Serbian eagle

The double-headed eagle was adopted in medieval Serbia from its use as an imperial symbol in the Byzantine Empire.

The oldest preserved Nemanjić dynasty double-headed eagle in historical sources is depicted on the ktetor portrait of Miroslav of Hum in the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Bijelo Polje, dating to 1190.[1] It had the following characteristics: one neck and two heads, collars on the neck and tail, spread wings, a tail in the shape of fleur-de-lis, heads higher than wings, feet have three toes, the eagle is within a circle.[1] This type of Nemanjić eagle developed between the 12th and 15th centuries.[1] It was very different from the German eagle: two necks, no collars, tail is leaf-shaped, heads are lower than wings, four toes, unspread wings.[1] The Nemanjić double-headed eagle (with the specific characteristics) was depicted on the details of ornaments and textile in the Žiča monastery (1207–20), in the Church of Our Lady of Ljeviš (1307–10), the decoration of Jovan Oliver's clothing (1349), detail on textile from Veluće Monastery (14th century), a detail in the Resava Monastery (1402–27), on the plate of Ivan Crnojević's coat of arms, as well as in other monasteries and churches.[2]

Beginning in the 14th century, the double-headed eagle can be seen more often on inscriptions, medieval frescoes and embroidery on the clothes of Serbian royalty.[3] The Serbian Church adopted it, with the entrance of Žiča Monastery (the seat of the Serbian Archbishopric in the 1219–53 period, and by tradition the coronation church of the Serbian kings) was engraved with the double-headed eagle.[4] The survived golden ring of Queen Teodora (1321–22) has the symbol engraved.[4] During the reign of Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55), the double-headed eagle can be seen on everyday objects and state related documents, such as wax stamps and decrees.[4] In 1339, map maker, Angelino Dulcert, marked the Serbian Empire with a flag with a red double-headed eagle.[4]

Other Serbian dynasties also adopted the symbol as a symbolic continuation, like the Mrnjavčević and Lazarević. Prince Lazar (r. 1371–89), when renovating the Hilandar monastery of Mount Athos, engraved the double-headed eagle at the northern wall.[5] The Codex Monacensis Slavicus 4 (fl. 1371–89) has richly attested artwork of the Serbian eagle. The double-headed eagle was officially adopted by Stefan Lazarević after he received the despot title, the second highest Byzantine title, by John VII Palaiologos in 1402 at the court in Constantinople.[6]

The double-headed eagle was used in several coats of arms found in the Illyrian Armorials, compiled in the early modern period. The white double-headed eagle on a red shield was used for the Nemanjić dynasty, and the Despot Stefan Lazarević. A "Nemanjić eagle" was used at the crest of the Hrebeljanović (Lazarević dynasty), while a half-white half-red eagle was used at the crest of the Mrnjavčević.

Animated Serbian eagle breaks banners of enemies (Bulgarian, Ottoman and Hungarian in hands, Austrian in corner, German in background)

Serbian eagle from Karađorđević crown

After the Ottoman invasion and subsequent occupation that lasted until the early 19th century, the double-headed eagle ceased to be used as it was a symbol of Serbian sovereignty and statehood. The Serbian cross with four firesteels (ocila) came into greater use as another symbol of Serbs. The emblem has mostly been depicted as a white eagle (beli orao, pl. beli orlovi) since 1804, when Gavrilović issued a revolutionary flag based on the Nemanjić eagle in Stemmatographia.[7]

The Serbian Revolution resurrected the Nemanjić tradition, and the white double-headed eagle became the symbol of Serbia as the coat of arms following independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Serbian cross has been used as the shield with the Serbian eagle in the contemporary design of the coat of arms of Serbia, following the tradition established by the Kingdom of Serbia of 1882.

The coat of arms of 1882 depicts a white double-headed eagle, but not the Nemanjić type, but a German one, despite the fact that it symbolizes heritage of the Nemanjić; the mistake was made by the illustrator of the coat of arms, German Von Schtrel, who "cheated" Stojan Novaković (reputable Serbian historian and minister) and used the German-style eagle instead of the Nemanjić eagle.[8]

It was part of the family coat of arms of both Serbian royal dynasties, the Obrenović and Karađorđević.

The Order of the White Eagle was a royal order awarded Serbian and Yugoslav citizens for achievements in peace or war, or for special merits to the Crown, the state and nation, between 1883 and 1945.

Current coat of arms of Serbia is a Serbian eagle on a red shield with a crown above the shield. It is widely used as a base for emblems of other state bodies and services, such as Serbian Armed Forces and Serbian Police, which both use double-headed white eagle i.e. Serbian eagle in their respective emblems. The Order of the White Eagle with swords is the fifth highest order of the Republic of Serbia and is awarded for special merits in the national defense system or special merits in commanding and managing military units, i.e. military institutions and their training for the defense of the Republic of Serbia.

The Serbian national teams in team sports are nicknamed "the Eagles" (Орлови) in reference to the Serbian eagle, while the Serbian national football team in addition uses a stylized Serbian eagle (charged with Serbian cross) as its emblem.[9][10] There are a dozen football clubs of Serbian diaspora which bear name White Eagles such as Serbian White Eagles FC and Hamilton White Eagles in Canada; and Canberra White Eagles FC, Dianella White Eagles SC, Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC, Albion Park White Eagles FC, Springvale White Eagles FC in Australia.

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  Seal of Miroslav of Hum (1198)[11]
• 
  Stefan the First-Crowned's eagle at Mileševa (1230s)
• 
  Fresco detail from Our Lady of Ljeviš
  (1306–1307)
• 
  Map detail showing the Serbian flag of arms,
  by A. Dulcert (1339)
• 
  Flag of arms and coat of arms of the Serbian Empire,
  by G. de Vallseca (1439)
• 
  Fresco detail of Despot Stefan Lazarević's robe, Manasija (1406–1418)
• 
  Despot Stefan's coat of arms,
  Prussian ed. Chronicle of the Council of Constance (before 1437)
• 
  Despot Stefan's coat of arms,
  later ed. Chronicle of the Council of Constance (1483)
• 
  Despot Stefan's coat of arms,
  Wernigeroder Schaffhausensches Wappenbuch
  (1486–1492)
• 
  Serbian Despotate,
  by V. Solis (1555)
• 
  Serbian Despotate,
  by C. Silberysen (1576)
• 
  Despot Stefan's coat of arms,
  by M. Schrott (1580)
• 
  Coat of arms of Nemanjić dynasty,
  Korenić-Neorić Armorial (1595)
• 
  Serbian Despotate,
  German armorial
  (c. 1600)
• 
  Coat of arms of Nemanjić dynasty,
  Belgrade Armorial II (early 17th century)
• 
  Coat of arms of Nemanjić dynasty,
  Fojnica Armorial
  (1675–1688)
• 
  Coat of arms of Nemanjić dynasty,
  by S. Rubcich (c. 1700)
• 
  Coat of arms of Nemanjić dynasty,
  by P.R. Vitezović
  (before 1701)
• 
  Coat of arms of Nemanjić dynasty, Stemmatographia (1741)
• 
  Rassia (Serbia), Stemmatographia (1741)
• 
  Seal of the Revolutionary Serbia
  (1804–1812)
• 
  Coat of arms of Karađorđević dynasty
• 
  Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Serbia
  (1882–1918)
• 
  Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941)
• 
  Seal of the Government of National Salvation (1941–1944)
• 
  Coat of arms of Republika Srpska Krajina (1992–1995)
• 
  Coat of arms of Republika Srpska (1992–2006)
• 
  Coat of arms of the
  FR Yugoslavia (1992–2003) and
  Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006)
• 
  Greater coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia (2004–2010)
• 
  Lesser coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia (2004–2010)

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

• 
  Coat of arms of Belgrade
• 
  Coat of arms of Niš
• 
  Coat of arms of Leskovac
• 
  Coat of arms of Valjevo
• 
  Coat of arms of Užice
• 
  Coat of arms of Prijepolje
• 
  Coat of arms of Mionica
• 
  Coat of arms of Kuršumlija
• 
  Coat of arms of Savski Venac (Belgrade)
• 
  Coat of arms of Stari Grad (Belgrade)
• 
  Coat of arms of Velika Plana
• 
  Coat of arms of Čajetina
• 
  Coat of arms of Surdulica
• 
  Flag of Despotovac
• 
  Coat of arms of Derventa (Republika Srpska)

• 
  Flag of the Serbian Army
• 
  Flag of the Serbian Air Force

• 
  Emblem of the Police of Serbia
• 
  Emblem of the Gendarmery units
• 
  Emblem of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit

• 
  Order of the White Eagle with swords
  (2009–present)
• 
  Order of the White Eagle (1883–1945)