Proposal for a heraldic seal of Craiova, Romania, approved by the local council in December 1864 for use during the following year, but vetoed by Prime Minister Constantin Bosianu in January 1865. The sword-bearing left-handed arm represents Michael the Brave, who served as Ban of Craiova and Oltenia in the 1590s. The snake is probably meant to be a protective symbol borrowed from Romanian folklore. Also shown is Craiova's Saint Demetrius Church, thought to be the city's oldest. The shield is stamped with a royal (Eastern) crown symbolizing Tsar Ioannitsa Kaloyan of Bulgaria, who was held as the legendary founder of Craiova, with "flowing" ribbons showing the Romanian tricolor; the crown's usage was viewed as intolerable by Bosianu. For description and facsimile, see Silviu Andrieș-Tabac, "Contribuții la heraldica orașului Craiova. Proiectul nerealizat de la 1864", in Cercetări Numismatice, Vols. XII–XIII, 2006–2007, pp. 527–534.
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Dahn