Lietuvos Heraldika Lithuanian Civic Heraldry

ŠIAULIAI

Origin/meaning:
Šiauliai received city rights in 1636 (confirmed in 1713), but it did not develop immediately into a proper city. The city rights were again confirmed in 1791 and arms were granted on November 9th, 1791. The total armorial bearings showed two round shields, one with the bear of the Duchy of Samogitia, and one with the Eye of Providence. Below the two shields was a calf and above a Ducal crown. The calf is taken from the arms of the Poniatowski family.

On April 6, 1845 Emperor Nicholas I granted new arms, with a composition similar to all Russian cities; in the upper part the arms of the province, here a obelisk, and in the lower part three wheatsheafs. These arms were used until the first Lithuanian Republic in 1920. In 1920 the old arms were restored and combined in a more heraldic device, similar to the present arms. These arms were used until 1940.
In 1968 the Soviet regime allowed the use of arms again and the old arms were again used, but more stylised. The Eye of Providence, however, was replaced by a sun in a triangle. The present arms are a combination of the old symbols and the stylised Soviet arms, and were officially granted on August 30, 1991. The newer great arms were granted on September 7, 2001.

The early 20^th century and the Soviet arms.