Perhaps this was a reflection of the warlike way of life of the Lithuanian people, who spent a great amount of their time defending and protecting their country and homes. It was like the symbols farmers often use to mark their own tools and implements. At the 1413 Treaty at Horodle (Pol. The emblems, banners and symbols worn and carried by knights in battle, which represented their respective families, clans or towns, later acquired even more importance when they became an inseparable component of the new craze in Europe — the joust or tournament. Horodlo), 47 Lithuanian families received Polish coats-of-arms. Some noble families arrived from Germany, others from Italy, Hungary and elsewhere. Among them were Manvydas, Vaivada (Governor) of Vilnius Palatinate; Jaunutis Valimuntaitis, Vaivada of Trakai Palatinate; Sunigaila, Castellan of Vilnius, and others. It was often decorated with 3-5 large feathers. And because the concepts of knighthood and tournament — so popular in Western Europe — never gained much ground in Lithuania, the coatsof-arms of Lithuanian families, at least in the beginning, were much simpler in their design elements, colors and ornamentation. 5,100 Views, Your Coat Of Arms Is Showing: An outline of Lithunian Heraldry, HERALDRY—- AN OLD WORD DERIVED FROM GREEK -— is the art or science having to do with coats-of-arms. For exam ple, a seal allegedly used in the 13th century by Mindaugas, Lithuania’s first Christian king, had a design resembling a letter “W” with a cross in its middle upper part. The county governors (Lithuanian: apskrities viršininkas) institution and county administrations have been dissolved in 2010. Sometimes a member of a city council or other high official, who was not necessarily of noble birth, received a nobility title and an inheritable coats-of-arms. Lithuania is divided into 10 counties (Lithuanian: singular – apskritis, plural – apskritys) that are further subdivided into 60 municipalities (Lithuanian: singular – savivaldybė, plural – savivaldybės) which consist of over 500 elderships (Lithuanian: singular – seniūnija, plural – seniūnijos). The largest influx was from Livonia after this country was annexed to Lithuania at the end of the 16th century. Blue was occasionally used, and very seldom yellow. For example, in most coats-of-arms two colors were predominant: red and white (silver). These were regarded more as symbols of ownership with which various possessions, weapons, tools, documents, etc. The new noble was often a wealthy merchant or landowner who, as stated in the nobility documents, had provided some important service. January 15, 1997 But all this effected a negative response from Lithuanians toward Western culture and everything associated with it, including heraldry. It is believed that the coat-of-arms of King Jogaila, a double cross popularly known as “Cross of Vytis” (Vycio Kryžius), is also related to Lithuanian linear heraldry. In appearance, these coats-of-arms were very similar to those owned by the bajorai. Today these early coats-of-arms are regarded as the true foundation of Lithuanian heraldry. But for a symbol or insignia to have true heraldic significance, it must meet certain strict requirements. The coat of arms of Lithuania, consisting of an armour-clad knight on horseback holding a sword and shield, is also known as Vytis (Template:IPA-lt, "the Chaser").It is one of very few containing symbolism adopted from ducal portrait seals rather than from coats of arms of dynasties, which is the case for most European countries.. King Vytautas the Great’s personal emblem had a spearhead and a cross. Those obtaining them first were from the ruling Catholic nobility. When Lithuanian families received Polish coats-of-arms in the 15th century, they often dropped the names of these coats-of-arms, and sometimes changed their designs or colors as well. The county governors (Lithuanian: apskrities viršininkas) institution and county administrations have been dissolved in 2010. The star, half-moon and circle (sun) devices found on many coats-of-arms can be attributed to the era when Lithuanians worshiped the elements of nature. Comments Off on Lithuanian Roots: Your Coat-Of-Arms Is Showing: an Outline of Lithuanian Heraldry Many of them were elements the person was more familiar with — a stylized tree, a half-moon, a star, etc. Among the municipalities there are also City and District municipalities, which are used to distinguish municipalities with the same name. Traby) coatof-arms which his descendants, the famous Radvilas family, use to this day. This peculiarity could be the single most important characteristic of Lithuanian coats-of-arms. They also met knights from other European countries who participated alongside the Germans in Crusades against the Lithuanians and their brethren, the Latvians and Prussians. When Lithuanian families received Polish coats-of-arms in the 15th century, they often dropped the names of these coats-of-arms, and sometimes changed their designs or colors as well. But it is certain that some elements and symbols from the ancient pagan religion ended up on the coats-ofarms of many families. Another group of Lithuanian coatsof-arms was of Polish origin. But by the end of the 14th century, after the rules of heraldry were applied to them, many of the same emblems became true coatsof-arms. The nation evolved and became fertile ground for the birth of new ideas and concepts of honor and morals and the assimilation of many Western cultural manifestations, including the use of coatsof-arms. All counties, all municipalities and a large number of elderships use arms. The cross symbolized fire and the sun and was often combined with other elements. These knights also wore various symbols on their clothes that identified their respective families or the towns or provinces they had come from. It wouldn’t be correct to assume that Lithuanian noble families had no identifying symbols prior to the 14th century. Second, most Polish coats-of-arms had their own individual names which were derived from localities where they originated, from various battle cries and slogans, from the elements that were included in them, or just from the name of the first owner. Heraldry is closely related with history, archaeology, numismatics, sphragistics (the study of seals), and particularly genealogy. The use of such symbols is restricted in many countries. Another device was the “swastika,” an ancient IndoEuropean symbol representing the sun and eternity. Later it began to be regarded as the unofficial emblem of the Lithuanian state, appearing on documents, seals, coins, banknotes and postage stamps. The king realized that he needed the support of all his subjects, not just Catholics. Besides the arrow, many other linear and geometric devices were used. Duke Kristinas Astikas received the “Horn” (Pol. But by the 18th century, almost all the bajorai had coats-of-arms of Polish origin. During the 16th century alone, over a hundred titles of nobility are known to have been acquired this way. Heraldry had its beginnings in the early 12th century, during the time of the Crusades. When several families living in a particular area — let’s say next to a river or lake — went to war, they all marched under a single banner. History-before-1900 A few bajorai families had variations of the swastika as their coats-of-arms. Atypically its source is Grand duke's seal rather than a dynastic coat of arms. The helmet above the shield was simpler, less ornate. Because of immigration, a few foreign coats-of-arms came to Lithuania. The “Columns of Gediminas” was the ruling family’s coat-of-arms until the death of its last member, King Žygimantas Augustas (Sigismundus Augustus) in 1572. All counties, all municipalities and a large number of elderships use arms… While in earlier times these symbols were believed to possess magical and protective powers, in later centuries they had become merely decorative elements as well as a link with tradition and the past. Nevertheless, during the two turbulent centuries preceding these events, Lithuania and its people did not remain static. It would be difficult to decipher what some of the elements in the old Lithuanian coats-of-arms represent. Although identifying devices are known to have existed in ancient Sumer, Greece and Rome, heraldry as we know today is a product of the culture of the Middle Ages. Surprisingly, the design elements on these insignias were very similar to those of the Lithuanians. It often helps to determine the authenticity of dates and names that appear in documents and “family trees.”. What made them truly distinctive is that, with a few exceptions, most were made up of linear and geometric compositions. The best known is probably the so called “Columns of Gediminas” (Gedimino sailpai), also known as “Gates of Gediminas” (Gedimino vaitai). These restrictions are independent of the copyright status. Look below, pick your products, then just place your order and we'll be happy to get started. had only two colors — red and white (silver). And in later centuries, even peasants could acquire them.
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