Flag of Moravia

Moravia

Use	State flag
Design	Historical flag of Moravia (the heraldic flag with Moravian Eagle), recommended by Czech Vexillological Society

Moravia

Use	State flag
Design	Flag of Moravia as bicolor with gold-red checked eagle (from 2007), by Moravian National Community

An official appearance of the Flag of Moravia, unlike the provincial Moravian coat of arms, does not exist, because such a flag has never been granted to Moravia. However, there are several documented variants of Moravian flags used in the past. The first recorded version dates from the mid-13th century.^[1]

The oldest history

There is a description of a Moravian flag in the chronicle of Ottokar aus der Gaal (Otacher ouz der Geul, Ottokar von Steiermark) (* about 1265; † between 1318 and 1322): Die Steirische Reimchronik.^[2]

Hern Dietrich Spatzmanen

sach man die banier leiten:

in einem rȏten samît breiten

was gewohrt ein lewe wîz.

ouch heten ir baniere flîz,

die von Merhaeren wârn:

ein geschâchzabelten arn

von rȏter und von wîzer varbe

sach man ob in begarbe

waejen von dem winde.^[3][4]

Jobst of Moravia, Gelnhausen Codex, 15th century

The history of moravian flag, actually banner (unlike the flag it is tightly connected with flagpole) is very varied and begins in 13th century on the background with organizing of relations between Bohemia and Moravia within the building of centralized monarchy of the last kings of Přemyslid dynasty. The colouring of the flag (or banner) was according to vexillologic rules derived from the colours of heraldic coat of arms since the Middle Ages.^[1]

The oldest depiction of coat of arms of Moravia, castle Gozzoburg in Krems

From the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia Moravia features the coat of arms in silver-red checkered eagle with a golden crown and claws, which looks to the right and is placed on a blue shield.

The oldest surviving full colour depiction of the coat of arms of Moravia is represented by the fresco in the hall of the castle of Gozzoburg in Krems an der Donau, that comes from the beginning of 70th of 13. century.^[5] Checkered eagle is documented on depiction from 1286 and later in the late 13th and early 14th century.^[6]

Colours of checkered eagle were derived from the colours of the Bohemian lion (silver lion on a red shield) and express connection with the Bohemian king of Moravia and Bohemian monarchy, as, for example, recalls historian V. Růžek.^[7] One of the first documented illustrations of banner of Moravia is the view in 1407 Gelnhausen Codex, which is the figure of the Moravian Margrave Jobst of Moravia with blue banner on which is the Moravian white-red eagle is placed with a yellow crown and yellow armor without a shield.^[1]

Modern age

Historical Moravian flag in the work of Jacob Köbel: Wapen. Des heyligen Römischen Reichs Teutscher nation (1545)

The heraldic flag of Moravia (the flag of Moravia in the form of the flag with coat of arms) is described and drawn for example in the work of Jacob Koebel: Wapen des heyligen römischen Reichs teutscher Nation from 1545.^[8]

Flag of Margrave of Moravia^[9][10]

Yellow-red bicolor used simultaneously with other bicolours and tricolours since the half of 19th century,^[11] currently considered by some organizations for Flag of Moravia (with supplement of coat of arms in the centre of the flag)^[12] This option is criticized by some Bohemian (Czech) nationalist experts.^{[13][14][15][16]}

One version of the flag of Moravia in the form of red-white-blue tricolor. Allegedly used by the deputies of Czech speaking Moravians on the Slavonic Congress in Prague in 1848.^[11]

Red-white-blue tricolor used in the 2. half of 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century.^[17][18]

Historically, there were several versions of the widely used and documented Moravian flags, which were mainly used during the 19th century in parallel to double or triple color derived from tinctures of provincial coat of arms.^[19][20] According to some authors therefore Moravian flag red-white-blue, respectively horizontally striped.^[21] This color combination was the flag of the Moravian patriots in the 19th century. Delegation of the Moravians on Slavonic Congress in Prague in 1848 allegedly marched under the tricolour red-white-and-blue flag with a white horizontal stripe at the top, middle red and blue bottom.^[11] White, red and blue colors are referred to as Moravia in the Nový prostonárodní popis Čech, Moravy a Slezska from 1854 and in some textbooks from the 19th century.^[22] According to the I. Štarha the Moravian colours were in 1915 white, red and blue, and between the years 1915 and 1918 yellow, red and blue.^[23][24] Czechoslovak Republic returned to the white / silver color at the Moravian coat of arms, but the color and provincial status flags / banners Act No. 252/1920 does not define. Country flag do not know the later legal regulations (Act no. 269/1936, Law no. 222/1939, no. 163/1960, and now valid Acts no. 3/1993 Coll., No. 352/2001 Coll.).^[25][26][27]

Today, it is for the Flag of Moravia sometimes - especially some Moravian parties, associations and other organizations - is considered a yellow-red bicolour.^[12][28] Using the yellow-red flag, according to more authors (L. E. Havlík, M. Hlinomaz), however, documented in the 19th century.^[29] Hereinafter referred to as Morava: k státoprávnímu postavení země v průběhu věků.^[19][30] As stated by M. Hlinomaz: Zdá se, že žlutočervený prapor, logicky odvozený od sněmem v roce 1848 přijaté formy šachování moravské orlice, nesl oficiální posvěcení úřady a pro svou podobnost s říšskou vlajkou, i sympatie moravského obyvatelstva německé národnosti .^[19] Historian I. Štarha argues that Moravia was never awarded the flag.^[22] Today's yellow-red bicolour is sometimes added the provincial coat of arms (red-gold checked eagle).

Both of these versions, however, are criticized by experts who were approached by the media (specifically historian M. Řepa, vexillologist K. Müller, heraldist Jiří Louda).^{[13][14][15][16]}

• 
  White-red bicolour used till the beginning of the 20th century.
• 
  Red-blue-white tricolour used in 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century.
• 
  Red-white bicolour used till the beginning of the 20th century.
• 
  Red-yellow bicolour. Another historical flag of Moravia coming from the 2. half of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century.

The present

The appearance of the flag has been a subject of discussion for more than 100 years.^[31] One variant consists of two bars, a yellow bar in the upper half, and a red bar in the lower half.

Flag of Prague

A modification of this variant includes a golden-red checkered eagle. It was introduced in 2007, and was recommended by some members and supporters of the Moravian National Community to avoid a possible mismatch with other flags, for example with that of the capital city Prague.

See also

• Flag of Bohemia

References

External links

• Media related to Moravská vlajka at Wikimedia Commons