Coat of arms of Smolensk

Coat of arms of Smolensk
Earliest mention1664
Adopted
  • 27 April 2001
  • 10 (21) October 1780
CrestMonomakh's Cap
CitiesSmolensk
Motto"Glorified by Strength" (Russian: «Восславлен крепостью»)
Order(s)
Other elements
Earlier version(s)Since the 15th century

The coat of arms of Smolensk is the official heraldic symbol of the city of Smolensk, Smolensk region, Russia. A bird Gamayun on a sable cannon with an or gun carriage is depicted on an argent escutcheon. The coat of arms is embellished with a number of honourable decorations that depict the history of the city.

During the 15th to the 17th centuries, when Smolensk was contested between the Tsardom of Russia and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and subsequently the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the city's coats of arms were composed of a different set of elements. The first coat of arms of the city was approved in 1611, when Smolensk was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It depicted Archangel Michael trampling the serpent.

The origin of the modern coat of arms is uncertain. It was first documented in 1664 and has been consistently employed as a town, land and title coat of arms since that time. The coat of arms underwent a heraldic revision in 1727 by F. M. Santi, in 1780 by A. A. Volkov, in 1857 by B. K. Köhne (draft), and in 2001 by G. V. Razhnyov (current version).

The Smolensk coat of arms was used in the coat of arms of Smolensk Governorate, the coats of arms of most of its cities, and the coats of arms of Smolensk noble families. The emblem is currently present on the flag of Smolensk, the coat of arms of the Smolensk region, and on the coats of arms and flags of numerous municipalities that are geographically or historically linked to Smolensk or its citizens.