GEORGIA / SAKARTVELO

საქართველო

 

 

The Republic

1st Republic

Soviet Republic

2nd Republic

Police

Armed Forces

Abkhasia

Ajaria

Southern Ossetia   

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The Republic

 

Transcaucasian Federal Republic

20.09.1917 - 26.05.1918

 

After the February Revolution, the Russian Provisional Government installed the Special Transcaucasian Committee  to govern the area.

In November 1917, following the October Revolution, the first government of an independent Transcaucasia was created in Tbilisi. A Transcaucasian Committee and a Transcaucasian Commissariat existed for a couple of months. On 5 December 1917, the Committee endorsed the Armistice of Erzincan signed by the Ottoman command of the Third Army. This enabled the creation of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, also known as the Transcaucasian Federation, which existed from April to May 1918, extending across what are now the modern-day countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

 

It is not known what the emblem has been of the Trancaucasian Federal Republic of 1917. Its flag consisted of three breadths yellow, black and red. Nevertheless there was a carved emblem on the pulpit of the chamber in which the proclamation of independece was signed showing a rider armed with a spear which would later be adopted as the emblem of the Republic of Georgia. This emblem was also on the on the document of the proclamation of independence of 26 May 1918.

 

 

Proclamation of the Republic of Georgia, 26 may 1918

 

Georgian Republic

26.05.1918 – 11.02.1921



 

The emblem of the Republic of Georgia was adopted in September 1918, four months after the dissolution of the Federation. There are two versions of it which may have been the smaller and the lartger emblem of  state. St. George  of the ancient arms of Georgia was replaced by a rider armed with a spear riding to the sinister jumping over a black mountain in base. In chief are the sun and the moon and five eight-pointed stars, the stars representing the five former provinces of Abchazia, Mingrelia, Imerethia, Karthili and Kakheti. The emblem is surrounded by a bordure with four curls.

 

 

A.: Or, a rider on horseback, his horse rearing to the sinister, armed with a lance; in chief five eight-pointed stars, a moon and a sun per bordure, in base a mount Sable.

Bordure: Circular with four curls Argent, voided Vert.

By Resolution, 20th of September 1918 [1]


Somewhat later the larger emblem was adopted. In it the bordure is replaced by a seven-pointed golden star.

The emblem came to be printed on paper money and was on the flag of the armed forces.

 

Emblem of Georgia as printed on a 1000 ruble note, 1919

 

Emblem of Georgia as printed on a 500 ruble note, 1919

 

Arms: A rider on horseback, armed with a lance, his horse rearing to the sinister, proper; in chief five eight-pointed stars and a moon Argent, and a sun Or, per bordure, in base a mount Sable.

Bordure: A seven-pointed star in georgian ornamental style.

By Resolution, 27th of December. 1918 [2]

 

Georgian Soviet Republic

11.02.1921-12.03.1922

 

The soviet republic of 1921 replaced the rider by a landscape of a mountain range charged with a hammer and sickle, a red five-pointed star radiant in chief and a garland of ears of wheat and bunches of grape in base. The seven-pointed star around the arms of the Democratic republic was replaced by a five-pointed star of Georgian folkloristic design.

Arms: Gules, a mountain range representing the Caucasus proper, charged with a hammer and a sickle in saltire Or, in chief a five-pointed star also Gules, radiant Argent.

Garland: On the dexter ears of wheat and on the sinister a bunch of grapes and wine-leaves, proper Bordure: A five-pointed star of Georgian design Or.

By Constitution, 28th of February 1922, Art. 130

 

 

Arms: Gules, a mountain range representing the Caucasus proper, charged with a hammer and a sickle in saltire Or, in chief a five-pointed star also Gules, radiant Argent.

Garland: On the dexter ears of wheat and on the sinister a bunch of grapes and wine-leaves, proper.

Motto: proletarebo yvelW qveynixW Seerodio / ПРОЛЕТАРИИ ВСЕХ СТРАН, СОЕДИЯЙТЕСЬ! / PROLETAIRES DE TOUS LES PAYS UNISSEZ VOUS! (Proletarians of all Nations Unite!) engraved on a bordure Or.

Bordure: Decorated with a seven-pointed star in Georgian ornamental style, Or, Azure and Gules.

 By Constitution of 4th of April 1927, Art. 112.[3]

 

Грузинской С.С.Р.

05.12.1936-09.04.1991

 

When the status of Georgia was upgraded to a full member of the Soviet Union the ancient emblem of 1922 was confirmed again with the difference that the motto in french was omitted and the mottoes in georgian and russian were separated by two golden five-pointed stars. In this form the emblem was used until 1990.

 

 

Arms.: Gules, a mountainridge representing the Caucasus proper, charged with a hammer and a sickle in saltire Or, in chief a five-pointed star also Gules, radiant Argent.

Garland: On the dexter ears of wheat and on the sinister a bunch of grapes and wine-leaves, proper.

Motto: Proletarians of all Nations Unite! in Georgian and Russian in Georgian and cyrillic capitals respectively, separated by two five-pointed stars Or, engraved on a bordure Argent.

Bordure: A seven-pointed star decorated in Georgian ornamental style, Or, Azure and Gules.

By Constitution, 13th of February 1937, Art. 159. [4]

 

Art. 159 reads:

 

Государственный герб Грузинцкой ССР состоит из круглого красного поля, в верхней части которого изображена цбетящаяся пятиконечая звезда с простирающимиця по всему полю лучами.  внизу  -  снежный хребет голубого цвета; на правой стороне - золотые колосья и на левой - золотые  лозы с виноградчыми гроздьями. Концы колосьев и лоз переплетены  между собой у основания хребта в нижней части поля. Большую часть середины занимают изображения золотого серпа и молота, которые упираются: вверху - в светящуюся звезду, внизу - в вершину хребта, а по бокам в колоцья и лозы. Вокруг поля помещена надпиць на двуг языках - грузинско и русском: «Пролетарии всех стран, соедияйтесь!». Герб окаймлен вокруг узором из орнаментов в грузинском стиле.

 

Republic of Georgia

09.04.1991-present

 

Even before the declaration of independence on 9 April 1991 the ancient emblem with the rider was restored on 14 November 1990 and readopted a week later.

 

Zviad Gamsakhurdia 1st President of Independent Georgia 14.04.1991- 6.1.1992

 

Behind the president the first version of the national emblem being:

 

Arms: Or, a rider on horseback, armed with a spear, his horse white, his mantle Azure, in base a mountain and in chief a sun and a moon Or and five seven-pointed stars Argent.

Compartment: A disc Sable surrounded by a frame Or.

 

A larger (and later) version shows:

 

Arms: Purpure, a rider on horseback, armed with a lance, his horse rearing to the sinister, proper; in chief five eight-pointed stars and a moon Argent, and a sun Or, per bordure, in base a mount Sable.

Bordure: The arms are placed within a tierced golden bordure charged with seven lockets Gules, a cross Or between medals Or. The bordure is intertwined with a seven-pointed star Or, again surrounded by a golden circle, all on a purple background.

By Resolution 20.09.1990 [5]

 

After a coup-d’état in january 1992, a new symbol appears on banknotes and currency dated 1993-’94, consisting of a seven-petalled floral motiv, a so-called Borjgali within a circular border supported by two griffins.

 

The meaning of the borjgali is explained as follows:

Borjgali (ბორჯღალი) (or "Borjgala", "Borjgalo") is a Georgian symbol of the Sun with seven rotating wings over a Tree of Life. It is usually depicted within a circle symbolizing the Universe. The roots of the Tree go into the "past" and its palm-like branches are for the "future". The Tree itself symbolizes the continuity between past, present and the future. The Borjgali is usually placed above the tree and symbolizes the Sun, eternal movement and life. (Wikipedia)

 

Borjgali-achievement as on paper money

 

Borjgali emblem as on passports

 

Borjgali emblem as on coins

 

After the adioption of a new constitution on 24 August 1995, the rider on horseback reappeared.

 

A completely new achievement was adopted by law of 1st of October 2004.

In this achievement St. George. earlier in the arms of the kingdom of Georgia but also still in the arms of Russia, has returned however riding a white horse instead of a black. The achievement has a strong resemblace with the achievement of state of the Netherlands.

Arms: Gules, St. George on horseback, riding to the dexter, slaying a four-feeted dragon, Argent, nimbused Or.

Crown: A Royal crown.

Supporters: Two lions Or.

Motto: ძალა ერთობაშია (Dzala Ertobashia, Strength is in Unity) in Mχedruli script

By Law, 01.10.2004

Smaller Arms

 

Great Seal of State

 

Emblem of Georgian Parliament

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presidential Standard and Flag, 2004

 

The four small crosses are officially described as bolnur-kac'xuri (ბოლნურ-კაცხური) and are a variant of the so-called Bolnisi cross.

 

President Saakashvilli Flag, 2005

 

Intelligence Service

საქართველოს დაზვერვის სამსახური,

 

The Georgian Intelligence Service is directly subordinated to the President of Georgia. It is responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment and conducting counter-intelligence duties abroad.

 

Police

 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (საქართველოს შინაგან საქმეთა სამინისტრო) is the state law enforcement agency of Georgia.

It supervises several services: the Patrol Police, the Counter Intelligence Department, the Counter Terror Center, the Anti-Corruption Agency, the State Security Agency (SUS), the Operative-Technical Department, the Legal Division, the Special Tasks Main Division, the General Inspections Bureau, the Central Criminal Police Department, the Security Police, the Border Police and the Police Academy.

 

Arms of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Arms: Gules, a lion rampant Or.

Supporter: A sword per pale Argent, hilt in chief Or.

Garland: Or.

Motto:  შსს (ინაგან აქმეთა ამინისტრო), in golden lettering on a ribbon Argent.

 

Each service has its own emblem.

 

Æ See: Ministry of Internal Affairs

 

Patrol Police

2005

 

 

Sleeve patch

Cap badge

 

 

Security Police

2007

2010

 

 

 

 

 

Armed Forces

 

Ministry of Defense

 

Ministry of Defense, flag 1918-‘21

Emblem Ministry of Defense, 2004

 

Emblem Ministry of Defense, 2008

 

Standard Minister of Defense, 2004

 

More: Ministry of Defence (Updated: 06.07.2013)

 

Inspectorate General, 2009

 

Armed Forces

 

Armed Forces 1918-1921

 

Armed Forces 2003

 

In 2003 the achievement of the armed forces became:

 

Arms: Gules, the sling of king David and a sword in saltire Or,  and a chief per fess Sable and Argent.

Crest: Seven seven-pointed stars per arch Or.

Supporters: 1. A sword per pale, a pair of wings in chief and two anchors in saltire in base behind the shield; 2. and two griffins standing on a listel,  all Or.

 

In 2006 the chief Sable and Argent was omitted and a royal crown added as a crest.

 

Joint Staff

 

General Staff (ancient)

 

Arms: Gules, a disc Sable charged with a cross patée encircled, surrounded by a garland, Or.

Crest: Seven seven-pointed stars Or

Supporters: Two swords in saltire, a pair of wings in chief and two anchors in base Or.

Motto: saqarTvelos generala klAJDbi (Georgian General Staff)

 

The cross is the so-called Bolnisi cross (ბოლნისის ჯვარი bolnisis ǰvari) taken from a 5th-century ornament at the Bolnisi Sioni church, which came to be used as a national symbol of Georgia.

 

Joint staff emblem, 2006

 

Joint Staff emblem, 2008

 

Commander in Chief, 2004

 

More: Joint Staff (Updated: 18.03.2013)

 

Army

 

Army Emblem (ancient)

 

Achievement, 2010

 

Army Command, 2011

 

More: Land Forces (Updated: 06.07.2013)

 

Navy

 

Navy Emblem (ancient)

Navy Emblem 2008

Navy Command

 

More: Naval forces (Updated: 07.02.2011)

 

Air Force

 

Air Force Emblem 2007

 

Air Force Arms 2007

Arms: Gironny Argent and Azure of eight pieces, a cross Gules and an escutcheon Gules, charged with the sling of King David and a sword in saltire, crested with a pair of wings Or.

Motto: samnedlo - sahaero malebi

 

Roundel

 

More: Air Force (Updated: 09.10.2013)

 

 

National Guard

 

 

National Guard, 1918-1921

 

National Guard, arms, 2008

 

More: National Guard Department (Updated: 18.03.2013)

 

 

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© Hubert de Vries 2014-04-15

 

 



[1] Hesmer, K.-H. Hesmer, K.-H. Flaggen und Wappen der Welt. Bertelsmann Lexicon-Verlag. 1992, p. 55.

[2] Neubecker, Sowjetheraldik. In: Osteuropa. 5e Jg., Heft 6. Berlin, 1939, p. 387.

[3] Neubecker, Ottfried: Sowjetheraldik. In: Osteuropa. 5e Jg., Heft 6. Berlin, März 1930, p. 386.

[4] Neubecker, Ottfried: Die Wappen der Sowjetunion und ihre Teilrepubliken. In: Der Herold, Vierteljahrsschrift für Heraldik, Genealogie und Verwandte Wissen­schaf­ten. 1943 pp. A7-8.

[5] Hesmer, K.-H. op. cit. 1992, p. 55.