Annotation: Traditional heraldry, originating in the culture of the High Middle Ages, is a complex symbolic system whose "deciphering" and study can serve as a unique source of information about various periods in human history. Yevgeny Pchelov's book introduces readers to pre-revolutionary Russian noble heraldry and its reflection of Russian history from the 18th to the early 20th century. How were coats of arms created, and what did they mean? What can they reveal not only about their owners but also about the cultural history of Imperial Russia? How was the symbolism of coats of arms reflected in literature, visual art, and the social life of Russia over the centuries? In answering these questions, the author simultaneously dispels common myths and misconceptions about heraldry. Yevgeny Pchelov is a historian, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Auxiliary Historical Disciplines and Archival Studies at the History Faculty of the Historical and Archival Institute at RSUH, and a leading researcher at the Vavilov Institute for the History of Science and Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.