The first known appearance of the double-headed eagle in Russia dates to the late 15th century. Ivan III (ruled 1462-1505) made the black double-headed eagle an official emblem of the Russian state and it featured as a design motif in the regalia of the Russian Imperial Court, until the fall of monarchy in 1917.

Where did the double-headed eagle originated?

The double-headed eagle motif was adopted in the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm and the Turkic beyliks of medieval Anatolia in the early 13th century. A royal association of the motif is suggested by its appearance on the keystone of an arch of the citadel built at Konya (former Ikonion) under Kayqubad I (r. 1220–1237).

Why does the Byzantine eagle have two heads?

In Byzantine heraldry and vexillology, the double-headed eagle (or double-eagle) is a charge associated with the concept of Empire – the heads represent the dual sovereignty of the emperor both in secular and religious matters and/or dominance over both East and West.