Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On November 23, 1993, Moscow officially returned its historical coat of arms, approved in 1781. The coat of arms was recreated based on the iconographic motif of "The Miracle of St. George and the Dragon" and its depiction on seals, coins, and the princely and royal coats of arms of ancient Rus'.
From an unnamed horseman to St. George the Victorious
The first depiction of a horseman piercing a dragon with a spear appeared on coins in the 15th century, during the reign of Prince Vasily II the Dark. At that time, this horseman did not represent a specific hero, but rather a symbol of an ordinary warrior who had vanquished the forces of darkness.
An unnamed dragon-fighting horseman became established as the coat of arms of the Moscow prince under Ivan III, and in the 16th century, under Ivan IV, a scene with a mounted spearman appeared in the center of the image of a double-headed eagle, the official coat of arms of the state, as a symbol of the fight against foreign invaders.
In the early 18th century, under Peter the Great, military regiments were named after the city where they were stationed, along with a banner and emblem. In 1712, the Moscow Regiment began using a double-headed eagle and a horseman piercing a serpent with a spear on its banner. Since the design closely mirrored the Russian coat of arms, over time, only the horseman with a spear remained on the emblem. At that time, according to some researchers, the horseman slaying the serpent began to be identified with St. George the Victorious.
Official approval and first changes
In 1781, Catherine II approved the Moscow coat of arms at the state level, marking an important step in the development of the city's symbolism. The official document emphasized that this coat of arms was "old," meaning it had previously been used as the city's emblem.
In the last third of the 19th century, the coat of arms underwent changes: the warrior in the image began to gallop to the viewer's left, in line with the canons of Western heraldry. The spear was tipped with a cross, reinforcing its association with Christianity. The coat of arms also featured the imperial crown, St. Andrew's ribbon, and scepter, emphasizing Moscow's status as the capital of the Russian Empire.
Star Replacement
After the 1917 Revolution, the "old regime" emblem was abolished. In 1924, architect Dmitry Osipov created a new coat of arms for Moscow, which included a five-pointed star, a hammer and sickle, and other elements symbolizing a new era in the country's history.
The Return of the Rider
In 1993, Mayor Yuri Luzhkov restored Moscow's historical coat of arms, dating from 1781. Of the later elements, only the cross crowning the spear remained.
The coat of arms of Moscow acquired its modern appearance in accordance with the law adopted by the Moscow State Duma in 1995.
The meaning of the coat of arms
Today the coat of arms contains the following elements:
The entire field of the French-style shield is painted dark red, symbolizing the blood of warriors who died fighting their enemies. Saint George the Victorious is turned to the viewer's right, in keeping with Russian tradition. The armor of the warrior and horse is made of silver, symbolizing the forces of light. The horseman's cloak is sky-blue. The horseman's spear is gold. The serpent pierced by the spear is painted black, symbolizing evil. The depiction of Saint George the Victorious on the coat of arms does not conform to Christian canons, which require saints to be depicted with a halo.
Two coats of arms – two horsemen
An interesting fact: the modern coat of arms of the Russian Federation also depicts a horseman fighting a dragon, but it is not associated with St. George the Victorious and is not identified with the coat of arms of Moscow.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: November 23, 2025.
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