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The
arms of the
Kovačević family
of the Maleševci
feature a shield
of red (Gules)
with a golden
cross between
which are four
charges of
significance.
The
first quarter is
the southwestern
facade of the Church of
Saint Nicholas in
Srđevići Argent, which
is first mentioned in
ecclesiastical documents
as early as the year
1358. The second quarter
is a heart Or, charged
with a Russian cross
Gules, symbolizing Saint
Ignatius the God-bearer;
Saint Ignatius is the
Patron Saint of the
Kovačević brotherhood,
as well as of all
brotherhoods belonging
to the tribe of the
Maleševci. The third
quarter has the hilt of
a yataghan (a type of
Ottoman knife or short
sabre used from the
mid-16th to late 19th
century) Or and its
blade Argent, together
with a pistol Or,
crossed in saltire and
inverted, symbolizing
the glorious ancestors
of the Voivode and
Harambaša Petko, Stojan,
Spasoje, Mirko, and
other members of the
Kovačević lineage. The
fourth quarter has a
ducal coronet or,
representing a voivodal
crown which refers to
the ceremonial headpiece
or depiction of a crown
associated with a
voivode, a historical
Slavic and Romanian
title for a military
commander or monarch. It
is
adorned with pearls,
emeralds, and rubies,
symbolising the Serbian
Voivode Maleš of the
14th century, in the
time of the Serbian
Empire and Emperor
Dušan, from Old
Herzegovina, the
progenitor of the
Maleševci tribe, a
participant in the
Battle of Maritsa in
1371 as well as the
Battle of Kosovo in
1389. The Maleševci,
although scattered
throughout the world,
have succeeded in
preserving their
traditions and their
Tribal Covenant.
The Covenant of the
Maleševci is “That we
may know who we are and
pass this knowledge on
to future generations,
and that we may preserve
our ancient Patron
Saint, Saint Ignatius
the God-bearer.”
The mantling, Gules,
lined with natural lynx
fur (Lynx lynx),
symbolises Voivode
Stojan Kovačević, who in
historical records is
referred to as the Lynx
of Gacko. Beneath the
helm (not blazoned) is a
horse upon a medallion
which symbolises the
award bestowed upon the
Kovačević family, who,
at the Nevesinje
Olympiad, in their own
distinctive manner,
upheld and carried forth
the idea by which Stojan
Kovačević led the
Herzegovina Uprising
(Nevesinje Rifle) of the
year 1875.
The crest features a
rock (the Herzegovinian
karst), at whose base
grow three sprigs of
immortelle
(Helichrysum),
symbolising immortality,
and from which, to the
dexter side, emerges a
right hand grasping a
spear, together
symbolising the struggle
that ensured the
survival of the
brotherhood, when on 5
September 1941 four
hundred Ustashas, with
the intent to capture
and slaughter all, as
they had done in several
villages in Herzegovina,
attacked the village of
Srđevići, which
possessed only some ten
rifles, with which they
nevertheless succeeded
in breaking through the
encirclement and opening
an exit from the
besieged village, thus
securing the survival of
future generations. Upon
the spear flies the
banner of medieval
Herzegovina.
In
accordance with the
Serbian habitual
heraldic tradition,
Heraldic Heir of these
armorial bearings is the
son of the armiger,
young Mr Momir J.
Kovachevich, as well as
his lawful descent in
perpetuity. The daughter
of the armiger, young
Miss Andjelija J.
Kovachevich, inherits
these armorial bearings
for life, according to
the habitual law of arms
and in an appropriate
heraldic form.
It
is therefore set forth
and made known to all
members of the
brotherhood to whom it
belongs that the herein
described and depicted
coat of arms may be used
as needed, in accordance
with the applicable laws
of the state and the
rules of heraldry, and
that it shall stand as a
permanent emblem, to the
pride of the
God-protected Kovačević
brotherhood of the
Maleševci.
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