The Tryzub, “trident” in Ukrainian, is Ukraine’s small state emblem: a golden three-branched symbol on a blue field. Its modern form reproduces a dynastic emblem used by Volodymyr the Great and other princes of Kyivan Rus in the 10th-11th centuries. The symbol appears on medieval coins and seals, returns as the emblem of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in the 20th century, and is then adopted by independent Ukraine in 1992.
| Name | Tryzub / Тризуб |
|---|---|
| Dynastic origin | Princely symbol of Kyivan Rus |
| Major figure | Volodymyr the Great |
| Modern adoption | Small state emblem since 1992 |
| A note of caution | The exact medieval meaning remains debated |
What is its connection with Volodymyr the Great?
The Ukrainian Constitution defines the Tryzub as the “symbol of the princely state of Volodymyr the Great.”
Coins of the prince show a three-branched dynastic mark from which the modern design derives directly.
The medieval connection is therefore officially acknowledged and archaeologically visible.
Was the medieval symbol already a trident?
The marks of the Riurikids varied from one prince to another: bidents, tridents, and related forms served as dynastic symbols.
The word “trident” accurately describes the shape of Volodymyr’s version, but does not prove that it materially represented a three-pronged weapon.
Why did it reappear with Ukrainian independence?
At the beginning of the 20th century, Ukrainian sovereignty movements sought symbols predating the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires.
The Tryzub provides a direct reference to Kyivan Rus and became the emblem of the Ukrainian People’s Republic.
How did it become the emblem of the current state?
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the small emblem in February 1992 after independence was restored.
Article 20 of the 1996 Constitution confirms that Volodymyr’s princely symbol forms the small emblem and the main element of the future great emblem.
Do we know its exact original meaning?
No. Researchers have proposed a falcon, anchor, monogram, and several other interpretations.
Ukraine itself avoids establishing a single medieval interpretation in its constitutional definition.
The symbol’s historical significance rests on its dynastic and state continuity, not on a certain interpretation of its shape.
Historical sources and reference points
The Constitution of Ukraine defines the Tryzub as the symbol of the princely state of Volodymyr the Great and as the small national emblem. A presidential decree also explicitly names it “Trident, symbol of the princely state of Volodymyr the Great”.
