Bialystok is a picturesque Polish town located in the east of Poland, almost at the very border with Belarus; today it is one of the largest and most developed cities in the country.
The first half of the 4th century is considered to be the date of its foundation. Like many other Polish cities, Bialystok has had many rulers in its history. First, it was owned by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and after it by Prussia and Russia. Soon after the outbreak of the First World War, the city was captured by the Germans, after which it went to Belarus, and after a while again to Lithuania. A little later, the Poles were able to recapture Bialystok, however, by the beginning of World War II, it was again captured by the Germans. When the war ended, the actual master of the city was the USSR, which, however, transferred Bialystok to Poland, where it remains to this day. Despite all the twists and turns, the inhabitants of the city have not lost their originality, which was forever captured by the coat of arms of Bialystok.
History of the coat of arms
According to historians, the coat of arms of Bialystok in a form close to its modern form appeared in the middle or end of the 15th century. Two elements were used here as the main heraldic content: a knight on a horse and a silver eagle. And this symbolism has a much deeper meaning than it might seem at first glance.
Description
The knight on horseback is a part of the composition from the Gediminids' coat of arms "chase". Its description is as follows: a silver rider riding on a silver horse is depicted on a red field. In one hand, he holds a shield, and the other with a sword is brought up in blow. The interpretation of this symbol is quite obvious - it is the protection of the homeland from enemies. Today the composition "chase" is very popular and is often found in the heraldic symbols of Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
The eagle is also a commonly used symbol and one of the most common crest figures, second only to the lion in frequency. It is also interpreted quite unambiguously. First of all, the eagle is a symbol of power, domination and royal supremacy. In addition, it also symbolizes courage, immortality and foresight.
In ancient times, the eagle was called the messenger of the gods, it is a symbol of the liberation of the soul and ascension to heaven, but in modern Eastern European heraldry this designation is no longer used.
