History of Saint Petersburg
Founded by Tsar Peter the Great on 27 May 1703. It became capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years (1712–1728, 1732–1918). St. Petersburg ceased being the capital in 1918 after the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Coat of arms of Saint Petersburg
The historical coat of arms of St. Petersburg was approved in 1730, confirmed in 1780, and amended in 1857. It had never been declined and was brought back into use in 1991. The coats of arms of the Holy See and Vatican City (the original "city of St. Peter") served as the prototype for the coat of arms of St. Petersburg.