Coat of arms of Bucharest
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of Bucharest is the heraldic
symbol standing for Bucharest
, the capital of Romania
. The present-day coat of arms
was created during the rule of Domnitor
Alexander John Cuza
; changed under the Communist regime
, it was used again, with minor alterations, since 1994.
escutcheon charged
with an or
eagle
facing dexter (standing for the historical region of Wallachia
- see Coat of arms of Wallachia), crowned bleu celeste, blazon
ed langued and armed gules
with a Latin cross in its beak, standing over the motto
PATRIA ŞI DREPTUL MEU ("The Fatherland and My Right") on a scroll tricolour
ed horizontally red-yellow-blue (the colours of the Romanian flag
).
The eagle bears in its claws a sword
dexter, a Tenné
sceptre
sinister, and on its breast a gules in the escutcheon with thin azure
bordure
, charged with the image of Saint Dimitrie Basarabov holding a spear
dexter and a Latin cross sinister. The saint, who is the city's patron
, is commonly referred to as, and confounded with, Saint Demetrius — today's arms seem to represent the latter, as the person depicted is dressed in a Roman uniform
.
The escutcheon is adorned with a crest
composed of a seven-towered argent
mural crown
over which stands a stylised sable
eagle wings displayed facing dexter, with a Latin cross in its beak.
of the town's jude and pârgari as early as the 16th century: it usually featured images of the Madonna and Child or the Annunciation
, and was accompanied by an inscription in either Church Slavonic or Romanian
, which simply read variations on the phrase "this is the seal of Bucharest".
Under the Organic Statute
rule of Pavel Kiselyov
, the city was awarded a new symbol, as the image of a standing woman wearing a shoulder sash
and carrying the Scales of Justice
(in 1862, the woman was represented as seated, and carrying both the Scales and, in her left hand, flowers and ears of wheat
).
According to Constantin C. Giurescu
, Cuza changed the seal to depict the patron saint and an image of the mythical shepherd Bucur; however, it appears that Saint Dimitrie Basarabov (or Saint Demetrius) was introduced as a symbol during his reign (in 1864 — as attested by Monitorul Oficial
). The arms were expanded after World War I
, when the mural crown and all other present-day elements were added, and the image of Bucur was dropped.
No symbol was in use during between 1948 and the administrative reforms carried out by the Nicolae Ceauşescu
regime. In 1970, a new coat of arms was adopted, which was official until the Romanian Revolution of 1989
; it was meant to represent "the most characteristic elements of historical traditions and of political, economic, and social relations".
It was divided party per fess
azure
and gules fields, with an inescutcheon divided party per pale and charged with the crest of Communist Romania
(hammer and sickle
symbol of the Romanian Communist Party
on red, dexter; flag of Romania
, sinster). The top half of the field was landscaped charged with an or eagle wings displayed facing sinister, over the argent image of the Palace of the Patriarchate
); the lower half was charged with the lower half of a cogwheel or and an open book with the or-lettered motto CIVITAS (dexter) and NOSTRA (sinister) - reading "Civitas Nostra" (Latin
for "Our City").
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
symbol standing for Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, the capital of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. The present-day coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was created during the rule of Domnitor
Domnitor
Domnitor was the official title of the ruler of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia between 1859 and 1866....
Alexander John Cuza
Alexander John Cuza
Alexander John Cuza was a Moldavian-born Romanian politician who ruled as the first Domnitor of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia between 1859 and 1866.-Early life:...
; changed under the Communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
, it was used again, with minor alterations, since 1994.
Description
The coat of arms is a bleu celesteBleu celeste
Bleu celeste is a rarely occurring tincture in heraldry . This tincture is sometimes also called ciel or simply celeste...
escutcheon charged
Charge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
with an or
Or (heraldry)
In heraldry, Or is the tincture of gold and, together with argent , belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a field of evenly spaced dots...
eagle
Eagle (heraldry)
The eagle is used in heraldry as a charge, as a supporter, and as a crest. Parts of the eagle's body such as its head, wings or leg are also used as a charge or crest....
facing dexter (standing for the historical region of Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
- see Coat of arms of Wallachia), crowned bleu celeste, blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
ed langued and armed gules
Gules
In heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
with a Latin cross in its beak, standing over the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
PATRIA ŞI DREPTUL MEU ("The Fatherland and My Right") on a scroll tricolour
Tricolour
A tricolour is a flag or banner more-or-less equally divided into three bands of differing colours...
ed horizontally red-yellow-blue (the colours of the Romanian flag
Flag of Romania
The national flag of Romania is a tricolour with vertical stripes: beginning from the flagpole, blue, yellow and red. It has a width-length ratio of 2:3....
).
The eagle bears in its claws a sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
dexter, a Tenné
Tenné
In heraldry, tenné or tawny or tenny is a "stain", a rarely used tincture, an orangish brown colour, at least in Continental European use....
sceptre
Sceptre
A sceptre is a symbolic ornamental rod or wand borne in the hand by a ruling monarch as an item of royal or imperial insignia.-Antiquity:...
sinister, and on its breast a gules in the escutcheon with thin azure
Azure
In heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
bordure
Bordure
In heraldry, a bordure is a band of contrasting tincture forming a border around the edge of a shield, traditionally one-sixth as wide as the shield itself...
, charged with the image of Saint Dimitrie Basarabov holding a spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
dexter and a Latin cross sinister. The saint, who is the city's patron
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
, is commonly referred to as, and confounded with, Saint Demetrius — today's arms seem to represent the latter, as the person depicted is dressed in a Roman uniform
Military history of ancient Rome
From its origin as a city-state in Italy in the 8th century BC, to its rise as an empire covering much of Southern Europe, Western Europe, Near East and North Africa and fall in the 5th century AD, the political history of Ancient Rome was typically closely entwined with its military history...
.
The escutcheon is adorned with a crest
Crest (heraldry)
A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
composed of a seven-towered argent
Argent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
mural crown
Mural crown
-Usage in ancient times:In Hellenistic culture, a mural crown identified the goddess Tyche, the embodiment of the fortune of a city, familiar to Romans as Fortuna...
over which stands a stylised sable
Sable (heraldry)
In heraldry, sable is the tincture black, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures, called "colours". In engravings and line drawings, it is sometimes depicted as a region of crossed horizontal and vertical lines or else marked with sa. as an abbreviation.The name derives from the black fur of...
eagle wings displayed facing dexter, with a Latin cross in its beak.
History
A heraldic symbol for Bucharest was first used on sealsSeal (device)
A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
of the town's jude and pârgari as early as the 16th century: it usually featured images of the Madonna and Child or the Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
, and was accompanied by an inscription in either Church Slavonic or Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
, which simply read variations on the phrase "this is the seal of Bucharest".
Under the Organic Statute
Regulamentul Organic
Regulamentul Organic was a quasi-constitutional organic law enforced in 1834–1835 by the Imperial Russian authorities in Moldavia and Wallachia...
rule of Pavel Kiselyov
Pavel Kiselyov
Count Pavel Dmitrievich Kiselyov or Kiseleff is generally regarded as the most brilliant Russian reformer during Nicholas I's generally conservative reign.- Early military career :...
, the city was awarded a new symbol, as the image of a standing woman wearing a shoulder sash
Sash
A sash is a cloth belt used to hold a robe together, and is usually tied about the waist. The Japanese equivalent of a sash, obi, serves to hold a kimono or yukata together. Decorative sashes may pass from the shoulder to the hip rather than around the waist...
and carrying the Scales of Justice
Lady Justice
Lady Justice |Dike]]) is an allegorical personification of the moral force in judicial systems.-Depiction:The personification of justice balancing the scales of truth and fairness dates back to the Goddess Maat, and later Isis, of ancient Egypt. The Hellenic deities Themis and Dike were later...
(in 1862, the woman was represented as seated, and carrying both the Scales and, in her left hand, flowers and ears of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
).
According to Constantin C. Giurescu
Constantin C. Giurescu
Constantin C . Giurescu was a Romanian historian, member of Romanian Academy and professor at the University of Bucharest.Born in Focşani, son of historian Constantin Giurescu, he completed his primary and secondary studies in Bucharest...
, Cuza changed the seal to depict the patron saint and an image of the mythical shepherd Bucur; however, it appears that Saint Dimitrie Basarabov (or Saint Demetrius) was introduced as a symbol during his reign (in 1864 — as attested by Monitorul Oficial
Monitorul Oficial
Monitorul Oficial al României is the official gazette of Romania, in which all the promulgated bills, presidential decrees, governmental ordinances and other major legal acts are published.-External links:...
). The arms were expanded after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when the mural crown and all other present-day elements were added, and the image of Bucur was dropped.
No symbol was in use during between 1948 and the administrative reforms carried out by the Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
regime. In 1970, a new coat of arms was adopted, which was official until the Romanian Revolution of 1989
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
; it was meant to represent "the most characteristic elements of historical traditions and of political, economic, and social relations".
It was divided party per fess
Division of the field
In heraldry, the field of a shield can be divided into more than one area of different tinctures, usually following the lines of one of the ordinaries and carrying its name...
azure
Azure
In heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
and gules fields, with an inescutcheon divided party per pale and charged with the crest of Communist Romania
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
(hammer and sickle
Hammer and sickle
The hammer and sickle is a part of communist symbolism and its usage indicates an association with Communism, a Communist party, or a Communist state. It features a hammer and a sickle overlapping each other. The two tools are symbols of the industrial proletariat and the peasantry; placing them...
symbol of the Romanian Communist Party
Romanian Communist Party
The Romanian Communist Party was a communist political party in Romania. Successor to the Bolshevik wing of the Socialist Party of Romania, it gave ideological endorsement to communist revolution and the disestablishment of Greater Romania. The PCR was a minor and illegal grouping for much of the...
on red, dexter; flag of Romania
Flag of Romania
The national flag of Romania is a tricolour with vertical stripes: beginning from the flagpole, blue, yellow and red. It has a width-length ratio of 2:3....
, sinster). The top half of the field was landscaped charged with an or eagle wings displayed facing sinister, over the argent image of the Palace of the Patriarchate
Palace of the Patriarchate
The Palace of the Chamber of Deputies is a building in Bucharest, Romania located on the plateau of Dealul Mitropoliei...
); the lower half was charged with the lower half of a cogwheel or and an open book with the or-lettered motto CIVITAS (dexter) and NOSTRA (sinister) - reading "Civitas Nostra" (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "Our City").