Two-headed eagle

Two-headed eagles are common heraldic symbols in Eastern Europe, deriving from the emblem of the Byzantine Empire.

Related Topics:
Eagle - Heraldic - Eastern Europe - Byzantine Empire

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Byzantine heraldry, the heads represent the two imperial thrones ruling the Roman Empire, of which the Byzantine empire was the eastern part. The Russian tsars adopted the symbol both to position themselves as successors to the Byzantine state and to symbolize their dominion over the west (Europe) and the east (Asia).

Related Topics:
Roman Empire - Russia - Tsar - Europe - Asia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The two-headed eagle appears on the coat of arms of following countries:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina:
• Republika Srpska
• Russian Federation
• Serbia and Montenegro
• Serbia
• Montenegro

It is also an important motif in heraldry of imperial families of Russia (the House of Romanov) and Austria-Hungary (the House of Habsburg), as well as the royal family Petrovic-Njegos of Montenegro.

Related Topics:
Romanov - Austria-Hungary - Habsburg - Petrovic-Njegos

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In addition, it is used in the game Warhammer 40,000 as one of the symbols of the Imperium of Man, and is emblazened on many vehicles for both the Imperial Space Marines and the Imperial Guard.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Russia coa.png|Coat of Arms of Russia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Republika Srpska coat large.png|Coat of arms of Republika Srpska

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Coat of arms of Serbia and Montenegro.png|Coat of Arms of Serbia and Montenegro

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:grbsr.gif|Coat of Arms of Serbia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Grb CG.jpeg|Coat of Arms of Montenegro

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Albania state emblem.png|The Emblem of Albania

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Austria-hungary-coa.gif|Coat of Arms of Austria-Hungary

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~