as about another symbol of Bulgaria - the state motto, which was present at it in 1927-1948, and restored in the current version of the coat of arms, since 1997 - “Union of the government of silat” (“In unity there is strength”):
From the broadcast dated 05/09/2006:
“The new Bulgarian coat of arms was adopted in 1997 at a ceremonial meeting of the People's Assembly. The authors of the project are artist Kiril Gogov and sculptures Georgi Chapkynov. In the center of the modern coat of arms of Bulgaria, on a dark red field in the shape of a shield, there is a golden lion standing on its hind legs with a crown on its head. Above the shield is a crown, the prototype of which is the crowns of the rulers of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The shield is supported by two golden lions. They stand on crossed oak branches with fruits. Below the shield is a white ribbon bordered with the colors of the national flag - white, green and red, on which is written in gold letters "There is strength in unity" » .
Bulgarian motto: “Unity is strength”» placed on the building of the People's Assembly in Sofia. Many Bulgarians think that the motto is inspired by the Union of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in 1885, which were separated after the Liberation from the Ottoman yoke in 1878 by the will of the Great Powers (“Great Powers” is how the largest powers of the world (Great Britain, Russia) are called in Bulgarian historiography , Germany and so on), which in the new and recent period determined the situation in Bulgaria after 1879. Note site). The inscription “In unity there is strength”» , however, Belgian. Since the first Bulgarian constitution, adopted in 1879, is based on Belgian legislation, this motto was adopted by Bulgarian legislators. Before decorating the façade of the Parliament, it appeared on the first coins that were minted in Bulgaria after the Liberation."
Let us note that the presence in the coat of arms of Bulgaria of not one, but as many as three lions is sometimes unofficially interpreted as follows: these lions supposedly symbolize three main parts of the Bulgarian lands - Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. From the point of view of heraldry, such an interpretation is also incorrect, because the two lions on the coat of arms are auxiliary elements - shield holders in relation to the third lion - the main element of the coat of arms, and therefore cannot be equivalent symbols. Although the version about the meaning of lions on the timely Bulgarian coat of arms also as symbols of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia was mentioned in the Radio Bulgaria program in Russian from March 2008 (listen to the recording of this program in audio file number 1 at the top of the page).
Bulgarian flag
Since the restoration of Bulgarian statehood, after the overthrow of the Turkish yoke, and until now, the flag of Bulgaria has practically not changed.
On illus. left: Bulgarian flag from 1879 to 1947. It has been restored unchanged since 1991.
On illus. right: From 1971 to 1991 The traditional flag of Bulgaria was supplemented by the placement of the communist coat of arms on it, but the colors of the flag did not change.
Illustration from the website of the Bulgarian Heraldic Society.
And now about the Bulgarian flag. First, a quote from a Bulgarian source. "Radio Bulgaria" from 05/09/2006:
“After Bulgaria fell under the Ottoman yoke at the end of the 14th century, the flag, as a sign of statehood, disappeared. However, the squads of haiduks and rebels had their own banners. They were an expression of the Bulgarians' desire for a free Bulgarian state and self-sacrifice at the altar of the fatherland. “Freedom or death” was written on the famous banner sewn by teacher Raina Knyagina for the April Uprising in 1876 - the pinnacle of the Bulgarian liberation struggle against Ottoman enslavement.
The creation of the first Bulgarian tricolor flag is associated with the name of Georgi Rakovski, an ideologist and founder of the organized revolutionary movement in Bulgaria. Its colors were the same as the modern flag - white, green and red, only in a different order. (While in exile, Rakovsky in 1861-1862 founded on the territory of Serbia (and under the patronage of the Serbian government) the first armed formation of Bulgarians in modern history - the so-called Bulgarian Legion (legion), to fight the Turkish occupation of Bulgaria. Namely with the flag This legia became what was later proclaimed, as already mentioned, in a slightly modified form, as the flag of Bulgaria. Note site)
A year after the Liberation from the Turkish yoke, in 1877, the Constituent Assembly approved a national flag of white, green and red colors, arranged horizontally, as a symbol of the independence of the Bulgarian state."
The meaning of the colors of the Bulgarian flag
Officially, the meaning of the colors on the Bulgarian flag is not defined in the country's legislation, however, it is unofficially believed that the Bulgarian flag was created under the influence of the Russian white-blue-red tricolor, then adopted in the Russian Empire as the country's trade flag. At the same time, the blue stripe for the Bulgarian flag was replaced by green as a symbol of agriculture and the flourishing nature of Bulgaria.
At the same time, a Radio Bulgaria broadcast from March 2008 indicated that according to legend, red, white and green colors in the form of ribbons were present on the spear shafts of the ancient Bulgarian army. A white ribbon was tied on the spear shafts of the regiments of the left flank (lightly armed and maneuverable horsemen), a red ribbon was tied on the regiments of the right flank (heavily armed horsemen) and green - on the central regiments (elite formations). And this was allegedly also taken into account when choosing the colors of the Bulgarian flag in the 19th century.
The flag of Bulgaria has remained unchanged in color since the liberation of the country from Turkish rule until the present day. However, during the communist period 1946-1990. in the left corner of the flag there was an image of the coat of arms of the Bulgarian People's Republic - a lion with a star above it, framed by ears of corn.
Bulgarian anthem
And in the third part of this review about Bulgarian anthems. Russian broadcasting “Radio Bulgaria” from 05/09/2006:
“After the Reunification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in 1885, the first Bulgarian national anthem was approved - « Maritsa is making noise» . It was the national anthem of Bulgaria from 1886 to 1944. The original version of the text was written by Nikola Zhivkov, and after many variations, the last edition of the poet and writer Ivan Vazov from 1912 remained.”
In turn, the Radio Bulgaria program dated 09/09/2009 added:
“There were several songs as the anthem of Bulgaria. P The first official anthem after the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 was called “Shumit Maritsa”, then (since 1944) the composition “Our Republic, Hello” became the anthem. (1944-1950). The third anthem was called “Bulgaria, dear” (1950-1964). Gradually, the need for a new anthem arose. So a modern one appeared - “Dear Motherland” (since 1964, and with changes after 1990)." End of quote.
“Shumit Maritsa” (“Shumi Maritsa”) is the anthem of the Bulgarian Kingdom from 1886 to 1944:
In our audio file no. 2 you can listen to a fragment of a Russian broadcast (“Radio Bulgaria from 03/02/2011, where the anthem of the Bulgarian kingdom from 1886 to 1944 is heard. “Maritsa makes noise”:
- audio file No. 2
Recording the transfer site.
Mentioned in the anthem of the Bulgarian Kingdom of the new period (the so-called Third Bulgarian Kingdom, the name of the kingdom comes from two ancient Bulgarian states), which operated from 1886 to 1944, Maritsa(Bulgarian Maritsa, Greek Εβρος, Turkish Meriç, Latin Hebrus) - this is a river, one of the longest in the Balkans. Its source is in Bulgaria.
By the Dushman horde and in general the enemy who offended the widow and with whom the Bulgarian lion is fighting, in this anthem we mean the Ottoman Empire, from which Bulgaria fought for independence in the previous period. Later, the song, which became the national anthem, raised the morale of the Bulgarians in the war with Serbia, which began shortly after the liberation of Bulgaria from the Turks, noted the Bulgarian foreign broadcasting. Then Serbia, as the Bulgarians believe, treacherously attacked Bulgaria. The cause of the war was border disputes (listen audio file no. 2).
Shumi Maritsa
surrounded by
weeping widow
severely wounded.
Chorus:
March, march,
from our general!
Let's fly into battle,
Let us defeat the enemy!
Bulgarian cheda,
He was holy without a care in the world.
Hi kam victory
glorious, let’s burst into flames.
Chorus:
March, march,
from our general!
Let's fly into battle,
Let us defeat the enemy!
Lev't Balkanski
into battle like a giant
with Ordi Dushmansky
drive or crylat.
Chorus:
March, march,
from our general!
Let's fly into battle,
Let us defeat the enemy!
Young and hot,
in the whirlwind of carnage.
You are worthy of me
let's take laurels.
Chorus:
March, march,
from our general!
Let's fly into battle,
Let us defeat the enemy!
Niy laugh at the people,
for honor and freedom,
for the sweet kind
Who knows?
Translation
Maritsa is making noise,
Bloody
The widow is crying,
She was seriously wounded.
Chorus: March, march,
March with the general,
We will hasten to battle,
We will defeat the enemy!
Bulgarian children,
In front of the world
To your victory
Glorious we will come.
Chorus: March, march,
March with the general,
We will hasten to battle,
We will defeat the enemy!
Our Balkan lion
To fight a giant
With the Dushman horde
Leads us, winged.
Chorus: March, march,
March with the general,
We will hasten to battle,
We will defeat the enemy!
With a young, sultry spirit
In a whirlwind of fierce carnage
Let's be worthy
We will gain laurels.
Chorus: March, march,
March with the general,
We will hasten to battle,
We will defeat the enemy!
We are of a brave race,
For honor, freedom,
For the good of the people
We can accept death.
Chorus: March, march,
March with the general,
We will hasten to battle,
We will defeat the enemy!
“Respubliko nasha, hello!” (“Republiko nasha dhvey!”) is the anthem of Bulgaria (Bulgarian People's Republic) in 1944-1950:
The anthem “Our Republic, Hello” was highly ideological, denounced fascist terror and emphasized the republican form of government (first then adopted by Bulgaria, but in a perverted form of the Soviet republic).
The yoke on shyness is severe
And darkness for the day
Niy srinakhme with fire and word
The struggle is cruel and unequal.
Chorus:
Our republic is people's,
Our republic is healthy!
The land is not free today,
Free day is still alive!
Freedom is holy for us
And we still scold with love
Krivta on borcite, prolyata
Every valley and ditch.
Chorus:
Our republic is people's,
Our republic is healthy!
The land is not free today,
Free day is still alive!
For ours and alien tyrants,
Rodino, you have a lot of space!
We remember the armorless rani,
Fascist terror.
“Bulgaria, dear” (“Bulgariyo Mila”, also known as “Bulgariyo Mila, land of heroes” “Dear Bulgaria, land of heroes”) is the anthem of the Bulgarian People's Republic from 1950 to 1964:
Bulgarian Mila, land for heroes
it is spirit-free and powerful and has an exit!
Yes, we will forever be stronger than ever
with great fraternal and secular people!
Chorus:
Great sun on Lenin and Stalin
Please light up our eyes.
Dimitrov was sunk for his feat,
in Borbat and in Mirnia there is no labor.
Chorus:
The glory of our republic is free!
Guard the world adamantly!
Whether the enemy is attacking the earth or the family,
Bravely lead into battle until victory!
We are building creeks, creating mini curves,
nivyata are wide and full of arms.
For our sake, beautiful homeland
Prepare your hard work and belly, let’s give it to you!
Translation
Dear Bulgaria, you are the land of heroes,
Your sunrise is constant and powerful
May our military alliance grow stronger forever
With the mighty fraternal Soviet people!
Chorus:
The Great Sun of Lenin and Stalin
Its rays illuminated our path.
Dimitrov lit his feat in our hearts,
He united us in struggle and in peaceful work.
Chorus:
Hail, our free Republic!
Be a steadfast guardian of the world! —
If the enemy attacks our native land,
Lead us boldly into battle until victory!
We build factories, we dig mines,
We plow wide fields together.
For our dear, beautiful homeland
We are ready to give both our work and our lives!
“Sweet Motherland” (“Mila Rodino”) is the anthem of the Bulgarian People’s Republic in 1964-1990 (pre-revolutionary song with the addition of two verses reflecting the revolutionary socialist orientation and alliance with the USSR):
Gorda Stara Planina,
before her is the blue Dunava,
the sun of Trakia ogryava,
Flames above Pirina.
Mila Rodino,
ti si earthly paradise,
oh, those nyama edge.
Padnaha bortsi bechet
we love for our people,
Maiko, give me a little strength
Let's continue with them.
Friendly brother Bulgarians,
from us Moscow to peace and battle,
the party is great,
Our system is victorious.
Translation
Proud Balkan Mountains,
To the blue Danube,
the sun warms Thrace,
Flames are burning over Pirin.
Chorus:
Dear homeland,
You are heaven on earth,
oh, they have no edge.
Countless fighters fell
For our beloved people,
Mother, give us courage and strength
Their path is to continue.
Together, brothers Bulgarians,
Moscow is with us both in peace and in war,
The great party leads
Our victorious formation.
“Sweet Motherland” (“Mila Rodino”) is the modern anthem of the Republic of Bulgaria since 1990:
In our audio file No. 1 ( at the top of this page) you can listen to an archived broadcast from March 2008 by the Russian edition of the Bulgarian foreign broadcasting (“Radio Bulgaria”) about the symbols of Bulgaria, where the modern Bulgarian anthem “Dear Motherland” sounds..
Gorda Stara Planina,
before her is the blue Dunava,
the sun of Trakia ogryava,
Flames above Pirina.
Mila Rodino,
ti si earthly paradise,
yours is bushy, yours is charming,
oh, those nyama edge.
Translation
Proud Balkan Mountains,
To the blue Danube,
the sun warms Thrace,
Flames are burning over Pirin.
Chorus:
Dear homeland,
You are heaven on earth,
Your beauty and your charm,
oh, they have no edge.
And again a fragment from the Radio Bulgaria program dated 09/09/2009:
“The history of the song “Dear Motherland” is interesting. Its author is Tsvetan Radoslavov from the city of Svishtov. His father and both grandfathers were not only rich and well-educated people, their names remained in Bulgarian history thanks to their enormous contribution to the spiritual and political development of the Bulgarians.
(Tsvetan Radoslavov was born in 1863. Note website). Tsvetan Radoslavov's private music teacher was the composer - founder of the first choir in Bulgaria, Yanko Mustakov.
In 1885, Tsvetan Radoslavov volunteered for the Serbo-Bulgarian War. At that time he was a student in Austria. On the ship, on the way to Bulgaria, (at the age of twenty-two) he composed the lyrics and melody of a song called “Proud Stara Planina”. Later, scientists will establish that the music is very reminiscent of the choir, which was very popular at that time in Radoslavov’s hometown. Both the text and the melody of this composition changed many times. At first, the reason for this was the fact that the song immediately became popular. It was included in a number of songbooks and collections without mentioning the author's name. Even Tsvetan Radoslavov’s sisters, who sang it with pleasure at all family and public holidays, learned much later that it was written by their older brother.
Tsvetan Radoslavov was then a teacher in the famous “Aprilovskaya Gymnasium” in the city of Gabrovo, and then in Ruse and Sofia. He taught Western and ancient languages, psychology, ethics, and logic. (Died in 1931. Note website)
When in 1964 the socialist government announced a competition to select an anthem, the commission did not approve any of the proposed compositions.
At that time, the song “Sweet Motherland” was known in an arrangement by composer Dobri Hristov, in which part of the original was used. Ultimately, it was decided that “Dear Motherland” would become the anthem of the People’s Republic. The text was revised by poets Dimitar Metodiev and Georgiy Dzhagarov. The first phrase – “Proud Stara Planina” – has been preserved. The rest has been changed. Later, composers Philip Kutev and Alexander Raichev will make a new orchestration of this composition.
After the democratic changes of 1989, part of the text containing the words “Moscow is with us both in peace and in battle” disappeared,” noted the Russian broadcasting “Radio Bulgaria”;
The review has been prepared by a website based on materials from Bulgarian foreign broadcasting, as well as other Bulgarian sources; Recordings of Bulgarian foreign broadcasting programs are taken from the website archive.
On the map of Europe you can find more than one country whose main official symbol depicts a formidable lion, symbolizing strength and power. The modern coat of arms of Bulgaria contains not one, but three lions, one depicted directly on the shield, the others supporting the shield on both sides. Unfortunately, after World War II, the country, which became a member of the Warsaw Pact and submitted to Moscow, abandoned this symbol. The second coming of lions to the Bulgarian coat of arms occurred in 1991.
Solemn and symbolic
The main state symbol of Bulgaria looks too pretentious, especially in comparison with its closest neighbors to the east. But, since the lion is even the national currency, there is nothing surprising in the appearance of beautiful predators.
For the Bulgarians, the selection of colors was also important. The shield itself is scarlet, the lion depicted on it is golden. This composition is crowned with the historical crown of Bulgaria, which is also called the crown of the king of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Five crosses are depicted on it, one more is above.
Two lions, also made in gold, hold a shield on both sides. They seem to stand on green oak branches with golden hearths. The bottom of the composition is decorated with a ribbon with the written motto of the country.
A twisted story
Lions, in one form or another, have always been present on the coats of arms, seals and standards of the Bulgarian princes or kings. The very first lion recorded in documents dates back to 1294; in the first part of Lord Marshal's scroll, a description of the coat of arms of the King of Bulgaria was given. The description includes a silver lion crowned with a gold crown.
During the reign of Ivan Shishman (XIV century), his personal guard had shields decorated with the image of three red lions located one above the other. An Arab traveler reported this, and now this entry can be seen in the National Library of Morocco. In 1595 the number of lions was reduced to one, which was depicted in red, standing on its hind legs in the center of the shield. In the 18th century, the color of the animal changed from a threatening paint to a ceremonial gold. But the shield, on the contrary, became dark red and scarlet.
From 1881 to 1927, the coat of arms of the Principality of Bulgaria began to look royal, as a purple mantle lined with ermine was added, as well as state flags. With the change in the form of government in 1927, the form of the official symbol was approved, which coincided with the personal coat of arms of Tsar Ferdinand I.
The communist period in Bulgaria, which began in 1944, entailed a radical change in official symbols. Instead of a coat of arms, an emblem appeared. The golden lion was also present in the new image, but symbols imposed by neighbors from the east were added: ears of wheat, a gear, a star.
With the return of independence in 1989 a few years later, the beloved lions took their places on the coat of arms of Bulgaria.
On the map of Europe you can find more than one country whose main official symbol depicts a formidable lion, symbolizing strength and power. The modern coat of arms of Bulgaria contains not one, but three lions, one depicted directly on the shield, the others supporting the shield on both sides. Unfortunately, after World War II, the country, which became a member of the Warsaw Pact and submitted to Moscow, abandoned this symbol. The second coming of lions to the Bulgarian coat of arms occurred in 1991.
Solemn and symbolic
The main state symbol of Bulgaria looks too pretentious, especially in comparison with its closest neighbors to the east. But, since the lion is even the national currency, there is nothing surprising in the appearance of beautiful predators.
For the Bulgarians, the selection of colors was also important. The shield itself is scarlet, the lion depicted on it is golden. This composition is crowned with the historical crown of Bulgaria, which is also called the crown of the king of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Five crosses are depicted on it, one more is above.
Two lions, also made in gold, hold a shield on both sides. They seem to stand on green oak branches with golden hearths. The bottom of the composition is decorated with a ribbon with the written motto of the country.
A twisted story
Lions, in one form or another, have always been present on the coats of arms, seals and standards of the Bulgarian princes or kings. The very first lion recorded in documents dates back to 1294; in the first part of Lord Marshal's scroll, a description of the coat of arms of the King of Bulgaria was given. The description includes a silver lion crowned with a gold crown.
During the reign of Ivan Shishman (XIV century), his personal guard had shields decorated with the image of three red lions located one above the other. An Arab traveler reported this, and now this entry can be seen in the National Library of Morocco. In 1595 the number of lions was reduced to one, which was depicted in red, standing on its hind legs in the center of the shield. In the 18th century, the color of the animal changed from a threatening paint to a ceremonial gold. But the shield, on the contrary, became dark red and scarlet.
From 1881 to 1927, the coat of arms of the Principality of Bulgaria began to look royal, as a purple mantle lined with ermine was added, as well as state flags. With the change in the form of government in 1927, the form of the official symbol was approved, which coincided with the personal coat of arms of Tsar Ferdinand I.
The communist period in Bulgaria, which began in 1944, entailed a radical change in official symbols. Instead of a coat of arms, an emblem appeared. The golden lion was also present in the new image, but symbols imposed by neighbors from the east were added: ears of wheat, a gear, a star.
With the return of independence in 1989 a few years later, the beloved lions took their places on the coat of arms of Bulgaria.
The coat of arms of Bulgaria is a dark red shield with a golden lion on it. Above the shield is a crown. Shield bearers - two golden (yellow) lions. The coat of arms contains oak branches.
The lion has been on the coat of arms of the shield since ancient times. The first mention of the lion as the main heraldic element of Bulgaria dates back to 1295. Previously, the lion was depicted on a red background. It is noteworthy that the number of lions on the coat of arms changed periodically. In the 15th century, it was customary to use three lions on the coat of arms. In the 19th and 20th centuries, three lions again appeared on the coat of arms, two of which became shield holders, and one was placed on the shield. Five centuries of Turkish rule gave the lion a slightly different meaning. Now the lion is a symbol of independence. After the liberation of Bulgaria in 1871, the lion returned to the shield.
Under the shield it is written in Bulgarian: “Unity is the rule of silat,” which translated means “Unity gives strength.” A similar motto can be seen on the coat of arms of Serbia (former Yugoslavia).
During the Soviet period, the lion remained on the state emblem.
The modern coat of arms was adopted in 1997.
Symbolism
The small coat of arms of Bulgaria is presented in two types: with and without a crown.
Historical coats of arms of Bulgaria
He was the founder of the Great Bulgaria confederation. Khan Kurbat is buried in the Poltava region (Ukraine). The Bulgarian state was located on the territory of modern Russia and Ukraine.
We continue to publish materials telling about the history of state symbols of countries around the world. Next up is the Bulgarian Republic.
istpravda.ru
The oldest population of the country are the Thracians. By the 1st century AD the territory of Bulgaria was conquered by Rome and in 395 became part of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
In the second half of the 6th century. part of the Bulgars, who lived on the northern coast of the Azov and Black Seas, in the lower reaches of the Don and Dnieper, was forced out by the Khazars and, under the leadership of Khan Asparukh, moved to the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. The Bulgars entered into an alliance with the Slavs who lived here and Asparukh became the supreme prince of the union of Danube Bulgaria. Subsequently, the Bulgars assimilated with the Slavs, adopting their customs and language, but passed on their name to the Slavs.
In 681, Byzantium recognized the First Bulgarian Kingdom as an independent state. Under Tsar Boris I (853-888), Christianity became the state religion of the country. Tsar Simeon I annexed Macedonia and Serbia to Bulgaria, but Serbia seceded from Bulgaria in 930.
Under Simeon's heirs, internal strife weakened the country and, after long wars, Bulgaria was conquered by Byzantium in 1018.
In 1186, as a result of an uprising led by the brothers Peter and Asen, a new independent Bulgarian state was formed, known as the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1186-1396). In 1256 it became dependent on Serbia, and internal strife led in the middle of the 14th century. to its division into two: Vidinskoe and Tarnovskoe. Feudal fragmentation weakened Bulgaria and in 1396 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.
As a result of the Russian-Turkish wars of 1853-1856. and 1877-1878 500 years of Turkish rule was overthrown and the Bulgarian state was restored, but according to the Berlin Treaty of July 1, 1878, it was divided into three parts: Bulgaria (Northern Bulgaria and the Sofia region); Eastern Rumelia (Southern Bulgaria - autonomous region, vassal of Turkey): Thrace with Macedonia (remained in the Ottoman Empire).
On April 17, 1879, the Great National Assembly of Bulgaria, held in the city of Tarnovo, adopted a Constitution that proclaimed Bulgaria a principality and elected Alexander von Battenberg as prince. On July 6, Prince Alexander I ascended the throne, but seven years and one month later he was overthrown by officers of the Sofia garrison and the 2nd Strum Infantry Regiment and abdicated the throne on August 9, 1886.
In 1885, the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia united into a single principality, the ruler of which on June 25, 1887, the Great National Assembly of Bulgaria elected another German prince, Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburggotha, who ascended the throne on August 2, 1887 under the name Ferdinand I.
In 1908, Bulgaria finally freed itself from vassal dependence on Turkey, and Prince Ferdinand was proclaimed king of the Bulgarians.
In 1912, Bulgaria with Greece, Serbia and Montenegro participated in the First Balkan War against Turkey for the freedom of Thrace and Macedonia. But contradictions between the former allies regarding the division of liberated territories led to the Second Balkan War (1913), in which Bulgaria was defeated and lost the lands acquired as a result of the First Balkan War, and part of its territories (Southern Dobruja was captured by Romania, and almost all of Macedonia was divided Serbia and Greece).
Bulgaria's participation in World War I (from 1915) on the side of Germany led to the loss of the western outskirts and Western Thrace under the Neuilly Peace Treaty (1919).
In March 1941, Bulgaria was involved in the Berlin Pact, and in 1940 German troops entered Bulgarian territory. The organizer of the armed anti-fascist struggle was the Communist Party. In 1942, the Fatherland Front was created, led by communists, which organizationally consolidated the unification of patriotic forces.
After the entry of the Soviet Army into the territory of Bulgaria, the monarchical regime was overthrown and on September 9, 1944 the first government of the Fatherland Front was formed.
On September 15, 1946, Bulgaria was proclaimed a people's republic. After this, Tsar Simeon, the Queen Mother and Princess Marie-Louise left the country.
On February 10, 1947, at the Paris Peace Conference, a peace treaty was signed with Bulgaria, which confirmed the national independence and territorial integrity of the country and the annexation of Southern Dobruja, transferred by Romania in 1940.
In June 1990, the elections to the People's Assembly, held on a multi-party basis, were won by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (the new name of the Communist Party since 1990), which formed a coalition government in December. In October 1991, the coalition of movements and organizations Union of Democratic Forces (founded in December 1989) won the parliamentary elections.
Flag
Under the influence of Byzantine traditions, during the reign of King Krum during the First Bulgarian Kingdom, the Bulgarians began to use red banners, which depicted a golden lion.
Prince Boris I, after accepting Christianity, added a cross to his banner, and in the 9th century, during the reign of Tsar Simeon, an image of a scepter appeared on the royal banner. Another “banner of King Simeon” is also known: a red cloth with five golden lions embroidered on it (one in the center and one in each corner). This banner, known since the 9th century, disappeared during the Ottoman occupation.
During the period of the Ottoman yoke, the Bulgarian Haiduk rebels fought against the invaders under green banners, the color of the forests. Legend has it that she wove and presented to the Haiduks a green banner, in the center of which was embroidered an image of a white lion trampling an overturned Turkish crescent, and under it the motto “Freedom or Death!”, the Bulgarian Princess Raina.
In 1862, during the Serbian-Turkish War, the Bulgarian Rakovsky Legion fought with the Turks near Belgrade under a red-white-green flag. This flag was created on the model of the white-blue-red flag of Russia, but G.S. Rakovsky replaced the blue color with green - the color of the Haidutsky replacements, which became the color of freedom.
The earliest surviving white-green-red banners are kept in the Sofia Military History Museum.
It was made in six months by fifteen-year-old Stiliana, the daughter of the Bulgarian Ivan Paraskevov, who lived in the Romanian city of Braile. An angry lion is embroidered on a green stripe of white-green-red cloth and above it the word “Bulgaria”. The length of the banner panel is 190cm, width – 120cm, width of stripes: white – 50cm, green – 70cm, red – 50cm; The height of the lion is 60cm. The free end of the banner has a triangular cutout.
After the overthrow of the Ottoman yoke and the proclamation of the Principality of Bulgaria, the white-green-red flag became its state flag. The description of the flag is contained in the Constitution of the Principality, adopted on April 17, 1879 by the Great National Assembly of Bulgaria: “The Bulgarian national flag is tricolor and consists of white, green and red stripes located horizontally.” The meaning of colors was explained as follows: white - peace, Slavic idea; green – freedom; red – struggle and labor.
The autonomous Governor General of Eastern Rumelia (1878-1885) had a similar flag, but without the white stripe.
In 1908, Bulgaria became a kingdom and its state flag became a white-green-red flag, supplemented in the upper corner of the flagpole by a red rectangle with a golden lion.
The white-green-red flag remained the national flag, but during the period of the monarchy in Bulgaria a tradition arose to hang it in different ways: in peacetime with a white stripe up, in times of war - red.
Immediately after the proclamation of the Bulgarian People's Republic, the white-green-red flag with a red rectangle became its state flag (proportions 2: 3), but its colors received a slightly different explanation: white symbolized peace and freedom, green – harvest and fertility of the land, red – strength and the fighting spirit of the people, the blood shed in the centuries-old struggle for liberation.
On December 4, 1947, the red rectangle in the upper left corner of the flag was replaced by the state emblem, adopted back in 1944.
Subsequently, throughout the history of the Bulgarian People's Republic, the flag remained practically unchanged, but changes were made to the state emblem, so its image on the flag changed and the flag was reaffirmed in 1948, January 5, 1968 and May 18, 1971.
State flag from 1948 to 01/05/1968
State flag from 01/05/1968 to 05/18/1971
State flag from 05/18/1971 to 11/22/1990
On November 25, 1990, the country was proclaimed the Republic of Bulgaria, but on November 22, 1990, the parliament decided that the state flag should not contain any coat of arms. Moreover, its white color symbolizes peace and Slavic unity, green – the fertility of the Bulgarian land, red – the courage of the Bulgarian people.
In 1991, in accordance with the new constitution of the country, the proportion of the flag was changed from 2:3 to 3:5.
Coat of arms
Since ancient times, the traditional emblem of Bulgaria has been the lion, personifying the power of the state and the courage of its inhabitants. The image of a lion, as a symbol of struggle and honor, is widely known in Bulgaria. His images were used in church wall paintings, as an element of architectural decor, and as decoration for warriors’ battle shields.
The first image of a red lion on a golden field dates back to the end of the 12th century. - this is the coat of arms of the Serbian king Stefan Nemanja, whose state included part of the Bulgarian lands. On the coat of arms of one of his successors, Stefan Dusan (XIV century), there is a golden lion on a red field. And from the end of the 14th century. the lion is the sign of the Bulgarian king of the Tarnovo kingdom Ivan III Shishmani (1365-1393), who minted coins with the image of a lion, instead of the double-headed eagle that had previously been used under the influence of Byzantium. The shields of this king's warriors depicted three red lions on a golden field.
During the period of struggle against the Ottoman yoke, Hristo Botev’s militia wore cockades with the image of a lion, and seals with the same image were secretly made in the Rila Monastery. According to legend, on the first banner of the Haiduks, in the center of the green cloth, there was also an image of a white lion trampling the overturned Turkish crescent. There was also an image on the banner of the 4th Bulgarian militia squad.
A crowned lion with a sword and a cross, trampling the symbols of the Turkish oppressors - a crescent with a star and their banners, accompanied by the patriotic motto “Freedom or Death”, was depicted on the seal of the Provisional Bulgarian Government created in 1862 in Serbia, headed by G. Rakovsky. A crowned lion with the same motto was also depicted on the seal of the Bulgarian Central Revolutionary Committee created in 1871. The crown in these cases served as a symbol of the desire to achieve the country's sovereignty.
After granting autonomy to Bulgaria, on April 17, 1879, the Great National Assembly, held in Tarnovo, adopted a Constitution that approved a golden lion in a dark red field, crowned with a royal crown, the state emblem of the country.
In 1878, the coat of arms of the Autonomous General Government of Eastern Rumelia was also adopted: a golden Orthodox eight-pointed cross in a green field.
In 1887, both of these coats of arms made up the combined shield of the coat of arms of the Bulgarian Principality: divided by a silver clawed cross; in the first and fourth parts there is a golden crowned charging lion in a red field; in the second and third parts there is a golden eight-pointed Orthodox cross in a green field; on top of everything is a dynastic shield, in which, in an azure field, divided by ten silver and red belts, there is a crowned lion, accompanied on top by a silver tournament collar.
The shield was crowned with a princely crown, and the shield holders were two lions. All this rested on a mantle of red velvet, lined with ermine; the canopy was also crowned with a princely crown; The shield holders rested on a red ribbon with the motto “God With Us” inscribed in silver in Latin.
But although the crown was called princely, in fact the coat of arms depicted a crown more similar to a closed royal crown, differing from it in the absence of eight teeth with pearls on the hoop.
In this form, the coat of arms existed until the accession to the throne of Ferdinand I, when, according to established tradition, in connection with the change of the ruling dynasty, it was changed. Firstly, the dynastic shield of the Batenbergs was replaced by the family coat of arms of Ferdinand: a shield crossed by ten black and gold belts, on top of which there is a rue crown in the right baldric (the coat of arms of Saxony). Secondly, the shape of the cross in the second and third fields of the coat of arms was simplified. Thirdly, the lion shield holders were replaced with lion-like leopards with forked tails. Fourthly, the Latin motto was translated into Bulgarian, so that it became similar to the motto of the state emblem of the Russian Empire: “God is with us.” Fifthly, the motto ribbon became silver with narrow red and green stripes along the edges, i.e. colors of the national flag. In addition, the coat of arms was supplemented by two spears with national and commercial flags, which were supported by shield holders.
The canopy of the Great Coat of Arms became golden, studded with crowns (these innovations were borrowed from the Great Coat of Arms of the German Empire in 1871).
On September 23, 1908, in the city of Tarnovo, Ferdinand I solemnly announced the end of vassal dependence on Turkey, proclaiming Bulgaria a kingdom and himself the Majesty and Tsar of the Bulgarians. In this regard, the princely crown on the coat of arms was replaced by a specially created royal one, based on the French royal one (to show its relationship with the Bourbon dynasty): a golden hoop with eight teeth and eight fleurs-de-lis, from which came arcs strewn with pearls, converging under an orb crowned with a cross; cushion inside a red velvet crown extending to the top.
In 1918, the German revolution liquidated the “family nest” of the Bulgarian king - the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, therefore the dynastic shield was removed from the coat of arms of Bulgaria, and after the loss of the western outskirts and Western Thrace in 1919, the coat of arms became one-part: in a red field, a golden one rushing a lion. The motto was also changed.
After the 1944 revolution, a red shield without a crown with a golden crowned lion was first used as a coat of arms. But after the formation of the People's Republic of Bulgaria on September 9, 1944, its coat of arms was also approved: in a red oval field, a golden rushing lion with red weapons; the field is framed by a wreath of golden ears of grain intertwined with a red ribbon; in the upper part of the field there is a gold edging; at the base of the coat of arms on the ribbon is the date: “9.IX.1944” - the beginning of the anti-fascist uprising. The coat of arms was crowned with a red five-pointed star.
In 1947, the field of the coat of arms became blue, and the upper turns of the ribbon became the colors of the state flag.
In 1948, the coat of arms was supplemented at the base with a golden emerging gear.
In 1971, the coat of arms was changed once again: instead of the date “9.IX.1944” inscribed on the central part of the ribbon, two appeared inscribed on its side turns - “681” and “1944”; and the red star was complemented by a gold border.
The date “681” is the year when an agreement was signed between the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VI and the Bulgarian Khan Asparuh recognizing the independence of Bulgaria; the date “1944” is the year of the liberation of Bulgaria from fascism.
The description of the coat of arms was given in Article 139 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, adopted on May 16, 1971.
The lion symbolized the desire of the Bulgarian people for peace, the wreath of golden ears - agriculture, the golden gear - developing industry; in addition, a gear and a wreath of ears, intertwined with red and three-color ribbons, symbolized the union of workers and peasants of the country, which grew up in the liberation struggle and their unity in socialist construction; The red five-pointed star symbolized the close connection and solidarity of the Bulgarian people with the working people of the whole world.
On November 22, 1990, parliament adopted a decision according to which the coat of arms was deprived of communist attributes - a red ribbon and a red star.
In 1991, this coat of arms was abolished, and Article 164 of the new Constitution stated that the state emblem of Bulgaria is a golden lion on a dark red shield. However, the details of the coat of arms (the presence or absence of a crown, the shape of the shield, etc.) were not determined for a long time.
The current coat of arms of Bulgaria, adopted on July 31, 1997, is based on the coat of arms of the Bulgarian Principality. Its description is contained in Article 2 of the Law on the Coat of Arms of Bulgaria: “The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria is depicted in the form of a golden crowned lion on a dark red background on a shield. Above the shield is a large crown, the prototype of which was the crowns of the Bulgarian kings of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, with five crosses and one more on the crown itself. The shield is held by two golden crowned erect lions facing the shield on the left and right sides. They stand on crossed oak branches with acorns. At the bottom of the shield, along the edges of the oak branches, there is a white ribbon with a three-color border, on which is written in gold letters: “Unity is right.”
Thus, for centuries the lion has been the national emblem of Bulgaria, symbolizing the strength, courage, fearlessness and courage of the Bulgarian people.
The Republic of Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic.
Area: 110,912 km2.
Capital: Sofia.
Official language: Bulgarian.
The head of state is the president. The highest legislative body is the unicameral People's Assembly. The highest executive body is the Council of Ministers.
Administrative division: eight regions and the capital, which has the status of a region.
00:36 22/09/2014
