Pahonia

The Pahonia is a coat of arms motif of Belarus in a historic coat of arms of particular political importance. The term can be translated as "persecution".

It shows in red an attacking white sword-wielding knight on a silver horse, a silver shield leader showing a golden cross with two crossbars.

Already on seals were horses and riders popular. Heraldic coat of arms is counted in the group to the horsemen with sword. Since the 14th century it is almost identical with the Lithuanian coat of arms of the Grand Duchy. Explained by the same roots. Already from Byzantium the pound has been taken over by the Europeans in the 7th century and in Russia it was from the 12th century its spread. It is one of the older coat of arms pictures in Europe. The cross shape, same and different cross arms, shaped over time the look. The patriarchal cross was the output. Until the little things it was like the Hungarian double cross in the royal coat of arms of the Anjou dynasty and later came by marriage to the Prince of Anjou to the coat of arms of Naples (Kingdom) and Lorraine.

Dating can be the heraldic symbol to about 1366, as it was depicted on the arms of the Grand Duke Algirdas.

When the Czar Empire collapsed in 1917, the Belarusian People's Republic was established in Minsk, but had only eight months in hand and the rider, as well as led the flag in the colors white - red white.

The nationalists, who collaborated with the German invaders, used in World War II icon.

In 1991, the Supreme Soviet Belarusian Pahonja the symbol as a national emblem. In 1995, a new state flag and a new coat of arms was introduced at the suggestion of President Alexander Lukashenko after a controversial referendum. Since then Pahonja and the white-red -white flag has become symbols of the opposition.

In the Lithuanian national coat of arms ( the symbol was adopted under the name Vytis, the hero ) is the bridle of the horse in blue. Led the coat of arms 1926-1940 and 1990 / 91st