Serbian cross

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Serbian cross
Serbian tetragrammic cross
 
Heraldic traditionByzantine
JurisdictionSerbia; Republika Srpska
Governing bodySerbian Heraldry Society

The Serbian cross (Serbian Cyrillic: Cрпски крст, romanized: Srpski krst), also known as the Firesteels (Serbian Cyrillic: Оцила, romanized: Ocila), is one of national symbols of Serbia. It is present on the coat of arms and flag of Serbia. The cross is based on a tetragrammic cross emblem of the Palaiologos dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, with the difference in Serbian use being that the cross is usually white on a red background, rather than gold on a red background (though it can be depicted in gold as well).

It is composed of a cross symbol with four "fire striker" shapes, originally four Greek letters beta (Β). Serbian tradition attributes the letters to Saint Sava, the 13th-century Archbishop of the Serbs, and interprets the four "fire striker" shapes as four Cyrillic letters "С", for the motto Only Unity Saves the Serbs (Serbian Cyrillic: Cамо слога Србина спасава, romanized: Samo sloga Srbina spasava). The Serbian cross has been frequently used in Serbian heraldry, and along with Serbian eagle, is the main heraldic symbol which represent the national identity of the Serbian people.[1][2]

History

See also: Byzantine flags and insignia § Tetragrammatic cross

Crosses with firesteels have been used since Roman times, as symbols, but not as coats of arms or emblems.[3] Some historians connect it with the labarum, the Imperial flag of Constantine the Great (r. 306–337).[3] In the 6th century the cross with four fields (with either letters or heraldry) appear on Byzantine coins.[4] The symbol was adopted by the First Crusaders since the first event, People's Crusade (1096).[4]

Ancient Greek: Βασιλεύ Βασιλέων Βασιλεί Βοήθει; Basileu Basileōn, Basilei Boithi).[4]
It was used in flags and coins.
Conosçimiento de todos los reynos atlas (c. 1350).[4][7] As Alexander Soloviev writes, the use of letters in western heraldry is nonexistent.[5]

"Tetragrammic cross", emblem of the Palaiologos dynasty, mid-13th century

The oldest preserved historical source of the cross used in Serbia is from the Dečani oil-lamp (Dečanski polijelej), which was a gift to King Stefan Milutin (r. 1282–1321), the ktetor (founder) of Visoki Dečani, now preserved at the Monastery of Prohor Pčinjski.[8] Stojan Novaković argued that the recorded use of the Serbian cross, as a national symbol, began in 1397, during the rule of Stefan Lazarević.[9] Serbian historian Stanoje Stanojević argued that it entered its use in 1345, with Stefan Dušan's elevation to Emperor.[10] In the Middle Ages, both the "Greek style", with closed fire-steels (β–B), and the "Serbian syle", with open fire-steels (C-S), were used in Serbia.[5]

A 1439 map by Gabriel de Vallseca used both the Serbian cross and eagle when depicting Serbia.

In South Slavic heraldic sources (also known as

Stemmatographia
(1741), while still continuing to be used in foreign heraldic sources.

The Metropolitanate of Karlovci, established in 1691, adopted it in its seal.

After the

Miloš Obrenović adopted the Serbian cross as the military flag when forming the first units of the regular army in 1825.[12]

Gallery

Historical

Flags

Coat of arms and seals

Current

National

  • State flag of the Republic of Serbia
    State flag of the Republic of Serbia
  • Greater coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia
    Greater coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia
  • Lesser coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia
    Lesser coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia

Regional

  • Traditional flag of Vojvodina
    Traditional flag of Vojvodina
  • Traditional coat of arms of Vojvodina
    Traditional coat of arms of Vojvodina

Local

Other usage

Military

Police

Intelligence

Orders and decorations

Science and arts

Religious

Sports

Miscellaneous

See also

References

  1. ^ Atlagić 2009, p. 180.
  2. ^ Anarheologija Slika 5: Srpski štit, grb Despotovine od početka XV veka.
  3. ^ a b Atlagić 1997, p. 1.
  4. ^ a b c d e Atlagić 1997, p. 2.
  5. ^ a b c Atlagić 1997, p. 3.
  6. ^ Palavestra 1998, p. 1.
  7. ^ "Other Byzantine flags shown in the "Book of All Kingdoms" (14th century)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  8. ^ Atlagić 2009, p. 182.
  9. ^ Atlagić 1997, p. 4.
  10. ^ a b Atlagić 1997, p. 5.
  11. ISBN 978-1-60344-724-9
    . nations (in a symbolical sense as well, for example, by removing the cross from the Serbian coat of arms but keeping the four stylized esses), and to socially curtail and politically marginalize religious communities and religion in general.
  12. ^ Posebna izdanja 295. SANU. 1957. p. 133.

Sources

External links

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