The coat of arms of the Polish state is one of the oldest in Europe. Over the centuries, it has undergone only minor changes, generally retaining its original appearance. For the people of Poland, this symbol is of great importance, because in difficult times it was he who gave confidence in the stability of the state and courage to fight the enemy.
Flag and coat of arms of Poland
The flag of the Polish Republic consists of two equal horizontal stripes: white above, red below, which symbolizes a white eagle on a red field. The emblem of the state is depicted in the middle of the white stripe, but such a flag is used only abroad: at airfields and civil airports, in harbors, on airplanes, etc. In Poland itself, a flag is raised without a coat of arms. By the way, the bright red color of the symbols is approved by Polish law.
Flag variant with coat of arms 
Flag of Poland 1980-present
In heraldry, white color is used as an analogue of silver or water; it personifies the main spiritual values: purity of thoughts and purity of spirit. Red represents fire, symbolizes masculinity, strength and military prowess.
Initially, the national color of the Polish state was purple: a noble color that indicated the greatness of the people, their wealth and spiritual development. But the high price of paint allowed it to be used only by state dignitaries and the richest nobles. The cost of the material was due to the complexity of production: the coloring pigment carmine was extracted only from the larvae of the cochineal insect.
The Polish coat of arms is an image of a white single-headed eagle with spread wings, facing right. His head is decorated with a golden crown with three teeth, claws and beak are made of the same precious metal. The bird is located on a red field, which is a shield tapering downwards.
In Polish, the description of a white eagle on a red background with a golden crown sounds like “Bialy orzel na czerwonym tle ze złotą koronę”, and the description of the two horizontal stripes of the flag is “Dwa poziome pasy: czerwony na dole, bialy na gorze”. By the way, these questions are asked at the exam when receiving a Pole's card - a document confirming that a person belongs to the Polish people.
The Legend of the Coat of Arms
An ancient legend says that the image of an eagle on the coat of arms appeared thanks to Lech, the progenitor of the Polish people. When Lech, Rus and Czech were looking for a territory where they could settle, Lech saw an eagle. He circled in the rays of a crimson sunset over his nest, equipped on an oak branch. This sight impressed the man so much that it was here that he decided to found a city, which he later called Gniezn. This was the first capital of the Polish state.
Coat of arms of Poland: from ancient generations to the present day
But most scientists do not trust the legends and study the emergence of the coat of arms on the basis of chronicles that have survived to this day. The first mention of a single-headed eagle dates back to 1295, the beginning of the reign of Przemysl II, a representative of the Piast dynasty.
After the coronation of the prince, the image moved from generic to national. As you can see in the pictures, the coat of arms of Poland has changed slightly since its inception. Although, if you read the description, then the eagle was more likely silver than white, and there were more gold elements on it.
Coat of arms of the first Polish princely and royal Piast dynasty. 
Coat of arms of the Commonwealth - the Polish-Lithuanian state at the end of the XVI - XVIII centuries: Polish eagle and Pursuit - coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Coat of arms of the Duchy of Warsaw 
The State Emblem of the Kingdom of Poland - the Polish eagle against the background of the coat of arms of Russia 
Coat of arms of Poland 1916-1919 
Coat of arms of Poland 1919-1927 
Coat of arms of Poland 1927-1939 
Coat of arms of the Polish People's Republic (1944 - 1990) - an eagle without a crown
In 1300, King Wenceslas II modified the eagle, removing all the golden elements from it: the bird became completely silver, retaining the crown on its head. During the reign of Louis of Hungary, the presented heraldic symbols became widespread among the Polish people.
The eagle acquired its white color a little later, at the time of the Poles' performance against the German invaders. It was very symbolic, since the coat of arms of Germany at that time was a black double-headed eagle. And the white color symbolized nobility and purity of thoughts. Red, on the other hand, indicated love of freedom and the struggle for independence.
The following description of changes in the coat of arms refers to the times of the Commonwealth. During this period, he took the form of a shield, on which two coats of arms are simultaneously located: a single-headed eagle and a rider on a horse. Naturally, one of them is a symbol of Poland, the second - Lithuania.
Officially, white and red were recognized as state colors in Poland on May 3, 1792. At the celebration of the first anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, most of the ladies appeared in snow-white dresses, girded with purple ribbons, and the gentlemen put on red and white scarves.
In the XVIII-XIX centuries, the pattern of the eagle periodically changed: the crown on its head either disappeared or reappeared. The uncrowned eagle was the emblem of the Polish rebels who fought against royal power. The crown officially disappeared in 1943. And the crowned bird remained only on the coat of arms of the exiled Polish government.
But from 1916 to 1918. the emblem was significantly different from the usual one: the background and the eagle itself were white, only the contour lines of the drawing were black. But these measures were temporary.
We can see the modern look of the symbolism in the photo since 1990. The crown was finally returned to the head of the bird, thus symbolizing the new system and the democratic path of the country's development. And Article 28 of the Constitution legally approved the current image.
National flag
The Republic of Poland symbolizes the state or national sovereignty of Poland, its form is officially fixed and is allowed to be used only in certain circumstances.
The flag consists of two equal horizontal stripes, the top stripe is white and the bottom stripe is red. The aspect ratio of the flag is 5:8 (width:length).
The national flag was formally approved by the Sejm on February 7, 1831. Red and white flags and ribbons were used as symbols of national uprisings in the 19th century. After the restoration of Poland's independence in 1918, the red and white flag was officially approved by the Seimas on August 1, 1919 as a national flag and has not been changed since then.
The white color on the flag symbolizes the white eagle wings, the red color represents the crimson sunset. With a horizontal arrangement, the white stripe is at the top, and in a vertical arrangement, it is to the right of the red stripe (to the left for the viewer).
Coat of arms
The official state symbol of the Republic of Poland. The image is a white eagle with golden claws and a beak in a golden crown on a red background. Appearance coat of arms approved by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland (1997), described in detail in Article 28.
The State Emblem of Poland is depicted in the form of a figured shield, on a red background of which is the white eagle of the Piast king. Tradition says that King Piast was a legendary peasant king of the ancient Polan tribes. He was a simple farmer. The people elected him king, and he laid the foundation for the historical Piast dynasty, which had an image of a white eagle on its coat of arms.
Also, the legend says that the white eagle, which later became the coat of arms of the Polish state, was seen by the legendary Lyakh, the progenitor of the Polish people. Old Lyakh saw an eagle sitting on a branch of a tree against the backdrop of a red evening sky. In the place where it happened, Lyakh founded the city and named it Gniezno, because an eagle built a nest on that tree. It is curious that the symbol of the Poles (Western Slavs) is related specifically to the western (sunset) sky.
Thus, the coat of arms of Poland, along with the progressive aspirations of the Polish people, also combines its ancient traditions. In this case, the eagle on the coat of arms is a symbol of ancient folk traditions. The coat of arms without a crown was adopted in 1955, in 1990 the crown was returned to the white eagle.
The Polish coat of arms is one of the oldest existing state symbols of the world. The image of an eagle appeared on the coins of the first Polish king - Boleslav I the Brave (X century). At first it was a symbol of the royal Piast dynasty and Greater Poland, historical area in western Poland in the Warta river basin. It became the official state symbol of the whole country from Přemysl II (1295).
Hymn
Republic of Poland - the composition "Mazurek Dąbrowskiego" ("Dąbrowski's Mazurka" or "Dąbrowski's March"), written presumably by Józef Wybicki in 1797.
The original name is "Pieśń Legionów Polskich we Włoszech" ("Song of the Polish Legions in Italy"), also known from the first line - "Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła" ("Poland has not yet died"), which is often mistaken for the national motto of Poland.
This song was born two hundred years ago, in difficult times for Poland. The Commonwealth disappeared from political map Europe as a result of the third partition of the Commonwealth in 1795, carried out by Austria, Prussia and Russia. The uprising led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko was suppressed. The patriots pinned their hopes for liberation on revolutionary France. One of their inspirations was Jozef Wybicki, co-author of the Constitution of May 3, 1791, who fought for independence together with Kosciuszko.
At this time, Napoleon Bonaparte launched a victorious Italian campaign, clearing the peninsula from the Austrians. In the liberated territories of the Lombard Republic, the Polish General Henryk Dombrowski creates the Polish Legions. The legionnaires were not going to put up with the division of their homeland and dreamed of an early return to their homeland. In the summer of 1797 Yuzef Vybitsky went to Italy. He found the legionnaires in turmoil: Napoleon concluded a truce with Austria on favorable terms and hopes for the liberation of Poland began to fade. And then Vybitsky wrote the words of the song, which was supposed to give the legionnaires new strength, mobilize them to continue the struggle. “Poland has not yet died while we live,” this song began. On July 20, the military band performed it for the first time in the rhythm of a mazurka to a Polish folk tune. In 1806, she met in Poznan General Dombrowski and his legionnaires, who returned to their homeland along with the French army.
The song became national anthem November (1830) and January (1863) uprisings. She was banned as calling for rebellion, but the mazurka flew across the borders.
129 years later, in 1926, Dąbrowski's Mazurka became the official anthem of Poland. Then the song sounded many more times where the Poles fought. History has scattered them around the world, but this song has always united and accompanied them.
Hymn text:
Mazurek DabrowskiegoJeszcze Polska nie zginęła, Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski, Przejdziem Wisłę, przejdziem Wartę, Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski... Jak Czarniecki do Poznania Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski... Już tam ojciec do swej Basi Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski. |
Dąbrowski's MazurkaForever Poland will not perish, March, march, Dombrovsky! We will cross the Vistula and the Warta, March, march, Dombrovsky! As then Czarniecki in Poznan, March, march, Dombrovsky! And the father will tell his daughter March, march, Dombrovsky! |
Poles can rightly be proud that their state symbols are the oldest in Europe. Over the centuries, the coat of arms of Poland has undergone only minor changes, in essence it has become a symbol of the stability of the political course chosen by the legendary Lyakh.
The white eagle is a symbol of a strong state
The central place on the coat of arms of Poland is occupied by an eagle. The bird is depicted in white with a golden beak and claws, and on its head is a crown, apparently made of the same precious metal. The general background of the coat of arms is red.
The appearance of this state symbol recorded in official documents. Article 28 of the constitution of the Republic of Poland, approved in 1997, provides detailed description coat of arms, primary and secondary colors, the place of the eagle, which is the central figure, the position of the wings, paws, the turn of the bird's head.
Legendary Symbol
Historians claim that the image of an eagle appeared on Polish coins as early as the 10th century. Although, according to traditions and legends, the appearance of the eagle as the main symbol of the Polish state or Polish territories has deeper roots.
The Poles call Lyakh, a legendary historical character, their progenitor. Tradition says that it was he who saw the beautiful eagle regally perched on a tree branch. The events took place in the evening, the bird was illuminated by the red light of the setting sun, and the spectacle was stunningly beautiful and solemn.
The Poles claim that the events described in numerous legends took place in the vicinity of the city of Gniezno. In their opinion, it was the great Lyakh who contributed to the foundation of the settlement, whose name translates as a nest.
official history
Some scientists do not accept such a beautiful legend, trying to justify the appearance of an eagle on the coat of arms of Poland with real facts from the history of the country. It is believed that officially the bird as a state symbol began to be used in the XIII century. In 1295, Przemysl II was crowned, whose personal sign was a beautiful bird of prey. A hundred years later, the image of the bird takes the place of the state symbol. Then there were changes associated with the formation of various states on the territory of modern Poland:
- The princely and royal dynasty of the Piasts had a coat of arms depicting an eagle, a simple and powerful symbol.
- During the time of the Commonwealth, the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania "Pursuit" was added to the eagle.
- On the official symbol of the Kingdom of Poland, the eagle was located against the background of the coat of arms Russian Empire.
- Polish People's Republic(1944 - 1990) managed to save the eagle, however, deprived of the crown.
Since 1997, the main symbol of the Polish state - a snow-white eagle with golden claws and a beak - has again been crowned with a golden crown.
As such, we can speak about the coat of arms of the Polish state only from the time of the coronation of Przemysl II (Przemysіa II) in 1295. Starting from his reign, a white (or rather silver) eagle in a crown on a red shield became the coat of arms of Poland and the Piast dynasty. In addition to the fact that Loketek and Casimir the Great used this coat of arms of the Kuyavian lands as their own, Przemyslichi and Andegavn also had coats of arms of their own dynasties, on which the White Eagle was depicted as a sign of the Polish Kingdom.
Eagle from the personal seal of Przemysl II (Przemysl II) (1295)
Eagle from the seal of Wladyslaw Lokietka (1312)
Eagle from the personal seal of Casimir the Great (Kazimierz Wielki) (1336)
VACLAV II - WACIAW II 1290/1300-1305
Eagle on the seal of Wenceslas II (Waclaw II)
ANDEGAWENOWIE 1370-1399
JAGELLONS - JAGIELLONOWIE 1386-1572
With the advent of the Jagiellonian dynasty, a new situation arose. The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania created a new state - the Republic of Both Nations. The White Eagle naturally remained a symbol of the Kingdom of Poland (Crown), although it was no longer the coat of arms of the dynasty when the Jagiellons used it. However, since the time of Zygmunt the Old, the eagle again acquired the meaning of the emblem of the dynasty, which was emphasized by the monograms on its chest: S - Zygmunt (Sigismundus) Old (Zygmunt Stary), SA - Zygmunt August (Zygmunt August), A - Anna Jagiellonka (Anna Jagiellonka).
Eagle of Wladyslaw Jagiello (on the Wawel coffin of the king)
The eagle of Kazimierz Jagiellonczyka (on the tombstone erected by Wit Stwosh)
Eagle of Zygmunt Stary (Zygmunt Stary) - engraved by Heronim Vetor (1521)
Eagle of Zygmunt August on a Wawel tapestry (1553)
Eagle in a niche above the crypt of Anna Jagiellonka (Anna Jagiellonka)
ELECTION KINGS 1573-1795
During the reign of the elective kings, the White Eagle remains the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland (Crown). Over time, the pattern of the eagle and the shape of its crown change, and royal regalia (scepter and orb) appear in the paws. The coat of arms of the ruler is placed on the chest.
Eagle of Stefan Batory (1582)
Eagle Vazov (Waza)
Eagle of Jan Sobieski (St. Mary's Church tower in Krakow)
Order of the times of August II the Strong (August II Mocny) (1728)
Eagle by Stanislaw August Poniatowski
XIX CENTURY
After the third partition of Poland (1795), the White Eagle remained "in exile" to return together with the Napoleonic troops - on the standards, military emblems and the coat of arms of the Principality of Warsaw (on the second field behind the coat of arms of Saxony).
With the defeat of Napoleon (in 1815), the Principality of Warsaw was divided, but the Kingdom of Poland arose, united with the Russian Kingdom. The military insignia with the White Eagle remained in the army of the Kingdom. They were often used during the November Uprising (1830-1831).
After the fall of the November state, the White Eagle returned to the standards during the uprising of 1848 and the January uprising (1863-1864).
Eagle from the standards of the Kingdom of Poland (1815-1830)
Eagle from the standard of the uprising in 1848.
Eagle from the standard of the January Uprising (1863)
XX WIEK
After the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the White Eagle appeared in France on the standards of Polish soldiers (Bayonchikov, Hallerchikov, ...).
The Germans and Austrians allowed the use of the Eagle sign in the territories of the former Kingdom occupied by them. In 1916, the monarchs of Austria and Germany announced the creation of the Kingdom of Poland. In 1917, the image of the Eagle was placed on the issued banknotes, which can be considered the first official coat of arms of the state in many years.
After gaining independence (in 1918), they tried to depict an eagle without a crown.
The new coat of arms appeared in 1919, and since 1927 another version has been in effect, designed by Zygmunt Kaminski.
Eagle on a Polish banknote - 1917
Eagle from the poster - autumn 1918
The flag of Poland consists of two equal horizontal stripes: white and red, which are a reflection of the color of the state emblem - a white eagle on a red field. The aspect ratio (width:length) is 5:8. In accordance with the rules of heraldry, the upper band represents the White Eagle, and the lower band represents the red field of the coat of arms. These colors, according to the symbolism used in heraldry, have a certain meaning.
White is used in heraldry as a representation of silver. It also means water, and in relation to spiritual values, purity and purity. Red is a symbol of fire, and of the virtues it means courage and military prowess.
Initially, the Polish national color was purple, which is a symbol of greatness and wealth, and was considered the noblest of colors. But due to the high price of paint - carmine, obtained from the larvae of the cochineal insect, few could afford it, so purple was used only by the richest nobles and state dignitaries.
The first flags and banners representing the Kingdom of Poland featured a crowned white eagle on a red background. Jan Długosz, describing the preparations for the battle of Grunwald, writes about "a large flag, on which was skillfully embroidered a white eagle with outstretched wings, an open beak and a crown on its head, as the emblem and coat of arms of the entire Kingdom of Poland."
Coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Both Nations
The colors white and red were first recognized as national on May 3, 1792. During the celebration of the first anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution on May 3, the ladies appeared in white dresses girded with a red ribbon, and the men put on white and red scarves.
The heraldic national colors of Poland come from the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of the Both Nations, which is a red heraldic shield divided into four parts, in which the White Eagle and the white Lithuanian Pursuit are depicted alternately.
For the first time, Polish national colors were codified by a decree of the Sejm of the Kingdom of Poland of February 7, 1831:
“The Senate and the Posolskaya Izba, having heard the conclusions of the Sejm Commission, taking into account the need to introduce a common feature under which the Poles should unite, decided:
Article 1
The national cockade will be the colors of the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, namely the colors white and red.
The coat of arms of Poland is a white single-headed eagle in a golden crown, with golden claws and a beak facing right. The coat of arms is placed on a red field in the form of a shield, slightly tapering towards the bottom.
The white eagle is symbolically displayed in the white upper part of the Polish flag, which consists of two horizontal stripes.
THE LEGEND OF THE EAGLE
According to a popular legend, the founder of the state of Polan, Lech, during his stay in the vicinity of Poznań, saw a large nest in a tree in the evening. It contained a white eagle with two chicks.
As Lech watched him, the eagle spread its wings against a sky red with the setting sun.
Lech was so impressed by what he saw that he decided to settle there, and placed an eagle in his coat of arms, and named the place as a keepsake Gniezno, from the word nest. This story is part of the "Legend of Lech, Czech and Rus".
A less romantic version suggests that the Polans may have adopted the eagle emblem as a symbol of power.
Husarz z 1605 roku na koniu pomalowanym w biało-czerwone barwy narodowe z Białym orłem na tarczy Pieczęć Władysława Łokietka
